Double jeopardy: the potential for problems when bats interact with breathable roofing membranes in the United Kingdom

Waring, S. D., Essah, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1349-5167, Gunnell, K. and Bonser, R. (2013) Double jeopardy: the potential for problems when bats interact with breathable roofing membranes in the United Kingdom. Architecture & Environment, 1 (1). pp. 1-13. ISSN 2329-2296 doi: 10.12966/ae.5.1.2013

Abstract/Summary

In order to reduce environmental impacts and achieve sustainability, it is important to balance the interactions between the built and natural environment. The construction industry is becoming more aware of ecological concerns and the importance that biodiversity and maintenance ecosystem services has for sustainability. Bats constitute an important component of urban biodiversity and several species in the UK are highly dependent on buildings, making them particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic and environmental changes. Many buildings suitable for use as bat roosts often require re-roofing as they age and traditional bituminous roofing felts are frequently being replaced with breathable roofing membranes (BRMs). In the UK new building regulations and modern materials may substantially reduce the viability of existing roosts, yet at thesame time building regulations require that materials be fit for purpose. Reports suggest that both bats and BRMs may experience problems when the two interact. Such information makes it important to understand how house dwelling bats and BRMs may be affected. This paper considers the possible ways in which bats and BRMs may interact, how this could affect existing bat roosts within buildings and the implications for BRM service life predictions and warranties. Keywords –Breathable Roofing Membranes, Bats in Buildings, Material Deterioration, Sustainability, Conservation, Biodiversit

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/33044
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Centre for Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments (TSBE) Science > School of the Built Environment > Energy and Environmental Engineering group
Publisher	Sciknow Publications Ltd
Publisher Statement	SCIKNOW is a not-for-profit publisher devoted to fostering openly shared critical information, scientific research, and dissemination of knowledge on challenging issues in the global academic community.
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