Metal roofing and solar (photovoltaic) PV panels are a winning combination: metal’s strength and durability make it the only type of roofing material able to outlast the 30+ year lifespan of solar PV arrays. Solar modules can produce energy all year long – even in regions with heavy snowfall. But when you’re attaching PV panels to a roof in snow country, be aware snow loads will have an impact on your solar array’s design. Today, we’ll look at important considerations to help your finished PV installation withstand the forces of nature.
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Tags: snow guards, solar mounting, PV, installation
Calling all installers, contractors and DIYers!
Exposed-fastened (EF) roofing covers a lot of territory – from agricultural and industrial buildings to commercial and residential properties. Sometimes called through-fastened, screw-fastened and face-fastened, EF roofing is a popular choice thanks to its reasonable price and long lifespan.
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Tags: solar mounting, metal roof brackets, PV, rail mounted solar panels, rooftop equipment, installation, sealants, weather-proofing
One of the most important aspects of any solar PV installation on a metal roof is wire management, but even seasoned professionals can find this task confusing. There’s a myriad of things to track. You need to position the conductors so they correctly connect as modules are installed, keep all wires off the roof, deliver jumpers to the homerun and down to the inverter, and stay organized. If you have a large-scale job, this process becomes increasingly complex.
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Tags: metal roof, solar mounting, metal roof brackets, standing seam metal roof, PV, rail mounted solar panels, exposed fastened, installation
Are you new to installing solar PV modules on a metal roof? We’ve heard from many of you who’d like a better grasp on the fundamentals of solar PV installation – especially when setting the stage for proper wire management. So today we’re offering you a primer on:
- The components of a PV array and how they work together.
- An overview of Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE).
- The steps to get ready for solar PV wire-management design.
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Tags: metal roof, solar mounting, PV, rail mounted solar panels, rooftop equipment, cost
If you’ve wondered about the best way to install snow guards, you’re in good company. Last week at the 2021 International Roofing Expo (IRE) in Las Vegas, many people dropped by our exhibition booth to see our products firsthand, meet the S-5! team and get the answers they needed. We thought we’d take a moment to cover how best to design a reliable snow guard system – especially since there are no established codes to guide you.
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Tags: snow guards, metal roof, rooftop equipment
Ready to put a solar PV array on your roof? With solar installations becoming increasingly popular, many building owners, DIYers and new-to-solar contractors are learning about this field. If you’re jumping into the world of solar installations, we’ve pulled together some ideas and important considerations to get you started on the right foot.
We know solar installations often occur when you’re undertaking new roof construction or roof replacements. But before you begin your project, if you don’t have a metal roof, now’s the time to consider getting one. It’s the only roof type able to last and even exceed the entire life of your solar array without the need for replacement. To mount a solar PV system on any other roof type is a bit like putting a Ferrari engine on a Ford Escort chassis.
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Tags: metal roof, PV, rooftop equipment, exposed fastened, cost, installation
When it comes to attaching solar modules to metal rooftops, traditional rails have been a conventional choice. But familiar concepts don’t necessarily deliver the best outcomes, and the advantages of rail-less solutions are moving the industry in a new direction.
Decades ago – when interest in mounting solar PV on rooftops began – the introduction of using continuous aluminum rails as a solar racking system to mount PV modules in place was a practical application for all roof types. Eventually, innovation opened new doors and rail-less solutions were developed specifically for metal roofing. Using discrete hardware to directly secure each module to a metal roof, the new strategy completely bypassed the need for rails and brought some clear improvements.
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Tags: metal roof, metal roof clamps, solar mounting, metal roof brackets, standing seam metal roof, PV, rail mounted solar panels, cost, installation
If you’re thinking of putting solar PV on your metal roof to generate renewable energy and save money over time, you’ve made a great choice. Metal roofs are an ideal platform for mounting solar modules thanks to their long service life and durability. Solar arrays have a service life of 35+ years, and metal roofing has a demonstrated service life of 60 years. Aside from metal, there are no other roof types that measure up to that without requiring replacement. Both standing seam and exposed-fastened metal roofs support solar arrays very effectively.
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Tags: metal roof, metal roof clamps, solar mounting, metal roof brackets, standing seam metal roof, rail mounted solar panels, rooftop equipment, exposed fastened, cost, installation
Part Three -
Your exposed-fastened (EF) metal roof offers a great opportunity to mount solar panels, snow guards, HVAC equipment or other accessories. But you need to protect your roof’s service life and the performance of whatever you’re installing. To help you make the best decisions upfront, we’ve created a series on 3 Tips for Mounting Anything to Your Exposed-Fastened Metal Roof.
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Tags: metal roof, metal roof brackets, rooftop equipment, exposed fastened, installation, weather-proofing
Part Two -
Welcome to part two of our three-part series on 3 Tips for Mounting Anything to Your Exposed-Fastened Metal Roof. Our goal is to help you preserve your metal roof’s service life as you attach solar panels, snow guards, HVAC equipment or other accessories.
We hope you gained some new insights from our first blog in this series on the importance of materials compatibility.
In the near future, we’ll round out these valuable tips with an explanation of how load testing the brackets of your rooftop-mounted ancillaries is key to protecting your exposed-fastened (EF) metal roof.
Today, we are taking a deep dive into another vital topic to preserve your roof’s integrity: the world of proper sealants.
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Tags: metal roof, metal roof brackets, rooftop equipment, exposed fastened, sealants, weather-proofing
