Structural Code Considerations for Solar Rooftop Installations.

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1166692· OSTI ID:1166692

Dwyer, Stephen F.; Dwyer, Brian P.; Sanchez, Alfred

Residential rooftop solar panel installations are limited in part by the high cost of structural related code requirements for field installation. Permitting solar installations is difficult because there is a belief among residential permitting authorities that typical residential rooftops may be structurally inadequate to support the additional load associated with a photovoltaic (PV) solar installation. Typical engineering methods utilized to calculate stresses on a roof structure involve simplifying assumptions that render a complex non-linear structure to a basic determinate beam. This method of analysis neglects the composite action of the entire roof structure, yielding a conservative analysis based on a rafter or top chord of a truss. Consequently, the analysis can result in an overly conservative structural analysis. A literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of the conservative nature of the regulations and codes governing residential construction and the associated structural system calculations.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1166692
• Report Number(s): SAND2014-20601; 553868
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English