Green Roof Stormwater Retention Calculator
How this green roof stormwater retention calculator works
This calculator estimates how much rainfall a vegetated (green) roof can temporarily store during a storm and how likely it is that the system will overflow. It combines simple volume calculations with an assumed storage capacity in the growing medium (substrate) and an adjustable runoff coefficient that represents drainage behavior and system inefficiencies.
The tool is intended for quick, early-stage checks rather than detailed hydrologic design. It can help architects, engineers, planners, and building owners understand the order of magnitude of stormwater storage provided by a green roof and compare different design options (for example, deeper versus shallower substrate).
Key formulas used in the calculator
The core of the model is a set of simple volume relationships based on the roof area, rainfall depth, and substrate depth. Units are important:
- Roof area A is entered in square meters (m²).
- Rainfall depth R is entered in millimetres (mm) and converted to metres (m).
- Substrate depth D is entered in centimetres (cm) and converted to metres (m).
Rainfall volume on the roof
The total rainfall volume that lands on the roof surface during the storm is approximated as:
Vr = A × R
where:
- Vr is rainfall volume (m³).
- A is roof area (m²).
- R is rainfall depth (m) after converting from mm (divide by 1000).
Substrate storage capacity
The green roof substrate has pore space that can hold water temporarily. The calculator assumes a typical effective porosity of 40% (0.4) for extensive green roof media. The substrate storage volume is:
Vs = A × D × 0.4
where:
- Vs is the substrate storage volume (m³).
- D is substrate depth in metres (convert from cm by dividing by 100).
- 0.4 is the assumed fraction of the substrate volume that can be filled with water.
Retained volume and runoff
The actual retained volume is limited by both the rain that arrives and the substrate storage capacity. The model first takes the smaller of the two volumes and then applies a runoff coefficient C to represent water that drains out rather than being held.
V = min(Vr, Vs) × (1 − C)
where:
- V is the estimated volume retained in the roof system during the event (m³).
- C is the runoff coefficient (between 0 and 1).
The corresponding runoff volume is then:
Vo = Vr − V
Overflow probability
To provide a simple indicator of how likely the storm is to exceed the storage capacity, a logistic function is used. It compares the rainfall volume to the storage volume and produces a number between 0 and 1, interpreted as an approximate probability of overflow.
In MathML form, the overflow probability P is given by:
As the rainfall volume becomes much larger than the storage volume, the exponent becomes more positive, and P approaches 1 (high probability of overflow). When the rainfall volume is much smaller than the storage, P approaches 0.
Interpreting the results
The calculator provides several key outputs:
- Retained volume (m³): how much water the roof is expected to hold during the storm, rather than discharging immediately.
- Runoff volume (m³): how much water is expected to leave the roof during the event.
- Overflow probability (%): an indicative probability that the roof storage will be exceeded.
- Risk category: a qualitative label (Low, Moderate, High) derived from the overflow probability.
These values should be used as screening-level indicators. For example:
- If retained volume is large relative to rainfall volume (for example, more than half of the rain is retained), the green roof is likely providing substantial stormwater mitigation for that event.
- If the overflow probability is in the High category, additional storage (such as cisterns or ground-level detention) may be needed to meet regulatory objectives.
Risk categories used in the tool
The overflow probability is mapped to qualitative risk categories:
- 0–25%: Low risk – system comfortably manages the event.
- 26–60%: Moderate risk – consider reviewing drains and downstream capacity.
- 61–100%: High risk – supplemental detention or additional controls are recommended.
Worked example
Consider a roof with the following characteristics:
- Roof area: 500 m²
- Rainfall depth: 25 mm
- Substrate depth: 12 cm
- Runoff coefficient: 0.20
Step 1: Convert units
- Rainfall depth: 25 mm ÷ 1000 = 0.025 m
- Substrate depth: 12 cm ÷ 100 = 0.12 m
Step 2: Calculate rainfall volume
Vr = 500 m² × 0.025 m = 12.5 m³
Step 3: Calculate substrate storage
Vs = 500 m² × 0.12 m × 0.4 = 24 m³
In this case, storage capacity (24 m³) is greater than the rainfall volume (12.5 m³), so the storm does not fill the substrate completely.
Step 4: Retained volume with runoff coefficient
First, take the minimum of Vr and Vs:
min(12.5, 24) = 12.5 m³
Apply the runoff coefficient C = 0.20:
V = 12.5 × (1 − 0.20) = 12.5 × 0.8 = 10 m³
So the calculator would estimate that 10 m³ of water are retained by the roof system during the event.
Step 5: Runoff volume
Vo = Vr − V = 12.5 − 10 = 2.5 m³
About 2.5 m³ of water are expected to leave the roof during the storm.
Step 6: Interpreting overflow probability
Because the total rainfall volume (12.5 m³) is less than the storage capacity (24 m³), the overflow probability will tend to fall in the lower part of the scale. The exact percentage is less important than the category: for this set of inputs, you would generally expect a Low risk of overflow.
Typical input ranges and comparison
The table below compares typical ranges for different green roof configurations and how they influence stormwater behavior in the model.
| Roof type | Typical substrate depth | Indicative runoff coefficient (C) | Stormwater behavior (model view) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extensive green roof | 6–15 cm | 0.2–0.5 | Moderate storage, lighter weight, suitable for frequent small to medium storms. |
| Semi-intensive green roof | 15–25 cm | 0.15–0.4 | Higher storage, can substantially reduce runoff for design storms. |
| Intensive green roof | > 25 cm | 0.1–0.3 | Highest storage potential, supports deeper-rooted vegetation but requires more structural capacity. |
These ranges are indicative only and based on common values reported in industry guidelines and research for temperate climates. Actual performance depends on the specific system components and local rainfall patterns.
Key assumptions and limitations
The model behind this calculator is deliberately simplified. When using the outputs, keep the following assumptions and limitations in mind.
Main assumptions
- Uniform rainfall: Rainfall is assumed to fall evenly across the entire roof area with no wind-driven concentration or shading effects.
- Single storm event: The calculation represents a single, relatively short storm. It does not model multiple storm peaks or long-duration events where drainage and evapotranspiration between bursts become important.
- Fixed porosity: Substrate porosity is fixed at 40%. In reality, porosity varies with material mix, compaction, and age of the media.
- Short-term response: Evapotranspiration during the storm itself is neglected. The focus is on immediate storage and runoff during the event.
- Runoff coefficient as a summary factor: The runoff coefficient C is used to summarize many complex processes (drainage mat behavior, slope, vegetation, and outlet design).
Important limitations
- No antecedent moisture: The model assumes the substrate is initially dry enough to accept additional water. If the roof is already saturated from a previous storm, the actual storage will be lower than predicted.
- No detailed hydraulics: Flow through drains, scuppers, and overflows is not simulated. Localized ponding or partial blockages are not captured.
- Overflow probability is indicative: The logistic overflow probability is a conceptual indicator, not a measured probability from field data. It should not be used as the sole basis for regulatory compliance or safety-critical design decisions.
- Climate and system variability: Results are more uncertain in climates with extreme rainfall patterns or for systems with unusual substrates, slopes, or drainage layers.
- Structural and safety considerations: The calculator does not assess structural loading, waterproofing integrity, plant health, or maintenance needs.
Because of these limitations, the tool should be viewed as a complement to, not a replacement for, detailed hydrologic modelling, local design standards, and professional judgement.
Who can use this tool and how
Different users can apply the outputs in different ways.
- Drainage and civil engineers: Use the retained volume and runoff volume as preliminary inputs to storm sewer and detention sizing, and to compare green roof options with other best management practices.
- Architects and roof designers: Compare how changing substrate depth or roof area changes stormwater performance, while coordinating with structural and aesthetic requirements.
- Urban planners and regulators: Quickly evaluate how much peak runoff reduction a network of green roofs might provide across a district or catchment.
- Building owners and facility managers: Gain a high-level understanding of the stormwater benefits of an existing or proposed green roof and support discussions with design professionals.
In all cases, results are most useful when combined with local rainfall design data (for example, 1-year, 2-year, or 10-year storm depths) and with other drainage infrastructure calculations.
About the model and data basis
The underlying approach reflects common practice in conceptual green roof hydrology: representing the growing medium as a storage layer with a characteristic porosity and using simplified runoff coefficients to capture drainage behavior. Typical porosity values for extensive green roofs often range from about 30% to 50%, depending on mineral content and compaction, with 40% representing a reasonable mid-range assumption for preliminary estimates.
Published studies and design manuals for green infrastructure report a wide spread of measured performance, influenced by climate, maintenance, and specific system details. As a result, the calculator emphasizes transparency of inputs and simplicity of formulas so users can understand the direction and scale of effects rather than promise exact predictions.
Practical tips for using the calculator
- Test several rainfall depths to see how performance changes from frequent small storms to less frequent design storms.
- Explore different substrate depths to understand diminishing returns: at some point, extra depth adds relatively less additional retention for a given storm.
- Adjust the runoff coefficient to reflect system maturity or maintenance. A well-established roof with dense vegetation and healthy substrate may justify a lower C than a new or poorly maintained system.
- Document your chosen assumptions when using the results in reports, especially the runoff coefficient and porosity representation.