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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="line-break:after-white-space"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Rick:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I think this is a state by state issue. From <a href="https://www.nist.gov/buildings-construction/understanding-building-codes">this article</a>:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Building codes vary from state to state and between jurisdictions.”<span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">In all jusrisdictions in my part of California, the local Fire Marshal is the final arbiter on what is allowed. Some building departments provide specifications for setbacks and some require I submit a plan for review to the Fire Marshal. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">If you are seeing conflicting requirements, reach out to the Fire Marshal and the building department. What I get away with will have little bearing on how your local officials may rule.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I have obtained variances for being a few inches short of the required distance or if the pathway that the setback would create is otherwise inaccesble due to lack of safe ladder-set location. This was accomplished by approaching the Fire Marshall with a clear drawing and good logic.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I hope this helps,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">William Miller</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">PS: The article you cite reads like the world, as we know it, will end with the adoption of setbacks in Virginia. I felt the same way years ago when California adopted setbacks, but I am still alive. Sure, some projects allow less PV on a roof now, but I have to rely on experts to inform me what is safe for firefighters because I have no expertise on the issue.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">WM</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Miller Solar</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">805-438-5600</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.millersolar.com/"><span style="color:blue">www.millersolar.com</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">CA Lic. 773985</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>rick--- via RE-wrenches<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 7, 2023 12:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:rick@solshineenergy.com">rick@solshineenergy.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] 2018 Residential Code Fire Setbacks</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Wrenches,</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Looking for some guidance on setbacks at ridge for PV systems. The 2018 code states the following:</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><h1 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing:inherit;border-top-left-radius:inherit;border-top-right-radius:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);background-repeat:no-repeat" id="text-id-22058150"><span class="sectionnumber"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:blue"><span class="msoIns"><ins>R324.6.2 </ins></span></span></span><span class="level3title"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:blue"><span class="msoIns"><ins>Setback at ridge.</ins></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto"></span></h1><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white;box-sizing:inherit;border-bottom-left-radius:inherit;border-bottom-right-radius:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);background-repeat:no-repeat" id="text-id-22058150-0"><span style="font-family:Roboto;color:blue"><span class="msoIns"><ins>For photovoltaic arrays occupying not more than 33 percent of the plan view total roof area, not less than an 18-inch (457 mm) clear setback is required on both sides of a horizontal ridge. For photovoltaic arrays occupying more than 33 percent of the plan view total roof area, not less than a 36-inch (914 mm) clear setback is required on both sides of a horizontal ridge.</ins></span></span><span style="font-family:Roboto"></span></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">In reading <a href="https://ipsunsolar.com/new-fire-code-setbacks-in-virginia-will-limit-the-size-of-solar-projects/">this </a>article put out by Ipsun Solar regarding the setbacks, they state that if there’s no PV on the opposite side of the roof no setback is required, although their diagram shows a 12” setback. I don’t see any exceptions in the code that indicate that. What’re you all doing for ridge setbacks? </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">Thanks,</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">rick brown<br>SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC<br>Electrical & Solar Contracting Services<br><a href="http://www.SolShineEnergy.com">www.SolShineEnergy.com</a><br>Roanoke, VA</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black">Office: 540.235.3095<br>Mobile: 540.808.9502<br><br>VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660<br>VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762<br>VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer <br>NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21</span></p></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"><br></span><img border="0" width="144" height="102" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D99946.45476E90" alt="solshine-01-18-17 copy.jpg"></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></body></html>