Solari Energy There are many ways to find space for solar panels. Flat roof, sloped roof, side mount and ground systems all are possible applications. It is extremely important to have a structural engineer completely check the undercarriage of your roof prior to any installations.
Most city and county building departments do not require an engineering stamp on submitted plans but we think it is a very important step. The local city and county building departments may also dictate that we alter our standard installation procedures for their own local requirements, sometimes this may add costs to the system. Fire Department and electrical codes are always considered, whether or not the local authorities have special requirements.
Flat Roof Systems
A structural engineer will be needed for this application. Wind load factors are more critical, and there is a wide variety of flat roofing and substrate materials to deal with. Warranty issues for the roof and system come in to play. All aspects must be handled prior to installation.
Flat Roof Rack
The standard flat composite roof is penetrated into the joists, purlins or other solid structure, never through decking. Standoffs are installed for the rails and panels.
Ballasted Rack
Instead or penetrations the rack is held by weight, usually concrete block. Ballasted systems are rated for wind loads, and we ensure the design is done correctly. Weight is more of an issue here because of the addition of the concrete block but they are very secure systems.
Membrane Rack
The rack in this application is wrapped in the same membrane material as your roof. It is stapled in place but there are no penetrations. Heat welding will secure the rack to the roof membrane. This system is slightly heaver than a flat rack installation. It is very important that your membrane to membrane mounting system have adequate air flow vent channels to allow heat to escape from under the panels. The heat can affect the performance to the panels and also decay the roof membrane.
Sloped Roof Systems
Flush mount
This is our standard type of mounting installation. It takes up the least space and has the lowest visual impact. We penetrate the roof into the joists using a 5/8" lag bolts along with our standoff. Your panels usually sit between 31/2" to 6" above the roof deck. Some cities and counties require any roof vents be moved if they are located below the solar panel. In most cases these will be fairly easy to extend above the panels but some situations may require re-routing vents from inside the attic to other locations.
Tilt Mount
In this application we would add metal legs to the flush mounting to tilt the tops of the panel to gain a better angle to the southern sky. This can limit the number or panels because each row will cast a shadow behind it so rows must be spread apart, with limited room on the roof this will usually limit the number of panels used. This adds a bit of cost and labor usually but it can make for a more efficient system if you have a low roof slope. There can be a 7% decrease in efficiency between a 4/12 roof and an 8/12 roof if mounted flush.
Ground and Side Mounts
Side Mounts
Cantilevers window awnings can be mounted to most building sides. It is critical that an engineer check out the conditions of any walls first.
Outbuildings
Solar panels can be installed on a detached garage or other solid structure. If you have that structure built to hold the solar array part or all the costs associated with the building may be eligible for the 30% tax credit. We can give you the information but cannot give you tax advice so always
seek guidance from your tax professional before making any decisions on the tax credits.
Ground Mounts
Most ground mounting systems will require digging holes and pouring concrete into them to secure either poles or rack bases into the ground.
Parking Canopies
Covered parking is a great improvement. Why not have the shade provided by the solar panels? As with outbuildings some or all the costs may be applicable to the 30% Federal Tax credit.
Distance Matters
Note that when the array is more than 50 feet away from the electrical meter we will need to install the inverter near the array. DC current degrades dramatically at distances much greater than 50 feet, so we will convert to AC before sending it further. This may involve trenching to bury the cable, just keep this in mind if you want to use an outbuilding.
Contact Us Today To Start Generating Your Own Power
mike@esolari.com 303-465-3311
