Project Spotlight: Powering the Future - SOPRASOLAR on a Live Data Centre
Project type: Flat roof cover-up with integrated solar PV system
Roof area: 2 × 3,000m² (6,000m² total)
Building type: Active data centre
SOPREMA role: Product supply, technical support & on-site guidance
Overview
Data centres are among the most technically demanding buildings a roofing contractor can be involved with. These buildings operate around the clock, housing critical digital infrastructure which can't afford any form of interruption, meaning any roofing work carried out above them needs an exceptional level of precision.
SOPREMA Ireland is proud to be playing an integral role in one such project: a major flat roof cover-up and solar panel installation across two 3,000m² roofs on a cutting-edge Irish data centre in the Dublin area.
Our systems and on‑site technical guidance from the SOPREMA team is helping ensure the project meets the high performance and reliability standards required for these critical facilities.
The Challenge
Carrying out a roof cover-up on an operational data centre carries significant risk. Any water ingress, no matter how minor, poses a serious threat to the servers and electrical systems below. With 6,000m² to address across two separate roofs, and solar panels to be integrated into the build-up, the roofing contractor needed products they could trust completely, and a supplier who understood the technical stakes involved.
Our Role on Site
Product supply is only part of what SOPREMA Ireland brings to a project like this. Our team has been present on site throughout the works, providing consistent technical guidance and reassurance to the roofing contractor at every stage of the installation process when needed.
We understand the stakes involved when working above critical infrastructure, and our team has been on hand to guarantee that every element of the SOPREMA build-up has been installed correctly, that any technical queries are resolved promptly, and ultimately that the contractor has the confidence they need to carry out the work to the highest possible standard.
This hands‑on approach ensures the system is installed safely, confidently, and in full alignment with the performance requirements of a facility like this.
What SOPREMA Supplied
Two-layer bituminous waterproofing system
A dual-layer build-up was specified across both roofs to provide the highest quality of waterproofing security. This build-up ensures that even in the unlikely event of any surface-level compromise, the second layer acts as a failsafe, keeping the structure beneath fully protected and running.
SOPRALENE Lightning Conductor Padding
Installed across both roofs, protecting the integrity of the waterproofing membrane beneath each conductor and ensuring the overall build-up performs as a complete, compatible system. By integrating the padding as part of the wider system design, the roof build‑up functions as a complete, coordinated solution.
SOPRASOLAR FIX EVO Universal Clamp
Solar panels are being integrated using this aluminium clamp system, which secures each PV module to the pedestal support structure without drilling through the waterproofing membrane. A penetration brings unnecessary risk on a data centre roof, so this system removes that uncertainty entirely for a safer method.
Edge guardrails
Safety on both roofs is supported by SOPREMA-supplied edge guardrails, installed at the perimeter of each structure. With operatives working across a combined 6,000 m² of flat roof, including during the solar installation phase, reliable fall protection is essential.
SOPREMA's Role Beyond Supply
Product supply is only part of the breadth of services SOPREMA Ireland brings to any project such as this. Our team has been present on site, offering continuous technical guidance to the roofing contractor throughout the installation process.
We have to be acutely aware of the sensitivity of the building below. Data centres demand a level of technical excellence that goes beyond a standard flat roof project, and our team has been on hand to ensure that any technical queries are resolved promptly and that the contractor has the full confidence they need to carry out the work to the highest possible standard for a project such as this.
