[RE-wrenches] Module Racking Attachment to SIP Roof

[R Ray Walters]

One problem that came up on a project recently, is that your penetrations (as proposed in your solution below) will essentially ruin the thermal performance of the SIPs system.
The whole point of the SIPs system is that there are no thermal short circuits  such as framing members that allow heat to be transmitted around all that insulation.
The project I was referring to was with NREL, and a smart engineer caught it, and forced the PV contractor to mount in a way without penetrations.
I also work with very savvy architects that are now specifying minimal penetrations through the thermal envelope.
I'd suggest a standing seam roof, with S5 clamps. Ask the roofer to use extra attachment screws, if you're worried.


R. Walters
ray at solarray.com
Solar Engineer




> 
> One solution could be a product that had a bolt-plate on the bottom of the SIP, that penetrates the SIP with long 5/16" threaded bolt(s), and then attaching to the PV mount at the top of the SIP. The UniRac SolarMount steel flat-top mount has four 5/16" bolt-holes and might be a good choice. This method should have no problem achieving the required pull-out resistance.
> 
> Any suggestions, installation experience, on how to put PV on a SIP roof?
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> Gary Willett, PE

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