[RE-wrenches] Maxing out the roof

[Joel Davidson]

Hi Max,

I can't resist writing - Max is on the roof maxing out the roof. Now that I got that out of my system, what we are seeing are increasingly restrictive rules that limit how much PV a person can have. Granted, neighbors have the right to protect themselves and their property from actual and potential dangers like solar modules blowing off the roof or fires spreading from one house to another. But do my neighbors' rights to protect include denying me the use of my entire roof, or for that matter, anywhere on my property? Yes. Depending on your local laws, you cannot stick your PV outside your property setbacks. You cannot put your PV on above certain heights. You cannot put your PV up to your roof ridge. You cannot fill your roof with PV. You cannot have ground-mounted PV without taking measures to protect trespassers. And so on...

The same loss of freedom happened with other technologies (radio, automobiles, airplanes, etc.) as they moved into the mainstream. So PV pioneers, enjoy your success but add insurance, permit fees, legal fees, and other costs to your cashflow budget.

Joel Davidson

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Max Balchowsky 
  To: RE-wrenches 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 8:04 AM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Maxing out the roof


  Our policy on filling a roof with solar is dictated by the local fire marshall. More and more they are gravitating toward the state standard (california) which is 3' from the ridge and sides and 1 1/2 ft each side of the valleys. we've had some exceptions but more and more we are finding them sticking to the state standard.....

  Max Balchowsky 
  SEE Systems
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