Just to clarify what is and isn't law in California: <div>the<a href="http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/pdf/reports/solarphotovoltaicguideline.pdf"> final draft guidelines developed and adopted by Cal Fire</a> are guidelines, not law, unless the local fire/AHJ has adopted them or parts of them into local ordinances. I have heard that in Southern Cal, those guidelines have been adopted all over the place already, but not so in the rest of the state.... yet. I think the guideline was officially incorporated into the next NEC/NFPA cycle, so it will be law pretty soon. Bill Brooks could probably confirm here on future adoption.</div>
<div>Not that any of this helps your Atlanta install....</div><div><br></div><div>-Phil Boutelle</div><div>Real Goods Solar <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 12:38 PM, Max Balchowsky <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:max@seesolar.com">max@seesolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">Mick, here in California the fire department in the various agencies has the final say on clearances. There is a very clear cut standard in place for the state, but we have been successful a few times in getting allowances to vary due to various site conditions. A call to the local AHJ is the place to start. In the early days of our installations (mid 1990's) we used power strut and bolted panels directly to the rails. A lot slower but no gaps between panels. We went from there to designing our own "T" clamps. There wasn't as many choices then for mounting hardware. <br>
<div> </div><span style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">Max Balchowsky</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">Design Engineer</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">SEE Systems</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">1048 Irvine Ave Suite 217</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">Newport Beach, Ca. 92660</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,new york,times,serif">760-403-6810</span><div><br></div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><br><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Brian Teitelbaum <<a href="mailto:bteitelbaum@aeesolar.com" target="_blank">bteitelbaum@aeesolar.com</a>><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> RE-wrenches
<<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wed, August 25, 2010 11:40:04 AM<br><b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Tight roof layout questions: edge walkway requirements & "small gap" hardware options<br>
</font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)">Hi Mick,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)">To answer part of your post, the DPW Power Rail mid-clamps give
you a 3/8” gap between modules, and the SnapNrack mids give you a 1/2"
gap.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)">I doubt if that will give you much of a walkway though….</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)">Brian Teitelbaum</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)">AEE Solar</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"> </span></p>
<div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(181, 196, 223) -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt"> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mick
Abraham<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:09 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Tight roof layout questions: edge walkway
requirements & "small gap" hardware options</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, Team~</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">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?</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">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?</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance,</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
Mick Abraham, Proprietor<br>
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.abrahamsolar.com" target="_blank">www.abrahamsolar.com</a><br>
<br>
Voice: 970-731-4675</p>
</div>
</div>
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