The invention relates to a building or structure provided with a system comprising a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall.

The building or structure can be a house, an office building, shed, hall, station building or a similar structure. An embankment of a raised or sunken road can, for example, also constitute such a structure.

The invention also relates to a vegetation roof or vegetation wall provided with a system comprising a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall.

The invention also relates to a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or a vegetation wall.

For the purpose of the invention, a vegetation roof or vegetation wall is a roof or wall planted with vegetation. The vegetation roof can be a flat or sloping roof, the vegetation wall can be sloping or vertical.

The invention also relates to such a building, structure, roof, system and means planted with vegetation.

Vegetation roofs are also called living roofs or vegetation roofs. Vegetation walls are also called living walls, vegetation walls or vertical gardens.

Vegetation roofs and vegetation walls offer many advantages. The purposes they serve include:

C0 ₂ storage;

Water storage;

Insulating a building and thereby reducing the heat requirement and consequently C02 emissions;

Cooling a building and, more generally, a built environment,

Embellishing the outward appearance;

Increasing biodiversity in a built environment;

Longer life.

These benefits are well known and have gained importance because of climate change. Sedum or other vegetation or planting is applied to a vegetation roof. The vegetation requires a substrate which is referred to as "soil" in the context of the invention. The composition of the substrate can vary depending on the vegetation applied.

Roofs often have a gradient. The gradient can vary from a few degrees to, for example, 45 degrees. If there is no means to retain the soil installed, i.e. to make sure that the soil stays in place, the soil might wash away if it rains.

Loss of soil can also occur on flat roofs in heavy rain, as well as due to dehydration accompanied by wind in dry periods.

Plants or vegetation are also applied to vertical walls.

Means for retaining soil are known from the state of the art.

The Chinese patent specification CN104969791 describes the use of hexagonal geocells applied and secured to a sloping roof. The geocells are interconnected and secured with retaining means. Soil is placed in the geocells to create a vegetation roof or vegetation wall.

The Chinese patent specification CN208905310 describes a steel structure divided into compartments by ribs which is fitted onto a roof of a transportable dwelling. Soil is placed in the compartments for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall.

The Chinese patent specification CN202706300 describes a sloping roof with concrete ridges. Soil is placed between the ridges.

Another known means for retaining soil on a sloping roof features a net to which arched raised ridges are attached. The arched ridges prevent the soil from sliding away.

Another known means is attaching steel raised sleepers to steel wires.

Another system uses plastic sedum tray cassettes. The ready to install sedum tray cassettes can be placed on a roof where they can be clicked together.

The above shows that many different systems are known.

The existing systems have one or more disadvantages:

They are heavy

They are difficult to apply and/or difficult to remove

Application is very labour intensive.

An objective of the invention is to provide a building provided with a system comprising a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall, a roof provided with a system for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall, and/or a system for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall and/or a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall that eliminates or at least reduces one or more of the disadvantages mentioned.

To this end, a building or structure provided with a system for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall is characterised in that the means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall comprises a Tollable or foldable mat, which mat comprises pairs of raised wall sections, which pairs of raised wall sections comprise a first and a second raised wall section, which pairs of wall sections form ridges, and the mat comprises flat intermediate sections between the ridges, with folds between the flat intermediate sections and the raised wall sections and the Tollable or foldable mat comprises means on the side facing the roof or the wall for ensuring a distance between the raised wall sections on the side of the Tollable or foldable mat facing the roof.

A vegetation roof or vegetation wall provided with a system for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall is characterised in that the means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall comprises a Tollable or foldable mat, which mat comprises pairs of raised wall sections, which pairs of raised wall sections comprise a first and a second raised wall section, which pairs of wall sections form ridges, and the mat comprises flat intermediate sections between the ridges, with folds between the flat intermediate sections and the raised wall sections and the Tollable or foldable mat comprising means on the side facing the roof for ensuring a distance between the raised wall sections on the side of the Tollable or foldable mat facing the roof.

A system for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall is characterised in that the means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall comprises a Tollable or foldable mat, which mat comprises pairs of raised wall sections, which pairs of raised wall sections comprise a first and a second raised wall section, which pairs of wall sections form ridges, and the mat comprises flat intermediate sections between the ridges, with folds between the flat intermediate sections and the raised wall sections and the Tollable or foldable mat comprising means on the side facing the roof for ensuring a distance between the raised wall sections on the side of the Tollable or foldable mat facing the roof.

The invention also provides a means for retaining soil for a vegetation roof or vegetation wall provided with a Tollable or foldable mat in which the unrolled or unfolded mat comprises pairs of raised wall sections, which pairs of raised wall sections comprise a first and a second raised wall section, which pairs of wall sections form ridges, and the mat comprises flat intermediate sections between the ridges, with folds between the flat intermediate sections and the raised wall sections and the Tollable or foldable mat comprising means on the side facing the roof or the wall for ensuring a distance between the raised wall sections on the side of the Tollable or foldable mat facing the roof. The invention also provides a rollable or foldable mat, which mat comprises pairs of raised wall sections, which pairs of raised wall sections comprise a first and a second raised wall section, which pairs of wall sections form ridges, and the mat comprises flat intermediate sections between the ridges, with folds between the flat intermediate sections and the raised wall sections and the Tollable or foldable mat comprising means on the side facing the roof for ensuring a distance between the raised wall sections on the side of the Tollable or foldable mat facing the roof.

A Tollable or foldable mat is easy to apply and unroll or spread over the roof. The weight of the system can be kept relatively low. No complicated and labour-intensive operations need to be carried out after applying the mat. This can reduce the time for applying the system and it also reduces the safety risks for the people who apply the system.

The means for ensuring the distance preferably consist of bands applied to the side of the mat facing the roof or the wall. This is a simple design for such means.

In a preferred embodiment, the length of one of the raised wall sections of a pair differs from the length of the other raised wall section of a pair.

A difference in length between the raised wall sections of a pair determines the angle of the pair of raised wall sections with the mat and therefore the angle with the sloping roof. This enables the position of the raised wall sections to be adapted to the slope of the roof.

In a preferred embodiment, a platform extends between the raised wall sections of a pair of wall sections.

In a preferred embodiment, the Tollable or foldable mat comprises carpet material impregnated with bitumen on one side. When unrolled, the bitumen layer forms a top surface of the mat. In an embodiment, the bitumen layer comprises, in addition to bitumen, a permeable filler material such as chalk, where the permeable filler to bitumen ratio is between 1:3 and 1:1.5, i.e. between approximately 25% bitumen and 75% chalk or other permeable filler material and 40% bitumen and 60% chalk. The preferred ratio is 68-72% chalk or other permeable filler material to 28- 32% bitumen. This makes the bitumen layer water permeable. This will reduce the probability of plant roots being in the water for too long.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the raised wall sections is, or both are, provided with drainage openings. This is an easy means for enabling an overflow of excess rainwater. The positions of the openings enable the water storage function of the roof to be controlled.

The means is preferably provided by overlapping parts. This will make it easy to make the connection between two mats that are applied. These and further aspects of the invention are described below and illustrated by means of the drawing:

The figures contained in the drawing show the following:

Figure 1 shows an example of a known system;

Figure 2 shows another example of a known system;

Figures 3A and 3B show an example of a mat for a building, roof or system according to the invention;

Figures 4A and 4B show other details of an example of a means for a system according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows another detail of an example of a system according to the invention.

Figures 6A and 6B show how a mat can be rolled up;

Figure 7 shows another example of the invention.

Figures 8A and 8B show another example of the invention;

Figures 9A and 9B show the unrolling of rolled mats;

Figure 10 shows how to connect two mats together;

Figures 11A and 11B show two mats with overlaps;

Figure 12 shows an embodiment for a sloping or vertical wall;

Figure 13 shows a cross-section of a mat with bands and a drainage layer;

Figures 14 and 15 show another embodiment of a mat according to the invention;

Figures 16 and 17 show a method for producing a Tollable mat with a reinforcement profile;

Figure 18 shows a preferred embodiment of a roof provided with a mat according to the invention;

Figure 19 shows another embodiment of a roof provided with a mat according to the invention.

As a rule, like numerals denote like elements. The figures have not been drawn to scale and serve to illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 shows an example of a known system, a system known from the Chinese patent specification CN104969791. The means 1 for retaining the soil includes a honeycomb structure of hexagonal geocells 2 applied and secured to a sloping roof. The geocells 2 are interconnected and secured with retaining means. Soil is placed in the geocells to create a vegetation roof or vegetation wall. Figure 2 illustrates a system known from the Chinese patent specification CN202706300. Concrete ridges 3 have been installed on a sloping roof. Soil is placed between the ridges.

The various systems known are complicated and difficult to apply and/or very heavy.

Figures 3A and 3B show a cross-section of an unrolled or unfolded mat 4 according to the invention suitable for a means, system, roof or building according to the invention.

The mat comprises a layer 5. This layer 5 comprises ridges R. The ridges R comprise pairs of raised walls RW1 and RW2. The layer 5 also comprises intermediate sections I located between the ridges R. Furthermore, the layer 5 comprises folding lines FI, F2 to F6. This example shows two ridges R. The pattern can continue with the layer 5 showing multiple ridges. The length of an intermediate section I is indicated by D1 in figure 3. The distance at the base of the ridge is indicated by D2 in the figure. The height of the ridge R is indicated by HI. The length of the raised wall section RW1 is indicated by LI, the length of the raised wall section RW2 is indicated by L2. This layer 5 can comprise several sub-layers, for example a carpet layer the top side of which is impregnated with bitumen.

The height HI of the ridges is preferably between 2 and 10 cm, most preferably between 3 and 8 cm.

D2 is preferably between 2 and 8 cm.

LI and L2 can be different and they differ in this example. The angles of the raised walls RW1 and RW2 to the mat 4 and thus to the roof or surface to which the mat is applied are determined by the ratios of distances D2 and the lengths LI and L2. In this example, LI is shorter than L2.

The distance between the ridges, distance Dl, is preferably between 6 and 100 cm, and most preferably between 10 and 30 cm. The mat comprises means 6 which determine the distance D2. In a preferred embodiment, the means for ensuring this distance consist of pull straps 6.

The layer 5 is shown in figure 3A. Pressure is exerted on the folding line V2, causing the folding lines VI and V3 to converge, and raised walls RW1 and RW2 to form a ridge R. The mat comprises means for determining the distance at the base (and thus the height and width and angle of the ridge R). In this example, the mat comprises pull straps 6 on an underside of layer 5. They can be glued to layer 5, for example by hot melt. The other ridges are formed in a similar way. The shape of the folding lines shown is an example, many shapes are possible. A folding line can also be created by a weakening of the material along a line. This weakening can also occur when a carpet is folded and a permanently visible and present fold forms. In all cases, a fold forms along a line, which is referred to as a folding line in this application. In this example, the folding lines VI etc. are shown on one side of the layer 5, but they can also be on the other side. They are preferably on the side opposite the ridges. In figure 3, this is the underside. Another term suitable to indicate a folding line is fold seam because a line, or seam, is formed which is located between two pieces of carpet in the form of, and acting as, a fold. Figures 4A and 4B show a cross-section and a top view of a means and mat.

The mat comprises drainage holes 7. This is an easy means for enabling an overflow of excess rainwater. The positions of the openings enable the water storage function of the roof to be controlled.

An overlap 8 is provided between mats. This can be a flexible film that is applied to a side of one or more of the mats using adhesive spray. The overlap overlaps an adjacent mat on the roof, thus enabling a watertight connection to be created.

Figure 5 illustrates how the angle of a rib R to a sloping roof can be chosen by choosing the lengths LI, L2 and D2. If the distance D2 increases, the angle a will change. The angle a will then increase. If the length L2 increases without the length LI changing, the angle a will increase.

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate how a mat is rolled into a rolled mat 9. In this figure, the mat is rolled up. The mat can also be folded, using the folding lines and depending on the depths and locations of the folding lines. The mat is preferably rolled into a roll. This is a form that is easy to transport and unroll. For asymmetric ridges, where the length LI differs from the length L2, the roll form is a preferred form.

Figure 7 illustrates a further example of a mat for a building, roof, system and means according to the invention. In this case, two optional, preferred characteristics are shown that can be used together or separately in preferred embodiments of the invention. Both characteristics are presented together here to reduce the number of figures.

The first characteristic is a platform P extending between the raised walls. The second characteristic is two bands 6A and 6B being provided on the underside and the upper side of layer 5. The advantage of two bands is extra firmness; a disadvantage may occur when filling the spaces between the ridges with soil. The increase in firmness is an advantage, particularly for relatively large distances between the ridges. Two bands are preferably used for distances D1 greater than 3 times the height HI.

Figures 8A and 8B show another example of the invention. Figure 8A shows a front view (upper part) and a top view (lower part) and figure 8B shows a side view.

Figures 9A and 9B illustrate the unrolling of a rolled mat 9. In this example, rolls 9 are unrolled over the roof from the ridge of the roof 10 on the left and right. This is an easy way to apply a means to retain soil on the roof. The means are simple means and they are easy to apply. In these figures the mat is unrolled on a pitched roof. The mat can also be unrolled on a flat roof. On a sloping roof, it is beneficial to unroll the mat from the top down. If the roof has a slight angle, the mat can also be unrolled upwards. Preferably, a mat is unrolled over the ridge of the roof to both sides, so that there will be parts of the mat on both sides of the roof. Figure 9A shows an example of such a situation. Preferably, there is an approximately equal length of mat on both sides of the ridge of the roof. The shear stress on the mat is then small or minimal, minimising the probability of the mat sliding. This is particularly an advantage for sloping to extremely sloping roofs, roofs where the roof pitch is at an angle of more than 30 degrees, for example between 35 and 60 degrees.

Figure 10 illustrates how to connect two mats together. For relatively small roofs, the use of one mat may be sufficient, but for larger roofs it may be useful to interconnect mats. Figure 10 shows an example of a connection. In this example, the bands 6 are provided with coupling means 11A and 11B, in this case a buckle where one part of the coupling means is the "female" part and the other one the "male" part.

Figures 11A and 11B illustrate how overlaps 8 can be positioned in order to form the overlap between two mats.

The preceding figures show embodiments in which a mat is or has been applied to a sloping surface. The possibility to use a mat on a flat roof is not shown but is described. "Roof' should not be interpreted in a restrictive sense; e.g. where "roof' is used in the description of the figure this can also be an embankment of a dike or an elevated or sunken road or railway.

Figure 12 shows an embodiment which can be used for a sloping or vertical wall. This embodiment is a variant of the embodiment shown in figure 7. An additional flap V3 is provided in this embodiment. This flap has a balcony function. Figure 12 shows schematically how to install plant containers 12 in the structure. A plank 13 may be applied to the top of a mat that has been applied. This plank can be attached to the wall. Of course, another suspension construction can be used for this as well.

Figure 13 shows a cross-section view of a mat with bands 6. The mat comprises several layers, a bitumen layer 5A on a carpet layer 5B. The bitumen layer is formed by impregnating a carpet. In this example, the bitumen layer also has an outer layer 5C. In this example, a drainage layer 14 has been applied under the mat. This drainage layer 14 can be bubble foil, for example.

Figure 14 shows another embodiment of the mat according to the invention. In this embodiment, the mat comprises an internal reinforcement profile 15. The reinforcement profile strengthens the ridges. The reinforcement profile 15 can comprise a slot or a folding line 16, to be able to fold the reinforcement profile. This makes it easier to roll the mat.

The position of the slot or the folding line can be in the centre of the base of the reinforcement profile, but the position of the slot or folding line is preferably closer to the shortest raised side than to the longest raised side of the reinforcement profile.

The lengths of the raised sides are indicated in the figure by LI ¹ and L2 ¹ . These lengths are slightly shorter than the lengths LI and L2 of the ridges. The base has a length Dl ¹ , which is slightly shorter than the distance Dl in the ridges. Preferably, the folding line or slot is located at a distance (Dl ^, -(L2 ^, -Ll ^, ))/2. In this example, the lengths LI ¹ and L2 ¹ differ but they can be identical to each other. E.g.: if LI' is 8 cm, L2' is 10 cm and Dl' is 6 cm, then the slot or folding line is preferably made at 2 cm from the corner H. If LI' is 12 cm, L2' is 13 cm and Dl' is 5 cm, the slot or folding line is preferably made at 2 cm from the corner FI.

Figure 15 shows a number of possible shapes for a reinforcement profile. The reinforcement profile can have an L-shape or a V-shape. The reinforcement profiles can be slid into the ridges after application of the band 6, but preferably the reinforcement profiles 15 are laid in the ridges R followed by the band 6 being applied over them.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a method for producing a Tollable or folding mat with a profile section.

Figure 16 shows a template 16. The template comprises recesses or slots 17 whose shape corresponds with the shape of profile 15. The layer 5 is placed on the template. The temperature of template 16 can be raised and, in preferred embodiments, it has been raised. A profile 15 is pressed onto the mat with a force F and the layer 5 is pressed through the profile 15 into the slot or recess 17 of the template 16. The layer 5 extends between the profile 15 and the slot or recess 17. The layer 5 which, for example, consists of carpet material impregnated with a bituminous layer in preferred embodiments, but which can also consist of another type of woven material or for example a felt material, either impregnated or not impregnated, in other examples, follows the shape of the profile and the recess or slot 17. Folds form at the tip and on both sides of the base of the profile 15. Next, a band 6 or several bands, depending on the length of the profile, is or are applied over the profile 15, as illustrated in figure 17. This band 6 is attached to the layer 5 on both sides of the profile 15. In preferred embodiments, the bands 6 are fused to layer 5 by heating. For example, polypropylene bands can be used if the layer 5 is also largely made of polypropylene. In principle, a glued connection could also be used, as could stapling or stitching together, but it is uncertain whether the service life of a glued connection is long enough, and stapling is a burden on the environment. In this example, bands are applied. A continuous underlay can also be applied over the profiles. The profiles are then locked in between the layer 5 and the underlay. In embodiments, glue has been applied to the reinforcement profile and/or the layer and/or the band. The glue keeps the reinforcement profile (15) in place in the mat while transporting and while unrolling or unfolding a rolled or folded mat.

Figure 18 shows a preferred embodiment of a roof with a mat applied to it. Anti-slip means 18 have been installed between the roof and the mat; they can be anti-slip mats or pieces of carpet. They increase the coefficient of friction. This allows for a greater angle of inclination and better distribution of the weight along the roof. Figure 19 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, layer 5 is a waterproof layer, for example a bitumen layer or an EDPM layer. EDPM is a synthetic rubber made from petroleum. The name 'EPDM' is an acronym of Ethylene, Propylene, Diene and Monomer, the raw materials used in this plastic roofing material. EDPM is a light material that is easy to apply. The layer 5 is glued to the profile 15 by adhesive 19. In this example, the means for keeping the raised wall sections at a distance from each other on the side of the Tollable or folding mat facing the roof are formed by the profiles 15 and the adhesive 19. The profiles can be solid, as schematically indicated in figure 15, or hollow. In this example, the profiles comprise protruding parts 15a and/or 15b. These parts 15a, 15b can optionally be provided on one side or on both sides of the profile. A screw or fastener 20 can have been inserted through a part 15a and/or 15b to secure the mat to the roof 10. This is an option. Also or alternatively, adhesive 19 can be used to glue the mat to the roof. The term "adhesive" means any substance used to glue the mat to the roof. Different types of adhesive can be used for gluing the profile to the mat and for gluing the mat to the roof. A washer 21 can be placed under a head of screw 20 to prevent water from penetrating under the EDPM layer.

It will be clear that the invention enables many variations and that the invention is not limited to the examples described above.