[RE-wrenches] Module Racking Attachment to SIP Roof

[Gary Willett]

Jim:

Your comment is very timely and apropos! Talked with the architect this 
morning about this as a possible solution. Since the SIPs are being 
custom manufactured, they can embed the "ribs" as you described. That's 
great for this project, but adding PV as a retrofit on an existing SIP 
roof will be a challenge.

Other Wrenches:  Thanks so much for your helpful comments and suggestions!

Regards,


Gary Willett, PE
Gary at IcarusSolarServices.com <mailto:Gary at IcarusSolarServices.com>


On 7/26/2011 10:45 PM, North Texas Renewable Energy Inc wrote:
> Seems as though a motivated Architect could order custom SIP panels 
> with dimensioned lumber ribs attached on the inside surface of the 
> exterior roof panel. It would allow for NS rows of attachments without 
> puncturing the envelope.
> We priced SIP construction years ago and found that mfgrs can build 
> virtually _any_ wall or roof panel configuration the design requires. 
> All it takes is more money.
> That's why we ended up with 2x6 with spray foam shell.
> *Jim Duncan*
> *North Texas Renewable Energy*
> *NABCEP Certified Solar PV*
> *Installer No.031310-57*
> *TECL 27398*
> *ntrei at 1scom.net* <mailto:ntrei at 1scom.net>**
> *817.917.0527*
> *www.ntrei.com* <http://www.ntrei.com/>
> **
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     *From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>     [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]*On Behalf Of *R
>     Ray Walters
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, July 26, 2011 1:49 PM
>     *To:* gary at icarussolarservices.com; RE-wrenches
>     *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Module Racking Attachment to SIP Roof
>
>     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 <mailto: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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