[RE-wrenches] Florida Solar Roof Truss Affidavit - origins and applicability

[Christopher Warfel]

Good luck with that dysfunctionality.  In Rhode Island, it states that a 
PE has to sign a statement attesting to the structural integrity if non 
engineered racking system is used.  We used engineered systems as most 
everyone does. However, we now have a new Building Official that has 
reported me as I am an ME and not an Structural Engineer even though we 
are using an engineered system and the  State form says PE only.  We 
have gone from bad to worse.  I have been doing this work for over 20 
years and now because of this new person, who seems to want to mark his 
territory, I no longer can do this work. Three engineering degrees, one 
a Masters, a PE and still not good enough for RI. Chris

On 11/16/2021 8:09 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:
> This is mostly for Florida wrenches, but there may be some wider 
> insight and similarities with other jurisdictions.
>
> In Florida, many jurisdictions require a solar contractor to sign an 
> affidavit stating that solar panels are installed per certain 
> guidelines, typically that they meet some Florida Solar Energy Center 
> standard and that they are installed in or around trusses and the 
> system weight does not exceed 5 lb per square foot. The affiant signs 
> this document under the penalty of perjury in order to avoid the 
> requirement for a detailed inspection of the structural attachments.
>
> I have been on a one-man mission trying to get these documents revised 
> in each jurisdiction where I work. My problem with the document in 
> most jurisdictions is twofold:
>
> 1. The affidavit often references an FSEC design guide that is 
> intended for solar pool heating and solar domestic water heating 
> systems. It is not applicable to photovoltaic systems, yet 
> jurisdictions ask you to certify that a PV system was installed per 
> this design guide.
> 2. There are numerous products on the market and instances where a 
> decking only attachment is appropriately used without attaching to a 
> truss. There is nothing I can find in the International Building Code 
> or Florida Building Code that requires a truss attachment. If the 
> product being used is designed for decking only and if the system is 
> designed by a professional engineer, I don't see any requirement for a 
> truss attachment. Futhermore, a commercial roof may not even have 
> trusses, per se. A concrete screw or anchor may be used, or a 
> ballasted or semi-ballasted mounting system could work. Purlin 
> attachments are common. Base plates with screws in steel decking can 
> work. Perhaps the most common exception to truss attachments here are 
> standing seam clamps.
>
>
> Anyway, I'm trying to figure out the origin of these documents and how 
> they were originally applied to both solar thermal and PV systems. I 
> don't have a problem signing them if they are accurate and what I'm 
> signing is not perjurious. But I'm seeing contractors blindly doing 
> just that every day.
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Florida Solar Design Group
>
>
>
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-- 
             Christopher Warfel
                      ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
                                 401-466-8978
<http://entech-engineering.com>

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