[RE-wrenches] Use roof rock as Ballast for Solar Racking

Mon Oct 21 19:33:42 EDT 2019

David you are correct.   I did receive the following email directly from a rep at RBI with some helpful details.   Definitely not a solution for the roof application I was thinking to use it on.

Renusol, the company that made the CS60 system was bought by RBI Solar Inc. based in Cincinnati a few years back.  Renusol Europe still exists, but is not part of RBI Solar anymore; you may find active web results for CS60+ product lines over in europe.  In the USA market, Renusol America does business as RBI Solar.  The CS60 system still exists in the USA, as does the 72 cell version, the GS72, but neither is available for use on rooftop applications.  The polymers used in the plastic tubs did not meet the construction requirements for the UL 2703 safety standard for racking regarding fire performance of racking systems on buildings.  These systems are still available by special order for ground mounted arrays, and are most commonly used for landfills, brownfields and small arrays or training arrays. 

Al Frishman
EvolvedSolar
(917) 699-6641

> On Oct 21, 2019, at 2:41 PM, David Buckner <dbuckner at solaresystems.com> wrote:
> 
> Maybe RBI will know, Renusol was acquired by them.  https://www.power-technology.com/news/newsrbi-solar-signs-agreement-to-acquire-renusol-4284595/ <https://www.power-technology.com/news/newsrbi-solar-signs-agreement-to-acquire-renusol-4284595/>
>  
> David
>  
>  
> From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>> On Behalf Of pgiroux at mindspring.com <mailto:pgiroux at mindspring.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 21, 2019 1:32 PM
> To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Use roof rock as Ballast for Solar Racking
>  
> Al
>  
>   I believe they are history. Not sure if anyone has any product left. We did a project for a Marine base in Montgomery several years ago and they had those trays left over. Not sure who owns them now, will try and find out.
>  
> Peter Giroux
> American Solar
> 678 525 0468
>  
> From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>> On Behalf Of Al Frishman
> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2019 12:42 PM
> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Use roof rock as Ballast for Solar Racking
>  
> Has anyone used Renusol CS+ ballast racking?    I found them online and there is a picture showing the trays being filled with roof rocks like I am considering.  I am having trouble getting a hold of them.   I see that there is a post in the archives from 2011 for an older version Renusol CS60.    Anyone know of a contact or distributor for them?
>  
>  
> Thanks!
>  
>  
> Al Frishman
> EvolvedSolar
> (917) 699-6641
>  
> 
> On Oct 16, 2019, at 3:48 PM, Glenn Burt <glenn.burt at glbcc.com <mailto:glenn.burt at glbcc.com>> wrote:
>  
> I am surprised you can meet the required ballast needs for uplift consistently with the vagaries of simple rock, unless you are performing packaging and weighing of all replaced ballast.
> I also see that none of the SolarDock web links work – are they still in business?
>  
> -Glenn
>  
> From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>> On Behalf Of Al Frishman
> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 12:42 PM
> To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Use roof rock as Ballast for Solar Racking
>  
> Hey Wrenchers,
> I’m working on a ballast racking project that has a ballasted roof (river rocks on the roof).   The roof can not support the addition of cement blocks so I am planning to use the river rocks that are already on the roof as the solar ballast.    I have done this before using the SolarDock racking system as it fully encloses the ballast in a tray which keeps the rocks in place.   
>  
> On the project I did about 6 yrs ago I hired a bunch of laborers to manually bag the rocks and it was quite labor intensive.    Has anyone done this using some kind of vacuum system?   I am hoping there is a better way.   
>  
> Also - Any other racking suggestions other than SolarDock for this application? 
>  
> I appreciate the feedback!
>  
> Al Frishman
> EvolvedSolar
> (917) 699-6641
>  
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