![]() ![]() The attachment style for these roofs also brings in the need for additional testing of the attachment components, which should be validated to ASTM E 2140, Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Metal Roof Panel Systems by Static Water Pressure Head.Īdditionally, the authors attest that stainless steel screws or caps should be used when portions of the fasteners are exposed to the elements.įor additional structural confidence, chosen systems and components must be proven by engineering calculations to withstand design loads mandated by the local building code. While fastening penetration in these roof types is unavoidable, the waterproofing diligence of mounting system components should be of equal or better quality than the roof construction itself. This type of system is protected from moisture intrusion by high-quality synthetic rubber seals and protected from UV exposure by the fastener head design. Solar PV mounting systems for standing seam roof installations must be mechanically attached to the panel seams only via seam clamps in order to preserve the roof’s design features and warranties.Īnother metal roof style is the face-fastened metal roof, where the roof attaches directly to the structure by design vial long-life fasteners using coatings and/or metal alloys compatible with the roof material in terms of metallurgy and life expectancy. Since these systems have few, if any, penetrative components, the same should apply for the solar installation. The most common and highest-recommended (by the authors, at least) style of metal roofs are standing seam metal roofs. For coated steel, aluminum, zinc, or stainless roofs, structural aluminum alloys and/or 300-series stainless steel should be used. Stainless steel fasteners or caps should be used when portions of those fasteners are exposed to the elements. Hardware considerations and service life compatibilityįirst things first, all mounting system components for PV installations on metal roofs of all kinds must be certified to UL 2703, the UL Standard for Safety Mounting Systems, Mounting Devices, Clamping/Retention Devices, and Ground Lugs for Use with Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels.Īccording to the authors, metal roof mounting system components should be fabricated from corrosion-resistant metals with a service life expectancy at least equivalent to the roof itself.įor copper roofs mounting system components should be brass or stainless-steel alloys, though anodized structural aluminum alloys may be used when brass alloys are not commercially available. Once those two steps have been completed, the hardware chosen for the installation must be thoroughly vetted for quality assurance and potential defects. After that, calculations must be done to ensure that the roof and all components of the system can withstand and contribute to overall resilience in the face of wind, snow, seismic and collateral dead loads. Of course, as was outlined in the first entry, the first consideration for installing a pv system on a metal roof should be to verify that the existing metal roof has a remaining roof life of at least 30 years. authors from the two organizations illustrates how long-term performance of roof-mounted solar PV systems can only be achieved through careful planning, design, procurement, installation and quality control. ![]() In the final entry S-5! and MCA bring together the previous conversations to take a comprehensive look at the critical technical factors for solar PV systems specific to mounting on metal roofs. In the first entry of this series, the two explored the advantages metal roofs inherently have in housing solar systems, from the perspective of asset lifespans and overall system lifetime costs, while the second entry focused on common types of mounting systems for metal roofs, and the associated risks, pros, and cons of each. S-5!, a manufacturer of metal roof attachment solutions with non-penetrative solutions for attaching solar systems to metal roofs, has released a three-part series of white papers examining the relationship between solar and metal roofs with the Metal Construction Association (MCA).
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