Department for Education Alignment
The Department for Education (DfE) publish construction requirements within their School output specification documents. These detail the technical demands for the design and construction of schools, as part of DfE Construction Frameworks (as updated).
The requirements covered by the Generic Design Brief (GDB) and Technical Annexes include new build and refurbishment projects, educational drivers, external and internal spaces, the building fabric and its fit, finish and services. Many of these requirements are roofing related and Sika has aligned its roofing systems with these requirements to enable individual project teams of Technical Advisers to ‘approve’ the relevant Sika roofing, Green roof, Blue roof and/or BioSolar roofing for the project.
A summary of how Sika complies with the DfE requirements is detailed below, and demonstrate compliance with DfE CF2021 and DfE CF2025. Alignment will be updated to subsequent changes and/or amendments.
| General Requirements | Sika Alignment |
|---|---|
| Guarantee: 30-year guarantee for the full build-up, excluding PV panels and mounting systems (cf2025) | All roofing systems guaranteed for 30 years, guarantee includes the PV mounting system |
| Minimum Life Expectancy (years): 30 years and easily overlaid, over-coated, upgraded or replaced without affecting the roof structure | All roofing systems have a BBA Certified life expectancy of in excess of 30 years or better |
| Single source manufacturer warranty for all roofing elements, excluding the structure and photovoltaic panels, with installation and test certificates (cf2025) | Sika® Single Source System Guarantee for 30 years incorporating Sika® NatureRoof, Sika® NatureRoof PV and Sika® SolarRoof |
| External surfaces: Tested to achieve BRoof(T4) to BS EN 13501-5 | All roofing systems achieve BRoof(T4) |
| Waterproofing Requirements | Sika Alignment |
|---|---|
| Waterproofing: Bituminous protection sheet on bituminous membrane to BS EN 13707 | SikaShield® roofing systems compliant |
| Waterproofing: Bituminous cap sheet on bituminous underlay to BS EN 13707 | SikaShield® roofing systems compliant |
| Waterproofing (may be root resistant): Bituminous cap sheet on bituminous mid layer on bituminous underlay all to BS EN 13707 | SikaShield® roofing systems compliant, and a 2-layer option available |
| Waterproofing: Single ply membrane adhered or mechanically fixed to BS EN 13956 | Sarnafil AT® roofing systems compliant |
| Waterproofing: To be certified to FLL Guidelines against root resistance and/or covered by British Board of Agrément certificate | Sarnafil AT® roofing systems compliant |
| Waterproofing certified to FLL Guidelines against root resistance and/or be covered by BBA Certification | All relevant Sika® roof waterproofing systems have BBA Certification for green roof applications |
| BioSolar and PV Requirements | Sika Alignment |
|---|---|
| BioSolar roofs shall incorporate purpose-made integral support frame systems for the PV panels, fixed to the drainage layer and ballasted by the extensive green roof, avoiding fixings penetrating the waterproofing and structure | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| PV arrays corrosion resistant, integral to the PV installation and no penetration of the waterproofing membrane | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| Mounting structure to include wind and snow loads calculated to Eurocode 1 (BS EN 19991-1) | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| PV mounting system to spread the load over the roof | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| PV panel mounting heights to allow rainwater run-off, access, inspection and be a minimum 200mm/300mm above the green roof growing medium | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| PV panels to be mounted 1.5m from roof edge or roof protrusion, building, plant or equipment | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| Different formats for ballast acceptable if they form part of the integrated fixing solution | Sika® NatureRoof PV mounting system compliant |
| Meet the standard set out in Natural England’s Urban Greening Factor Guidance and GRO Code for Best Practice for Green Roofs | All Sika® NatureRoof PV specifications support Natural England’s Urban Greening Factor Guidance and comply with the GRO Code for Best Practice for Green Roofs |
| Sedum, seeded, plug planted and extensive biodiverse green roof systems, no lightweight blanket systems | Sika® NatureRoof system compliant |
| Gravel fire breaks at perimeters and penetrations a minimum of 300mm wide and 75mm deep | Sika® specifies all gravel margin in accordance with the GRO Fire Performance of Green Roofs Best Practice Guide June 2025 at a minimum 300mm wide and 75mm deep |
| Growing material tested to BS 8616 | Sika® NatureRoof PV growing mediums are tested to BS 8161 by STRI |
