<div dir="auto"><div>Dan, </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I think there should more discussions on ground-mounted arrays as an option in addition to rooftop systems - to get out ahead of any issues. In addition, any renderings for ground-mounted arrays and ground-mounted stuff as ESSs. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">1. By definition, a brush could mean a "slight and fleeting touch" - which we do not want to do at these times :) or "undergrowth, small trees and shrubs." </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">2. The challenge also in one and and two family dwellings when there is a setback of only (3) three feet as an accessory structure and the (10) foot rule.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">3. I think mounts can be categorized in general as SPMs (Side of Pole Mounts), TPMs (Top of Pole Mounts), MPM's (Multiple Pole Mounts) or an Open Structure with the ability to walk underneath or a Closed structure where you can not walk underneath. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">4. BTW, you may wish to look at versions of ISEP and the IRC too? </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px">"A. RS402.4 (R324.6) Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems.</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px">Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with Section (R301).</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px">B. RS402.4.1 (R324.6.1) Fire separation distances.</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px">Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems shall be subject to the fire separation distance requirements determined by the local jurisdiction."</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px"><br></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px">5. Gravel and the various types is also my goto soil amendment. In California, I'd also suggest working with a C27 Landscaping Contractor on what type of blue flowers would be okay. </p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px"><br></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 8px">What do you think?</p></div><div dir="auto"><br><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="auto">All the best, <br><br>Martin Herzfeld, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) Certified Master Trainer \u2122 for Photovoltaics (PV) Installation Professional #IREC 10037<br>Contract Training Provider (CTP)<br>Adjunct Professor, Energy<br><br>California Solar & Electrical Contractor License #00833782 C46, C10, D56, D31, C-7<br>Solar, Electrical, Trenching, Pole Installation & Maintenance, Instrumentation<br><br>Contract Solar (PV) Technical Inspector - 3rd Party Inspections <br>Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Certified PV Installer #17, OSHA 30<br>OSHA-Authorized Construction Trainer #32-0105338<br>CompTIA Certified Technical Classroom Trainer (CTT+) #T3NSZCNBBKB4QTQG<br><br>* Professional Member, International Association of Electrical Inspectors #7035507<br>* Accredited and Registered North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Continuing Education (CE) Provider<br><br>Telephone & Text: 510.243.0190<br> </div><br><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 20, 2020, 4:06 PM Dan Fink <<a href="mailto:danbob88@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">danbob88@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>Hello esteemed Wrenches; I am trying to clear this up for a client and his AHJ, which is also puzzled at how to interpret IFC 2018, Section 1204.4, which states:</div><div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Setback requirements shall not apply to ground-mounted, free-standing photovoltaic arrays. A clear, brush-free area of 10 feet (3048 mm) shall be required for ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays.</blockquote><div> </div><div>I found one lone informational note in a white paper stating this was to prevent a burning PV array from igniting surrounding vegetation and the fire spreading.</div><div><br></div><div>So, has anyone dealt with an AHJ on this before? Our questions are:</div><div><ul><li>What exactly is a "free-standing photovoltaic array" that is exempt? A pole mount? Couldn't burning debris from that ignite vegetation underneath?</li><li>What exactly does "A clear, brush-free area of 10 feet (3048 mm)" mean? "10 feet" is a linear measurement, not an area, that would be in square feet.</li><li>What is "brush"? Does grass count as brush?</li></ul></div><div>I would interpret this on the safe side as meaning that all vegetation under the PV array and out to a 10 foot perimeter should be cleared, except for pole-mount arrays (that exception makes no sense to me).</div><div><br></div><div>I always recommend to clients that the area <i>under</i> the ground mount array should be pea gravel bordered by railroad ties, but out to 10 feet from the array edge seems excessive.</div><div><br></div><div>Any input greatly appreciated!</div><div><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Dan Fink</span></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting</span><br></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:12.8px">NABCEP PV Associate</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:12.8px">NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector</span></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)">IREC Certified Instructor\u2122 for: </div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)">~ PV Installation Professional</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)">~ Small Wind Installer</div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:12.8px;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit">NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers</span><br></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="mailto:dan.fink@greendustrialtraining.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">d</a><a href="mailto:anbob88@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">anbob88@gmail.com</a></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12.8px;line-height:inherit;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(34,34,34)">970-672-4342</div></div><br> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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