[RE-wrenches] Tight roof layout questions: edge walkway requirements & "small gap" hardware options

[Dan Fink]

Mick;

I train both fire departments and PV installers across the USA on PV 
systems and firefighter safety. Covering the roof "edge to edge" as you 
say is a very slippery slope for you, as the system designer. It's not 
legal in many areas, where setbacks and access pathways for firefighters 
are required (see CalFire regulations, or contact me for more 
information on these).

And even if it *is* legal in your area, an "edge to edge" array cripples 
your local fire department as to their options in fighting a fire in or 
around that structure--whether it be just an ember from the neighbor's 
BBQ lodged in the roof, an oncoming wildfire, or a room on fire inside 
from a cigar in a wastebasket.

In any case, as a firefighter since 1998, your question gives me the 
cold chills. "Edge to edge" in PV installer jargon can very easily lead 
to "let it burn" in firefighter jargon. In PR jargon, you are looking at 
a possible newspaper headline that says "Solar panels made house fire 
too dangerous to fight, Fire Chief says."

Don't go there. Plan in access pathways. If you don't, an ember from the 
neighbors BBQ could bring it all down.

DAN FINK
Buckville Energy Consulting LLC
danfink at buckville.com



>  
>
> Hello, Team~
>
>  
>
> I'm laying out some Sanyo modules on paper. Twelve of them fit the 
> roof with almost too much perfection: this would be difficult to 
> install as it would fill the roof "edge to edge" in both directions. 
> Are there consistent guidelines about the amount of roof edge which 
> must remain uncluttered or is this mainly driven by the amount of 
> aggravation that the installer is willing to tolerate? Which 
> organizations would want to influence such decisions in the Atlanta 
> region? Details are: residential, new construction, wooden truss type 
> roof framing, finish roofing yet to be decided.
>
>  
>
> I've seen fancy photos of rooftops which are covered edge to edge, but 
> I suppose those are "building integrated" PV systems instead of 
> discrete modules mounted above the roofing material. Who decides if 
> those are "OK' for no walkways compared to a roof that is fully loaded 
> with Sanyo type modules? How are such decisions made?
>
>  
>
> I like the "top clamp" style mounts but UniRac SolarMount rail systems 
> need about a 1" gap from one module to the next. Is there anyone with 
> similar hardware that can get a grip within a smaller gap?
>
>  
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
> Mick Abraham, Proprietor
> www.abrahamsolar.com <http://www.abrahamsolar.com>
>
>