Often described as the "fifth façade", the flat roof is extremely popular with architects. Its essential task is to shelter the space beneath it from the elements. Beyond this, the use of flat roofs may be optimized by integrating them as green roofs, roof terraces, circulation areas, and even productive solar roofs. In practice, however, their correct and professional realization is a highly exacting task: in addition to providing the planner with basic rules of construction and design, the Flat Roof Manual also supplies an overview of the use and construction types as well as the standard assemblies for flat roofs. Together with the most important standards and bodies of regulations, construction drawings of the principal connection points round out the volume.

Klaus Sedlbauer, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Phys. Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik, Stuttgart/Holzkirchen/KasselUniversität Stuttgart, Lehrstuhl für Bauphysik Eberhard Schunck, Prof. pens. Dipl.-Ing. ArchitektTechnische Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Baukonstruktion Rainer Barthel, Prof. Dr.-Ing.Technische Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Tragwerkplanung Hartwig M. Künzel, Dr.-Ing.Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik, Abteilung Hygrothermik, Holzkirchen/Stuttgart