1.1 This guide provides guidance and considerations related to designing sustainable low-sloped roofing systems, including exposed membrane roofs, membranes covered with vegetative (green) overburden systems, ballasted roofs, and protected membrane roofing assemblies. A sustainable roofing system minimizes environmental impact, conserves energy, and has maximized service life.

1.2 The primary purpose of a roofing system is to weatherproof the building's top surface. Implementing a sustainable roofing system is the intent of this guide.

1.3 This guide acknowledges that many factors outside the designer's control affect the longevity of a roofing system. The designer may rely on industry literature (X1.1) and personal experience with roofing systems to estimate the design life.

1.4 The premise of this guide is to focus attention on environmental and other factors that may affect the roofing system over its service life. By considering these factors and incorporating into the roofing system design certain features that mitigate these factors and their potential adverse effects on the roofing system, the roofing system would be expected to have a longer service life.

1.5 This guide includes materials used in roofing systems under jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing. The applicability of this guide to other systems and materials has not been determined.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.