Syntra Launches New Climate Roof Advisor Training in Aalst

Syntra is set to launch a new training program in Aalst, Belgium, to cultivate "Climate Roof Advisors." This innovative professional profile aims to equip individuals with the expertise to guide clients, architects, and contractors in developing roofs that are not only sustainable and safe but also future-proof.

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A climate roof advisor must have various skills, as they must be able to assess multifunctional flat roofs on the one hand, but they must also be technically knowledgeable enough to translate the multifunctionality of the roofs, both to the client and to contractors or architects.

Wim Van Stappen, an initiator of the program, emphasizes the growing necessity for specialists in multifunctional climate roofs. These advanced roofing systems go beyond mere structural elements; they are increasingly designed to serve diverse purposes such as water buffering, urban cooling, enhancing biodiversity, generating solar energy, and providing usable outdoor spaces.

The Climate Roof Advisor training will cover a comprehensive range of aspects, including design, roof construction, material selection, water management, energy efficiency, regulatory compliance, execution, and financial feasibility. Advisors will assess projects not just on technical possibilities but also on long-term desirability, safety, affordability, and sustainability.

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So we speak of a blue roof when it functions as water buffering. With a yellow roof, energy is generated using solar panels. A green roof, that speaks for itself, has vegetation, so it can act as a kind of sponge for water collection. Red roofs, those are usage roofs. That can range from a parking roof to rooftop bars and meeting places or sports fields.

Van Stappen explains the categorization of functional roofs: "blue roofs" for water buffering, "yellow roofs" for solar energy generation, "green roofs" with vegetation for water absorption, and "red roofs" for usage, such as parking areas, rooftop bars, or sports fields. Often, these are combined into multifunctional climate roofs.

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This training is more than necessary. With the heat of the past few weeks in mind, also the downpours, the wildfires, we notice that something is wrong with the climate. The heat stress in the cities does not help either.

This new training directly responds to the evolving demands of the construction sector. Van Stappen notes, "This training is more than necessary." He points to recent extreme weather events, including heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and wildfires, as stark reminders of the climate crisis. He believes that extensive flat roofs, common in densely populated areas like Flanders, are crucial for making buildings climate-resilient, aiding in rainwater management, and facilitating green energy production while maximizing the use of limited space.

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We are certain that these flat roofs, of which there are a huge number in our densely built-up region, are more than necessary. This is how they will also make our buildings climate-proof in the future. In terms of rainwater drainage, it ensures a delayed release to the ground. Those yellow roofs ensure green energy generation. In addition, there is a lot of space shortage in Flanders. So if we can also make a piece of our roofs into usage roofs, then I think we have already taken a big step in the right direction.