Pv Panel Roof Loading

The weight is within the acceptable limits of any roof.

Pv panel roof loading.

Roof load weight per square foot for pv system including panels racking micro inverters etc. Rooftop mounted photovoltaic panel or modules systems shall be installed to resist the component and cladding loads specified in table r401 2 2. The weight load of the pv system is vital to determine if your rooftop has adequate structural support for pv panels. Does anyone have an idea of the approx.

Therefore a typical roof with 24 inch rafter spacing and rafters that weight 2 plf would have a dead load of 10 x 24 12 2 22 plf before the solar equipment was added. The same holds true for wind loading as the wind uplift is accumulated through the solar array and directed to the posts that support the solar panel. Roof structures that provide support for photovoltaic panel systems shall be designed for applicable roof live load r907 2 wind resistance. A typical value for the roofing material itself is 10 psf.

If the loading to the roof is increased by 15 per cent or more this is a material alteration and formal building regulation approval is required. We do not address other array configurations or building integrated pv. Both the mounting equipment and the solar panels weigh 2 4 lbs per square foot which is equivalent to 10 20 kg per square meter on average. The first issue to consider is the additional loads that the panels will impose.

The euractive roofer project undertook numerous wind tunnel tests using scale models of roofs with panels as well as testing theoretical calculations that can in time form the basis of a european standard. Wind loading on solar panels depends on three basic factors. To the typical residential application of pv arrays mounted parallel to the roof slope and relatively close 3 to 6 inches to the roof surface. Pitch is 4 12 with 26 gauge r panels and 8 x2 5 zee purlins spaced 60 apart ew and supported 21 running parallel to the ridge.

This is in addition to the weight of the most popular tiles that come in at between 30kg and 60kg per square metre. R324 4 1 roof live load. Roof and wind loading the installation of solar pv panels on the roof on a house needs to comply with building regulations including part a on structural safety. If the roof has a low slope the gravity loads of the solar panels can be magnified as the solar panel may hold snow thus causing point loads from snow rather than a uniform load.

It will require much more work to gather information and develop standards specific to wind loading on rooftop pv installations.