<div dir="auto">Imagine this... Hurricane central here and almost no jurisdictions get on the roof. Most do structural inspections by affidavit where the contractor signs their life away and accepts all liability. The structural inspection is a guy coming out and taking a picture of the affidavit (real efficient use of government resources - don't get me started). <div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The electrical inspections are decidedly more thorough, but a good reputation and clean work goes a very long way. Most of our inspections go something like, "wow, this is refreshing." The solar vultures down here end up with multiple failed inspections. based on some of the systems I have had to clean up, I'm not surprised and I'm pretty relieved. But the structural problems slip under the radar.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Jason Szumlanski</div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 1:37 PM William Miller <<a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="m_-6511998105180637105WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Friends:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">We just finished a <a href="https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/Portfolio/Rework/BIG-SUR-SERVICE/Big_Sur_Service_Upgrade.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">grid-tied project</a> that included a pretty complicated service upgrade. The project is in Monterey County, California. The site is pretty remote on the south end of the Big Sur coastline and Highway 1 is closed (as is not uncommon) to the north with a washout. This makes it time consuming for an inspector to reach the site, but even without the washout the travel time is measured in hours.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Days in advance we scheduled the final inspection on the building department web-site as is SOP and were awarded a slot for yesterday. Yesterday morning an inspector called at 7:30 AM to announce they were too busy to make the appointment. Instead I was directed to take a series of photographs to verify the validity of our installation work. Below is the list they provided. Note how vague the requirements are, particularly the fifth one. I was told that this process will be standard operation procedure for the County of Monterey in the near future for solar installs. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">This seems wrong to me. I can\u2019t believe that any collection of photographs can accurately portray if even the most simple photovoltaic system, let alone one with a 300 amp CT service and 400 amp transfer switch, is installed correctly. I know in the 1980s the solar water heating industry had acquired a collective black-eye due to shoddy installation procedures and I fear this is where the PV industry may be headed. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I submitted a handful of photos and was granted a final approval. I have very mixed feelings about this \u201csuccess.\u201d I feel like I cheated on a test. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I am curious if any of you have had a similar experience to this. As always I am informed and sometimes amused by what I learn on this forum.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">List of requested photographs:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> PV module model number, quantity, and location according to the approved plan. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Roof penetrations flashed/sealed according to the approved plan. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Array exposed cables are properly secured, supported, and routed to prevent physical damage. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Grounding/bonding of rack and modules according to the manufacturer\u2019s installation instructions. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Equipment installed, listed and labeled according to the approved plan (e.g., PV modules, dc/dc converters, combiners, inverters, rapid shutdown equipment). </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Overcurrent devices are the type and size according to the approved plan. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Disconnects according to the approved plan and properly located as required by the NEC. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> PV system markings, labels and signs according to the approved plan. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Connection of the PV system to the grounding electrode system according to the approved plan. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> Access and working space for operation and maintenance of PV equipment such as inverters, disconnecting means and panelboards (not required for PV modules) [NEC 110.26]. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"">\u2610</span> The rapid shutdown system is installed and operational according to the approved plan [NEC 690.12].</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">William Miller</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miller Solar</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">805-438-5600</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.millersolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.millersolar.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CA Lic. 773985</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div>
_______________________________________________<br>
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br>
<br>
List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
Change listserver email address & settings:<br>
<a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:<br>
<a href="https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
List rules & etiquette:<br>
<a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br>
<br>
Check out or update participant bios:<br>
<a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>