NFRC Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue across the UK construction industry, and roofing has a significant role to play. The roof is much more than a protective layer over a building. It influences energy efficiency, material use, carbon emissions, climate resilience, biodiversity, water management, and the long-term performance of the building itself. For the UK roofing industry, the challenge is to respond to the need for more sustainable construction while continuing to deliver roofs that are safe, durable, affordable, and fit for purpose. NFRC believes that sustainability must be approached as part of good-quality roofing, rather than as a separate consideration.

NFRC Technical Resources

The challenges

Climate change is already having an impact on the built environment and construction is one of biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

More about sustainability challenges >>

Government and industry response

International policy and regulation feed through to national and even local levels, which influences the buying decisions among customers and clients.

More about government and industry response >>

Roofing and sustainability

The industry is already improving its sustainability but NFRC is committed to further reducing roofing's environmental impact on the planet.

More about roofing and sustainability >>

NFRC Report: The Importance of Climate-Resilient Roofs as the UK Swelters

As regions of the UK experience their fifth heatwave of the year in August 2026, NFRC has revisited research focused on building resilience of roofing technologies in a changing climate.

In 2021 NFRC, working with the University of Southampton, investigated the potential role of the roof space in adapting the built environment to emerging challenges. The research 'Future (P)roof: Building resilience of roofing technologies in a changing climate' was published, outlining key opportunities within the roof space to improve resilience against a changing climate.

This 2026 report revisits the research as a timely reminder of the key findings and to investigate what progress has been made.

Green Roof Fire Best Practice Guidance

NFRC is pleased to endorse a new publication from the Green Roof Association (GRO) on Green Roof Fire Best Practice Guidance. The document was created following discussions between senior representatives of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), who stated that this is the type of specialist guidance it would like Trade Associations and members of the GRO Regulatory Fire Compliance Working Group to produce.

All those working on green roofs are encouraged to review the compliance update summary and analysis and commentary regarding Regulation B3 & B4 to ensure their knowledge is up to date.

NFRC is advocating hard for greater uptake of sustainable roofing solutions, and documents like this are critical to ensure they are completed correctly and safely.

Case studies

What does good look like? We've included a included a selection of case studies from NFRC trade and supplier members demonstrating what they are doing to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste.

Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction

IKO—Appley Bridge Head Office
Before 2016 all waste material from IKO's Apply Bridge site was sent to landfill, including most paper, plastic wrap, hard plastic and wood pallets. However, following investment in two bailer units the site can now segregate all material and create bailed waste, minimising emissions by reducing transport to the recycling centres. Non-recyclable waste was used to create greener 'refuse-derived fuel.

Sussex Asphalte—St Paul's Cathedral
Sussex Asphalte recycled 100-year-old asphalt salvaged from a previous project to renew the North Courtyard, which had started leaking water into the Cathedral’s workshops and storage facilities below. By recycling the 100-year-old asphalt, the team also saved St Paul’s Cathedral, over £11,000.

Energy Efficiency and Biodiversity

Prater—Bloomberg London Building
Prater’s remit on this high-profile project, included green/bio-diverse roofing and the installation of riverstone cobble margins and natural paving slabs. The building, opened in 2017, received a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, with a 98.5 per cent score—the highest design-stage score ever achieved by any major office development.

H. McLarnon & Son Ltd—Head Office
The Northern Ireland-based contractor installed a range of energy saving and resource efficiency measures, including motion sensor LED lights throughout its new offices and stores, solar panels for under-floor heating, and water-efficient toilets. The company has also reduced waste to landfill, planted over 2,000 trees around its site, and replaced all old vehicles to improve fuel consumption.

Bauder—Clapham Park
The planning authority required a green roof integrated with renewable energy system in a relatively small area of this council block. Bauder's BioSOLAR system was used because it uses green roof substrate and vegetation to provide a ballast, removing the need to penetrate the waterproofing to secure the PV installation.

GN57 Encouraging Roof Nesting Birds

NFRC is working proactively with roofing contractors, suppliers and conservation groups, such as RSPB, Swifts Local Network and Action for Swifts, to try to reverse the decline in the bird population in the UK by raising awareness amongst the roofing industry and encouraging the installation of nest boxes.

Many formerly common species such as house sparrows, starlings, house martins and swifts are now ‘red listed’, as the number of breeding birds has declined by over 50 per cent in the last 20 years. Renovation and repair work to the roofs of our homes and buildings is severely affecting the birds that need small cavities in the eaves to build nests and raise their young. Without somewhere to breed, numbers of these birds will continue to decline.

NFRC has produced guidance to encourage contractors on site to influence homeowners and clients into installing nest boxes and sharing their homes with nature. There is a wide range of bespoke nest boxes available that fit within the eaves or directly under the eaves or gable or even within a roof tile. The guidance contains case studies, showcasing what can be achieved when working collaboratively with conservation groups. The guidance is now available to download and we encourage contractors to share their success stories with NFRC.