[RE-wrenches] Serviceable equipment on a roof

[Matt Partymiller]

Perhaps try asking your panel manufacturer for a letter stating no
maintenance is expected or can be performed on the modules.

Matt



Matthew Partymiller
Solar Energy Solutions LLC
(877) 312-7456
matt at solar-energy-solutions.com


On Thu, August 13, 2015 10:51 am, Daniel Young wrote:
> We actually planned on bringing that to him next time as well, he
> didn’t care that we said we would be tied off if any work were needed
> in the future, but the words “permanently installed” might change his
> tune.
>
>
>
> With Regards,
>
>
>
>
> Daniel Young,
>
>
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90
>
>
> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
> Behalf Of william at millersolar.com
> Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 10:38 AM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Serviceable equipment on a roof
>
>
>
>
> Daniel:
>
>
>
>
> Could you install permanent fall protection anchors strategically
> located?  Service personnel could anchor in wherever needed. S-5 style
> fall anchors are made.
>
>
>
> Wm
>
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 13, 2015, at 7:30 AM, Daniel Young <dyoung at dovetailsolar.com>
> wrote:
>
>
> We have a job going in on  1 ¼”:12 standing seam commercial roof. When
> we tried to walk the drawings through the permit department, we were told
> that we had to keep the solar modules 10’ from the roof edge because
> they are serviceable equipment.
>
>
>
> We’ve run into this before, and have been successful arguing that the
> solar modules are not installed as serviceable equipment (they require
> service intervals closer to the roof membrane on flat roofs [little to no
> attention for 20+yrs], rather than the roof top AC unit as an example).
> We install all pass-thru boxes or other similar enclosures at least 10’
> from the roof edge as well to make it clear the most likely parts to be
> inspected/serviced would be safe. We also pointed out the International
> Fire codes rules on keeping the array 4’ from the edge of the roof
> (smaller commercial building, so we are in the 4’ setback category,
> rather than the 6’ setback). To all this he said “you can’t tell me
> that no one will ever service those solar modules. If someone falls off
> the roof and dies, I wanna be able to say I did my job…”
>
>
>
> So, I think my only option is to point to a well backed definition for
> serviceable equipment to show him that the solar modules do not qualify.
> Does anyone have any good source to help with this issue? Or would the
> majority of you say that 10’ is the right call anyway?
>
>
>
> I know I might just be up against a hard ^%$# inspector and have to just
> go with it, but I also do not want to set precedent within my states
> default commercial code agency if I don’t have to.
>
>
>
> With Regards,
>
>
>
>
> Daniel Young,
>
>
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90
>
>
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