Dana,<br><br>Washington DC, Baltimore MD, San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland CA - none require "roof footing inspections". However, one of our local AHJs does require a letter on company letterhead stating our roof guarantee - maybe something you could try. We are also required to get structural engineer stamped drawings in most jurisdictions in Maryland. <br>
<br>This document has some info you might find useful:<br><br><a href="http://www.solartech.org/index.php/about/29-objectives/18-buildingpermits">http://www.solartech.org/index.php/about/29-objectives/18-buildingpermits</a><br>
<br>But when faced with unreasonable AHJs I don't think any way foreword is better than just sitting down with the Head of Permitting and explaining exactly how you install, preferably with visual aids. And since yours seems to be especially worried about leaks make sure you have a good counterflashed waterproofing solution to show him. Tell him you want to work with him but that many solar installs are completed in a day or two and to accommodate an inspection in the middle severely impacts your project timeline.<br>
<br>And of course it couldn't hurt to bring a box of donuts.<br><br>Good luck!<br><br><br>Andrew Truitt<br>Standard Solar<br><br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 6:13 PM, Dana Brandt <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dana@ecotechenergy.com">dana@ecotechenergy.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Thanks for all the feedback. Sounds like there's a ton of variation from one jurisdiction to another. Would you all be willing to send me a list of large cities you've worked in that do not require a building permit? I'd like to use that to make a case against the requirement.<br>
<br>I just got back from the inspection which verified that - yes indeed, there are L-feet and rails on the roof. Seems pretty silly...<br><br>Thanks again,<div class="Ih2E3d"><br><br>Dana<br><br>-- <br>Dana Brandt<br>Ecotech Energy Systems, LLC<br>
<a href="http://www.ecotechenergy.com" target="_blank">www.ecotechenergy.com</a><br><a href="mailto:dana@ecotechenergy.com" target="_blank">dana@ecotechenergy.com</a><br>360.510.0433<br><br><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">
<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c">On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 8:11 AM, Paul Israel <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:paul@sunlightsolar.com" target="_blank">paul@sunlightsolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c">
<div link="blue" vlink="blue" lang="EN-US">
<div>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Dana, </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Firstly we all truly sympathize, I have
never heard of that one! </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Not one building department - has required
that. We have installed in Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Reno - Nevada,
and Massachusetts.
</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">We are inspected consistently for concrete
pours (rebar/pads/ground mounts/pole mounts). For most roofs in CT we are
usually required to have an Engineers Stamp for the layout relative to the
rafter loading. It depends on the jurisdiction or whether they had
their coffee. It is random.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I would try and push the manufacturer's
installation instructions or get a local engineering stamp on the layout as an
alternative.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">On a lighter note, make sure to leave some
exposed wet caulk. After messing up their car, paperwork, and a
couple layers of skin they surely won't want to do that again. </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Good luck and let us know how it works
out. </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size="3" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"><img width="69" height="58"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">Paul N. Israel, President</span></font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:paul@sunlightsolar.com" target="_blank"><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">paul@sunlightsolar.com</span></font></a></span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.sunlightsolar.com/" target="_blank"><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">www.sunlightsolar.com</span></font></a></span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">541/389-3480 (Oregon)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">203/878-9123 x103 (CT)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">860/617-6527 (Cell)</span></font><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<hr size="2" width="100%" align="center">
</span></font></div>
<p><b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> <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><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Dana Brandt<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Monday, December 08, 2008
5:46 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [RE-wrenches] building
permits for PV</span></font></p>
</div><div><div></div><div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hi all,<br>
<br>
Until recently, we've only been required to have an electrical permit for
flush-mounted PV systems. The city has now decided to require building permits
for all PV systems and wants to come out and inspect our L-feet attachments and
rails before the modules can go up. This seems crazy to me. What are other
jurisdictions requiring? I'd love some information I can take to the city
showing that other jurisdictions aren't requiring this type of process.<br>
<br>
Thanks a lot,<br>
<br>
Dana<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
Dana Brandt<br>
Ecotech Energy Systems, LLC<br>
<a href="http://www.ecotechenergy.com" target="_blank">www.ecotechenergy.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:dana@ecotechenergy.com" target="_blank">dana@ecotechenergy.com</a><br>
360.510.0433</span></font></p>
</div></div></div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>"Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"<br>
<br>~William McDonough<br><br>