| abstract |
Soil-free living roof and wall systems comprising a living layer of Bryophytes, Lichen, And Vascular Epiphytes (BLAVE) on the surface of a thin, light-weight, flexible, fire-resistant mat of mineral wool having a density in the range of about 6 - 12 lbs/cu ft and thickness in the range of about 3/8" to about 3/4". Mats are provided in modular units on the order of 2' x 4'; no irrigation or growth medium is used. The mats are adhered to a roof or wall with adhesive or mastic, or may be secured with fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, modular units include flexible mineral wool mats over a base sheet of non- woven plastic fibers, on the order of from 2 - 4mm thick, and a wide-mesh plastic netting over the BLAVE layer, sewn through to the base layer. Methods of mat module manufacture, innoculant mix production, installation and cultivation/propagation of BLAVE are disclosed. |