Residential Design/Build

Vegetable Growing on the Roof The drawings on the following page are excerpted from “PRooF Pilot Project: Conceptual Design for a Residential Rooftop Planter System”, a publication of the Community Design Collaborative for homeowners in Philadelphia. This drawing shows safe options for placing planting boxes on the roof. The following recommendations are given for installation of any planting boxes on the roof: Recommendations Homeowners desiring to install rooftop farms should hire a structural engineer to do the following: 1. Assess the condition of the roof framing.

2. Determine the load capacity of the roof framing.

3. Specify configuration, dimensions, locations and maximum permitted weights of planters on the roof.

4. Specify maximum number of people who may be on the roof at any one time.

5. Design bridge framing specific to the particular conditions on the roof.

6. Determine the anchorage or ballast requirements necessary for securing the bridge framing in place when exposed to a 20 psf wind pressure.

7. Investigate impact of bridge framing on adjacent properties with regards to snow drifting that may occur on the roofs of those adjacent properties.

8. Develop details for handrails.

9. Develop details for framing modifications related to roof access.

10. Develop signage to be placed on the roof denoting load limitations and limitations on the number of persons who may be on the roof at any one time.

11. Provide guidance regarding construction procedures and methodologies, including “do’s” and “don’ts”. Such guidance may include, limitations regarding placement and stockpiling of construction materials, details for shoring existing framing where required, etc.