Eberhard Schunck

often described as the "fifth façade", the flat roof is extremely popular with architects. Its essential task is to shelter the space beneath it from the elements. Beyond this, the use of flat roofs may be optimized by integrating them as green roofs, roof terraces, circulation areas, and even productive solar roofs. In practice, however, their correct and professional realization is a highly exacting task: in addition to providing the planner with basic rules of construction and design, the Flat Roof Manual also supplies an overview of the use and construction types as well as the standard assemblies for flat roofs. Together with the most important standards and bodies of regulations, construction drawings of the principal connection points round out the volume.

the Roof Construction Manual is a comprehensive reference work on the construction of pitched roofs, containing over 1800 plans and 220 photographs. Thirteen fundamental roof types and the relevant materials including thatch, wood, slate, tile, concrete, fibrous cement, bitumen, glass, metal, membranes, and synthetic materials are documented in detail. Essential topics such as ventilation, vapour and wind seals, insulation and drainage, renovation and energy conservation are examined. As with all the Construction Manuals, some 38 built examples illustrate the theoretical details, paying particular attention to important features such as the ridge, hip, eaves, roof valley, verge, and penetration. A compact presentation of the load-bearing physics and structures as well as current norms and standards make this volume an indispensable standard work for all architects and engineers.