<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.5726" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>Peter:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Newport Beach, CA. They backed away from the AC run in rigid
however. It was either rigid OR a remote DC disco, operable from the
ground at the main service entrance, that would cut off all power to runs at the
array. No chimney issues as of today, at 11:24 AM PST, March 6,
2009.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>People should get their systems soon before it will be impossible to get a
permit (or afford the design changes).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All the inverter manufacturers should be working on micro inverters and
give Enphase a run for their money.</DIV>
<DIV>But a micro-inverter would not help in Pasadena, apparently.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Patrick A. Redgate<BR><B><I>AMECO Solar, Inc.<BR>7623 Somerset,
Blvd.<BR>Paramount, CA 90723<BR>562-633-4400<BR></B></I><A
href="http://www.amecosolar.com/">www.amecosolar.com</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 3/6/2009 10:56:15 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
peter.parrish@calsolareng.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>We have
an interesting situation in the enclave of Pasadena, CA. <BR><BR>(1) The
Pasadena Building and Safety Department is requiring the use of<BR>rigid
conduit (only) on any DC and AC runs for grid-tied PV systems.
They<BR>specifically prohibit EMT, LFNC and LFMC. This requirement applies to
any DC<BR>or AC runs on the roof, and it applies to any DC or AC runs on
exterior<BR>walls.<BR><BR>They do not require the use of rigid conduit on A/C
equipment, lighting or<BR>any other piece of equipment requiring
exterior-mounted conduit conveying<BR>electrical power.<BR><BR>(2) They also
disallow a rigid conduit run anywhere on the exterior surface<BR>of a chimney.
Where a conduit run on an exterior wall encounters a chimney,<BR>they require
that the conduit run follow the line where the chimney meets<BR>the wall/roof.
This means up the wall, along the roof and back down
the<BR>wall.<BR><BR>Although I think (1) is overkill, I will comply this once
and engage the AHJ<BR>before the next job we have in this town; I have graver
reservations about<BR>(2). I have lived over 50 years in California and I have
seen the results<BR>severe earthquakes can have on residential chimneys. If
the chimney goes,<BR>the first place it happens is on the unsupported portion
above the roof. The<BR>next place the chimney fails is the higher portion,
attached to the building<BR>frame. I think I can remember just one case where
a chimney failed within 3<BR>feet of the foundation, and in that case most of
the rest of the structure<BR>failed. Consequently if a chimney fails, there
will be hundreds of pounds of<BR>brick raining down on the rigid conduit where
it runs along the chimney roof<BR>interface.<BR><BR>I would argue that the
safest place for a rigid conduit run would be around<BR>the chimney in the
crawl space (if any) underneath the house, attached to<BR>floor joists. If
that option is not available I would argue for a run around<BR>(and anchored
to) the exterior chimney at about 2-3 feet above grade.<BR><BR>Is item (2)
essentially a B&S issue not addressed by the Fire Department? <BR><BR>Has
anyone encountered these sorts of requirements
elsewhere?<BR><BR>Comments?<BR><BR>- Peter<BR><BR>Peter T. Parrish,
President<BR>California Solar Engineering, Inc.<BR>820 Cynthia Ave., Los
Angeles, CA 90065<BR>Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax
323-258-8885<BR>CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert.
031806-26<BR>peter.parrish@calsolareng.com
<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>List sponsored
by Home Power magazine<BR><BR>List Address:
RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR><BR>Options &
settings:<BR>http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR><BR>List-Archive:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR><BR>List
rules & etiquette:<BR>www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<BR><BR>Check out
participant bios:<BR>www.members.re-wrenches.org<BR><BR>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR></FONT> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/>Need a job? <a href="http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000005">Find employment help in your area</a>.</font></DIV></BODY></HTML>