<div dir="ltr">Section 1204.4 of the 2018 IFC exempts free-standing, ground-mounted arrays from setback requirements, but does require a clear, brush-free area of 10 feet for ground-mounted arrays.<div><br></div><div>Of course this all depends on what codes your jurisdiction enforces - no California, the rest of the country doesn't always do it exactly the way you do :)</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div>Brian Mehalic <br>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional\u2122 R031508-59</div><div>520.204.6639<br><div><br></div><div><div><div>Solar Energy International<br><a href="http://www.solarenergy.org" target="_blank">http://www.solarenergy.org</a></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>SEI Professional Services</div><div><a href="http://www.seisolarpros.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.8px">http://www.s</span>eisolarpros.com</a><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr 4, 2018 at 9:15 AM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:offgridsolar@sti.net" target="_blank">offgridsolar@sti.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">It always depends on who you are working with ! Because of you folks<br>
putting solar panels on roofs, I have had a few fire Captains ask about<br>
clearances on ground mounted trackers:(<br>
<br>
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar<br>
"we go where powerlines don't"<br>
<a href="http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://members.sti.net/<wbr>offgridsolar/</a><br>
e-mail <a href="mailto:offgridsolar@sti.net">offgridsolar@sti.net</a><br>
text 209 813 0060<br>
<span class=""><br>
> Darryl:<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> If you are talking about California, I must respectfully disagree. If you<br>
> are not talking about California, I am ignorant.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> California Fire Code, 2016 version, states the following for group R-3<br>
> buildings (which I am fairly certain includes single family homes). This<br>
> includes provisions for pitched roofs. Upon first reading, I do not see<br>
> any improvements over the previous version (2012) except that it appears<br>
</span>> clearance from valleys has reduced from 36â\u20ac to 18â\u20ac .<br>
<span class="">><br>
><br>
><br>
> These regulations are implemented by local fire Marshalls in California<br>
> (sometimes the same person as the Chief, sometimes not). This gives the<br>
> Marshalls complete discretion. I have had good luck negotiating with<br>
> Marshalls and finding good compromises.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Excerpt from 2016 California fire code.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
</span>> *605.11.1.1 Roof access points. Roof access points*<br>
><br>
> *shall be located in areas that do not require the placement*<br>
><br>
> *of ground ladders over openings such as windows*<br>
><br>
> *or doors, and located at strong points of building construction*<br>
><br>
> *in locations where the access point does not*<br>
><br>
> *conflict with overhead obstructions such as tree limbs,*<br>
><br>
> *wires or signs.*<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2 Solar photovoltaic systems for Group R-3*<br>
><br>
> *buildings. Solar photovoltaic systems for Group R-3*<br>
><br>
> *buildings shall comply with Sections 605.11.1.2.1*<br>
><br>
> *through 605.11.1.2.5.*<br>
><br>
> *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to*<br>
><br>
> *structures designed and constructed in accordance*<br>
><br>
> *with the California Residential Code.*<br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2.1 Size of solar photovoltaic array. Each*<br>
><br>
> *photovoltaic array shall be limited to 150 feet (45*<br>
><br>
> *720 mm) by 150 feet (45 720 mm). Multiple arrays*<br>
><br>
> *shall be separated by a 3-foot-wide (914 mm) clear*<br>
><br>
> *access pathway.*<br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2.2 Hip roof layouts. Panels and modules*<br>
><br>
> *installed on Group R-3 buildings with hip roof layouts*<br>
><br>
> *shall be located in a manner that provides a 3-*<br>
><br>
> *foot-wide (914 mm) clear access pathway from the*<br>
><br>
> *eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels*<br>
><br>
> *and modules are located. The access pathway shall*<br>
><br>
> *be at a location on the building capable of supporting*<br>
><br>
> *the fire fighters accessing the roof.*<br>
><br>
> *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to*<br>
><br>
> *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units*<br>
><br>
> *horizontal (2:12) or less.*<br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2.3 Single-ridge roofs. Panels and modules*<br>
><br>
> *installed on Group R-3 buildings with a single*<br>
><br>
> *ridge shall be located in a manner that provides two,*<br>
><br>
> *3-foot-wide (914 mm) access pathways from the*<br>
><br>
> *eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels*<br>
><br>
> *and modules are located.*<br>
><br>
> *Exception: This requirement shall not apply to*<br>
><br>
> *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units*<br>
><br>
> *horizontal (2:12) or less.*<br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2.4 Roofs with hips and valleys. Panels*<br>
><br>
> *and modules installed on Group R-3 buildings with*<br>
><br>
> *roof hips and valleys shall not be located closer than*<br>
><br>
> *18 inches (457 mm) to a hip or a valley where panels/*<br>
><br>
> *modules are to be placed on both sides of a hip or*<br>
><br>
> *valley. Where panels are to be located on only one*<br>
><br>
> *side of a hip or valley that is of equal length, the*<br>
><br>
> *panels shall be permitted to be placed directly adjacent*<br>
><br>
> *to the hip or valley.*<br>
><br>
> *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to*<br>
><br>
> *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units*<br>
><br>
> *horizontal (2:12) or less.*<br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2.5 Allowance for smoke ventilation*<br>
><br>
> *operations. Panels and modules installed on Group*<br>
><br>
> *R-3 buildings shall be located not less than 3 feet*<br>
><br>
> *(914 mm) from the ridge** in order to allow for fire*<br>
><br>
> *department smoke ventilation operations.*<br>
><br>
> *Exception: Panels and modules shall be permitted*<br>
><br>
> *to be located up to the roof ridge where an*<br>
><br>
> *alternative ventilation method approved by the*<br>
><br>
> *fire chief has been provided or where the fire*<br>
><br>
> *chief has determined vertical ventilation techniques*<br>
><br>
> *will not be employed.*<br>
><br>
> *605.11.1.2.6 Locations of DC conductors. Conduit,*<br>
><br>
> *wiring systems, and raceways for photovoltaic circuits*<br>
><br>
> *shall be located as close as possible to the*<br>
><br>
> *ridge or hip or valley and from the hip or valley as*<br>
><br>
> *directly as possible to an outside wall to reduce trip*<br>
><br>
> *hazards and maximize ventilation opportunities.*<br>
><br>
> *Conduit runs between sub arrays and to DC combiner*<br>
><br>
> *boxes shall be installed in a manner that minimizes*<br>
><br>
> *the total amount of conduit on the roof by*<br>
><br>
> *taking the shortest path from the array to the DC*<br>
><br>
> *combiner box. The DC combiner boxes shall be*<br>
><br>
> *located such that conduit runs are minimized in the*<br>
><br>
> *pathways between arrays. DC wiring shall be*<br>
><br>
> *installed in metallic conduit or raceways when*<br>
><br>
> *located within enclosed spaces in a building. Conduit*<br>
><br>
> *shall run along the bottom of load bearing*<br>
><br>
> *members.*<br>
<span class="">><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> [image: Gradient Cap_mini]<br>
> Lic 773985<br>
</span>> <a href="http://millersolar.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">millersolar.com</a> <<a href="http://www.millersolar.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.millersolar.com/</a>><br>
> 805-438-5600<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@<wbr>lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] *On<br>
> Behalf Of *Darryl Thayer<br>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 03, 2018 8:51 PM<br>
> *To:* newrewrenches<br>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Clearance clarification please<br>
<span class="">><br>
><br>
><br>
> It is in the building code. It is for commercial flat roofs not for<br>
> residential<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On Tue, Apr 3, 2018, 2:52 PM <<a href="mailto:chris@oasismontana.com">chris@oasismontana.com</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> Hey folks:<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> What section of the Code relates to the 3' clearance for a solar array?<br>
</span>> â\u20ac¦as in, the roof area around the array. Iâ\u20ac\u2122ve been scrutinizing the<br>
> NEC til<br>
> my eyes are crossedâ\u20ac¦..<br>
<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5">><br>
><br>
><br>
> THANKS!<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Chris Daum<br>
><br>
> Oasis Montana Inc.<br>
><br>
> 406-777-4309<br>
><br>
> 406-777-4309 fax<br>
><br>
> <a href="http://www.oasismontana.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.oasismontana.com</a><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
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</div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar<br>
"we go where powerlines don't"<br>
<a href="http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://members.sti.net/<wbr>offgridsolar/</a><br>
e-mail <a href="mailto:offgridsolar@sti.net">offgridsolar@sti.net</a><br>
text 209 813 0060<br>
</font></span><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br>
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