Pre-fabricated RubberGard EPDM roofing system for French outlet shopping center

Located near Lyon, France, "The Village" is the first shopping outlet in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It gathers more than 80 brands on a 31,000 m² surface, of which 21,000 m² are dedicated to retail spaces. This large shopping complex pays tribute to the traditional regional architecture while incorporating a contemporary look. The 45° sloped roofs of the shops and their mixed wood/steel frames are reminiscent of alpine houses, while the white polished glass of the cladding refers to snow-capped peaks.

Wood and glass are two materials that react to temperature changes, which are common in this mountainous region. Associating them on the roof constituted a challenge in terms of waterproofing. To answer this challenge, roofing contractor Etanchisol proposed to the building owner to use Elevate RubberGard EPDM membranes.

This choice of roofing solution brought two major advantages: on one hand, the RubberGard EPDM membrane resistance to thermal shocks up to 130 ° C is essential because heat can increase rapidly under the glass cladding. In addition, the EPDM membrane has an exceptional elongation of more than 300%, which allows to manage the expansion between the wooden panels of two adjoining shops.

In order to guarantee the building owner a high-performing waterproofing solution, the roofing contractor decided to pre-fabricate 18,000 m² of membranes over timber frames. The use of RubberGard EPDM sheets with a width of 3.05 m allowed to create watertight panels without any joint. Only the joints between the wooden panels were done directly on-site. Elevate Authorized Distributor Heveax pre-fabricated the tapes to seal these joints on the sloped roofs.

"This pre-fabricated system has been beneficial for all stakeholders," says Sylvain Laurent, General Manager at Etanchisol. "Our roofers have been able to work whatever the weather conditions, comfortably and without needing specific equipment for a high and steep site. For the building owner, it translated into the guarantee of an effective waterproofing solution and a site completed more quickly".

EPDM is the most future-proof roofing solution when it comes to sustainability, performance and design freedom. Learn more about the role it played within this project and many others by discovering its benefits.