Solar Roof Talk Jeff Spies & Susan Stark; Presented by Quick Mount PV

Special guest Johan Alfsen - Quick Mount PV’s Director of Training - talks about the recently introduced QRail racking system and what makes it a compelling consideration for rooftop PV installations. Sue and Jeff also discuss the benefits of staggering roof attachments and how the new QDesign tool offers an industry first, allowing staggering of attachments with easy to interpret engineering documentation on point loading considerations.

Jeff and Sue discuss cutting vent pipes under PV arrays, and the new relaxed roof setbacks and pathways for PV installation.

Back from Solar Power International in Vegas, Jeff and Sue chat with guest speaker Nick Korth, product marketing manager of Renewable Energies for HellermannTyton, to discuss best practices of wire management for rooftop PV arrays. Nick is also host of the “Beyond the Planet” webinar series, which addresses topics such as how weather impacts PV systems.

This week’s topics include:

Edge clips vs straps (cable ties)
Trunk vs PV cable mgmnt
Managing large cable bundles
Conduit and roof transition boxes
Rail based VS Rail free
Metal vs plastic
Plastic cable tie life
Ratings Hours exposure
Codes and Standards language and requirements are modest and lacking in guidance
NEC 110.12 neat and workmanship like manner, NEC 300.4 protecting conductors, and NEC 334.3 bend radius
UL standards UL 2703 for racking systems, UL 1565 for wire clips, UL 62275 for wire ties
Clip Retention of wires, and clip Retention on frame
Looping ties through frames
Birds, squirrels, and critter management