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We’ve covered the topic of Solar Powered Systems in residential and commercial buildings in many other posts, but have you ever wondered if a system can be installed during the construction of a building?
While IES Texas Solar installs Solar Powered Systems in already existing homes and businesses, they also install them as a new building is being constructed. As expected, this comes with some considerations that are unique to this type of installation. In this post, we’ll be taking a look at what goes into installing a Solar Powered System into a building that is in the construction process.
New Construction Has a Different Set of Things to Consider
The type of building and what the building was originally designed for has a lot to do with how solar panels can be installed on the roof. When designing a building or working with solar consultants during the construction process, you can work with IES Texas Solar to make sure that when the building is constructed that it can support the additional weight that your solar panels will add. Some buildings, for example, are value engineered and may not be designed to handle the extra weight placed upon it by your solar panels.
Construction Phase
Choosing to install a Solar Powered System during the construction phase of a building is an exceptionally effective way to go about making sure that your home or business is able to support the system’s weight. Of course, you can always switch to solar in the future, but installing during the construction phase allows you and your family to enjoy the benefits (saving money on electric bills, having more control over your power) immediately.
In addition to information on what sort of roof it is, other systems that are going to be installed must be taken into account as well. Here is a list of things that our Solar Engineers take into consideration when Solar is installed while your building is being constructed:
- What material is your roof made of?
Is your roof made of membrane material (EPDM)? Is it covered in gravel? Modified Bitumen? The type of material that your roof is made of will be a large factor in determining the type of racking that will be used for your Solar Powered System. With membrane-type roofs like EPDM, the team installing your Solar Powered System has to contact the manufacturer to make sure that the roof warranty is maintained. It is also important to know whether or not your roof, if made of membrane material, is either glued together by using heated adhesives to seal the roof or if it is put together by fasteners. In the case of fasteners, some types of solar arrays, like ballasted arrays, have to be supplemented with mechanical attachments to secure them.
- Where are the fire and service paths?
In order to be safe and up to code, the location and ease of access to service and fire paths must be accounted for.
- HVAC – Where will the HVAC go?
Some commercial buildings have HVAC units or other equipment on the roof, so it’s important to take its placement into consideration. This is especially important when considering the amount of weight that is being loaded onto the roof by equipment, as well as whether or not the equipment blocks sunlight for the solar panels.
- Where are the drains located?
This is especially important for buildings with flat roofs. In most cases, the solar panels will be built in a way that allows them to bridge over drains and water that may be present on the roof. There are some types of drains with caging that are used on roofs, but in all cases your Solar Powered System will be designed with all of these in mind.
- What is the pitch of the roof?
The roof pitch plays a big part in how the solar array is installed as well as what types of racking is used. A difference of as little as a few degrees will determine what sort of racking is used.
- What are the dimensions of the building?
The height of the building is a big factor when it comes to installing a Solar Powered System. The taller the building, the stronger the wind is likely to be. As we’ve touched on before, the wind is taken into account in designing each Solar Powered System.
- What is the surrounding area like?
The area surrounding the building is another important component that warrants consideration for a new system. If the building being constructed is surrounded by other buildings, then the wind exposure and amount of sunlight that it receives are taken into account in the design. Conversely, a new building that occupies something like an open field and has no buildings around it will be affected by wind and other environmental factors (such as trees) differently due to their proximity to the ground and absence of other buildings, which may affect the wind speed that your panels are subjected to.
Electrical considerations
In addition to things like the environment and other equipment that may be on the roof, figuring out where your Solar Powered System will be integrated into your building’s electrical system is something the design and installation teams will cover. The locations of electrical conduit paths, where the system will tie into the building’s electrical system, and if you intend to have a generator are also accounted for. Generators change the way that your solar array will be designed. In some cases, the solar array can be tied directly into the building’s electrical system while the building is still under construction.
What about ground mounted siting?
In some cases, the solar array for a brand new building will be installed on a portion of vacant land. In this case, the surrounding area must still be taken into consideration during the design process. The area should be free of shade so that your panels generate the greatest amount of power possible. On top of that, a point of common connection (POCC) must be established for the solar array to tap into and run parallel to your utility feed. Most of the time this line is underground.
City and area requirements are also something that needs to be considered. A ground mounted solar array may be required to be surrounded by a type of fence with the fence itself being placed a certain distance from the panels.
It might go without saying that even if you want to install solar on a building that has already been completed, switching to solar is still one of the best investments you can make for your home or business.
If your business is considering constructing a new building while installing a Solar Powered System, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
