Hello Benn, We have been addressing this issue here in Colorado for quite some time and have had great success with our methodology(3000+ critter guards=no failures yet). We utilize a specific wire mesh that is a little more rigid than most available online. We take time to prep the material so that it has a tight fit between the modules and roof. For example, the gap is 4". We will bend 2" in on either side so that the material is in the shape of a "C" with the long, flat side being 4". We then cut to fit each piece of mesh and mostly rely on fastening to the racking system with a stainless self-drilling screw/washer combo. With diagonal cutters, installers can easily cut a flange in the mesh and drill through this at that attachment point. We also reinforce the mesh where needed with a Spiffy clip(Heyco clips were loose on service calls where Spiffy clips were still surprisingly strong). If you are using a rail less system, more panel specific clips are necessary. Simply rolling out mesh and using j-hooks is not a great method and I have stumbled on many systems failed using this method.
I wouldn't completely write off the mesh/j-hook combo but perhaps take a look at a different methodology and incorporate fastening to the rail system. Price is another thing to consider. Our installers can quickly install a critter guard using this methodology and it only utilizes a few expensive custom clips vs. a higher quantity of cheaper yet sufficient fasteners. I have primarily focused on service calls in Colorado, and a surprising amount of calls are related to either rodents or pigeons. This is a very easy headache to avoid upfront and the cost of mesh and a few fasteners is far less than a future truck roll. Feel free to reach out to me off the list for more info as I feel we have a good track record with this specific topic. *Kyle Lord* Co-Owner & Founder Reconnect Solar, LLC Reconnect Material & Supply, LLC NABCEP Certified Installer 970.485.0207 k...@reconnectsolar.com On Wed, Jun 21, 2017 at 11:07 AM, Benn Kilburn <b...@skyfireenergy.com> wrote: > I'm hoping to get some feedback on this topic, as there was none when I > posted it back in 2015. > > Our region is seeing more and more problems with pigeons nesting under PV > arrays, mostly on new homes in newly developed areas of the city. > We have been called to some sites that had particularly bad problems with > pigeons nesting and pigeon poop covering the roof itself (surprisingly more > so that the array, unless it is just the rain washing it off the modules > easier than the roof?) and the eavestroughs filled with poop and > overflowing onto the ground. > > We really want to nip this issue in the butt since none of us want people > associating PV systems with pigeon problems. We have heard that some of > these problem houses have a neighbourhood reputation as "the pigeon house". > > Has anyone tried and had success with any of the solutions "other than" > the wire mesh and J-hooks??? I'm not confidant that the j-hooks are robust > enough to last very long. We often have several on each install that the > washer simply will not hold tight. > (See the prior post below for some other suggestions) > > Thanks! > > Benn > SkyFire Energy > > On Jul 22, 2015, at 2:00 PM, Benn Kilburn <b...@skyfireenergy.com> wrote: > > Wrenches, > I've looked and found a few older threads on the topic but thought it is a > good time to refresh our collective info on this as we are getting more > requests to install these (and it is also going to be required by code on > some systems when our province adopts the 2015 Canadian Electrical Code. > We currently use the 2012 code) > > The issue that we are directly addressing is mostly pigeons hanging > out/nesting under rooftop arrays, for now. I haven't heard of any specific > rodent issues in our region. > > I have installed the SnapNRack Edge Screen. This was on a concrete tile > roof so the problem i saw with that was the screen did not contour the > tile, leaving a small gap where one tile overlaps the one below it, roughly > 25mm (1"). This would not be an issue with keeping out pigeons, but i > could imagine that a persistent rodent could squeeze its way thru the small > gap. This would not be an issue on the more common asphalt shingle roofs > and i would say it is a solid product. > > The products i'm aware of are: > SnapNRack > Kinetic > Heyco > spiffysolar > solatrim.com > > > Kinetic, Heyco, and Spiffy each seem to be basically the same; wire mesh > and a j-hook that attaches to the module frame. > > SnapNRack is wire mesh but attaches with a more more robust clip that also > provides more vertical support to the mesh. (It was suggested that rodents > may be able to push under the mesh when its only supported at the top with > j-hooks) > > I've seen the wire mesh installed so that it comes down only as far as the > roof, so the height of the mesh is essentially the height from the top of > the mod frame to the roof surface, but i have also seen it where the mesh > is taller than this and the excess (rather than being trimmed to size) > comes down and lays out on the roof in an outward direction. It was > suggested that this may be more of a deterrent to rodents that would > otherwise push their way under the mesh if it only comes down to meet the > roof. > Comments/Suggestions? > > The last product mentioned, solatrim, is completely different from the > rest. It looks much more solid that the rest and uses a peel-and-stick > approach using a 3M adhesive tape. My first and only initial apprehension > with this one is the adhesive. While 3M makes darn good adhesives, it > leaves to question how it will hold up against our seasonal ambient > temperature swings of above +30degC to below -40degC. Their spec sheet > states it is good btwn -34.4degC to 149degC. So for me to even try it would > not be within the mfgr's specs :( > > What products have you used? What did you like/dislike about them? > > Cheers, > > *Benn Kilburn * > CSA Certified Solar Photovoltaic Systems Electrician, SkyFire Energy Inc > 6706 – 82 Ave NW | Edmonton, AB | T6B 0E7 > P: 780-474-8992 <(780)%20474-8992> | F: 888-405-5843 <(888)%20405-5843> | > www.skyfireenergy.com > [image: email] <b...@skyfireenergy.com> [image: facebook] > <https://www.facebook.com/SkyFireEnergy> [image: twitter] > <https://twitter.com/SkyFireEnergy> [image: linkedin] > <https://www.linkedin.com/company/283735?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1408655033432%2Ctas%3Askyfire%2Cidx%3A2-2-5> > [image: google] <https://plus.google.com/+SkyFireEnergy/> > > [image: SkyFire Energy Logo_horizontal] > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches. > org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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