Section 1204.4 of the 2018 IFC exempts free-standing, ground-mounted arrays from setback requirements, but does require a clear, brush-free area of 10 feet for ground-mounted arrays.
Of course this all depends on what codes your jurisdiction enforces - no California, the rest of the country doesn't always do it exactly the way you do :) Brian Mehalic NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59 520.204.6639 Solar Energy International http://www.solarenergy.org SEI Professional Services http://www.seisolarpros.com On Wed, Apr 4, 2018 at 9:15 AM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar < offgridso...@sti.net> wrote: > It always depends on who you are working with ! Because of you folks > putting solar panels on roofs, I have had a few fire Captains ask about > clearances on ground mounted trackers:( > > Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar > "we go where powerlines don't" > http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ > e-mail offgridso...@sti.net > text 209 813 0060 > > > Darryl: > > > > > > > > If you are talking about California, I must respectfully disagree. If > you > > are not talking about California, I am ignorant. > > > > > > > > California Fire Code, 2016 version, states the following for group R-3 > > buildings (which I am fairly certain includes single family homes). This > > includes provisions for pitched roofs. Upon first reading, I do not see > > any improvements over the previous version (2012) except that it appears > > clearance from valleys has reduced from 36†to 18†. > > > > > > > > These regulations are implemented by local fire Marshalls in California > > (sometimes the same person as the Chief, sometimes not). This gives the > > Marshalls complete discretion. I have had good luck negotiating with > > Marshalls and finding good compromises. > > > > > > > > Excerpt from 2016 California fire code. > > > > > > > > *605.11.1.1 Roof access points. Roof access points* > > > > *shall be located in areas that do not require the placement* > > > > *of ground ladders over openings such as windows* > > > > *or doors, and located at strong points of building construction* > > > > *in locations where the access point does not* > > > > *conflict with overhead obstructions such as tree limbs,* > > > > *wires or signs.* > > > > > > > > *605.11.1.2 Solar photovoltaic systems for Group R-3* > > > > *buildings. Solar photovoltaic systems for Group R-3* > > > > *buildings shall comply with Sections 605.11.1.2.1* > > > > *through 605.11.1.2.5.* > > > > *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to* > > > > *structures designed and constructed in accordance* > > > > *with the California Residential Code.* > > > > *605.11.1.2.1 Size of solar photovoltaic array. Each* > > > > *photovoltaic array shall be limited to 150 feet (45* > > > > *720 mm) by 150 feet (45 720 mm). Multiple arrays* > > > > *shall be separated by a 3-foot-wide (914 mm) clear* > > > > *access pathway.* > > > > *605.11.1.2.2 Hip roof layouts. Panels and modules* > > > > *installed on Group R-3 buildings with hip roof layouts* > > > > *shall be located in a manner that provides a 3-* > > > > *foot-wide (914 mm) clear access pathway from the* > > > > *eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels* > > > > *and modules are located. The access pathway shall* > > > > *be at a location on the building capable of supporting* > > > > *the fire fighters accessing the roof.* > > > > *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to* > > > > *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units* > > > > *horizontal (2:12) or less.* > > > > *605.11.1.2.3 Single-ridge roofs. Panels and modules* > > > > *installed on Group R-3 buildings with a single* > > > > *ridge shall be located in a manner that provides two,* > > > > *3-foot-wide (914 mm) access pathways from the* > > > > *eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels* > > > > *and modules are located.* > > > > *Exception: This requirement shall not apply to* > > > > *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units* > > > > *horizontal (2:12) or less.* > > > > *605.11.1.2.4 Roofs with hips and valleys. Panels* > > > > *and modules installed on Group R-3 buildings with* > > > > *roof hips and valleys shall not be located closer than* > > > > *18 inches (457 mm) to a hip or a valley where panels/* > > > > *modules are to be placed on both sides of a hip or* > > > > *valley. Where panels are to be located on only one* > > > > *side of a hip or valley that is of equal length, the* > > > > *panels shall be permitted to be placed directly adjacent* > > > > *to the hip or valley.* > > > > *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to* > > > > *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units* > > > > *horizontal (2:12) or less.* > > > > *605.11.1.2.5 Allowance for smoke ventilation* > > > > *operations. Panels and modules installed on Group* > > > > *R-3 buildings shall be located not less than 3 feet* > > > > *(914 mm) from the ridge** in order to allow for fire* > > > > *department smoke ventilation operations.* > > > > *Exception: Panels and modules shall be permitted* > > > > *to be located up to the roof ridge where an* > > > > *alternative ventilation method approved by the* > > > > *fire chief has been provided or where the fire* > > > > *chief has determined vertical ventilation techniques* > > > > *will not be employed.* > > > > *605.11.1.2.6 Locations of DC conductors. Conduit,* > > > > *wiring systems, and raceways for photovoltaic circuits* > > > > *shall be located as close as possible to the* > > > > *ridge or hip or valley and from the hip or valley as* > > > > *directly as possible to an outside wall to reduce trip* > > > > *hazards and maximize ventilation opportunities.* > > > > *Conduit runs between sub arrays and to DC combiner* > > > > *boxes shall be installed in a manner that minimizes* > > > > *the total amount of conduit on the roof by* > > > > *taking the shortest path from the array to the DC* > > > > *combiner box. The DC combiner boxes shall be* > > > > *located such that conduit runs are minimized in the* > > > > *pathways between arrays. DC wiring shall be* > > > > *installed in metallic conduit or raceways when* > > > > *located within enclosed spaces in a building. Conduit* > > > > *shall run along the bottom of load bearing* > > > > *members.* > > > > > > > > > > > > [image: Gradient Cap_mini] > > Lic 773985 > > millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> > > 805-438-5600 > > > > > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] > *On > > Behalf Of *Darryl Thayer > > *Sent:* Tuesday, April 03, 2018 8:51 PM > > *To:* newrewrenches > > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Clearance clarification please > > > > > > > > It is in the building code. It is for commercial flat roofs not for > > residential > > > > > > > > On Tue, Apr 3, 2018, 2:52 PM <ch...@oasismontana.com> wrote: > > > > Hey folks: > > > > > > > > What section of the Code relates to the 3' clearance for a solar array? > > …as in, the roof area around the array. I’ve been scrutinizing the > > NEC til > > my eyes are crossed….. > > > > > > > > THANKS! > > > > > > > > > > > > Chris Daum > > > > Oasis Montana Inc. > > > > 406-777-4309 > > > > 406-777-4309 fax > > > > www.oasismontana.com > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > > > > Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar > "we go where powerlines don't" > http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ > e-mail offgridso...@sti.net > text 209 813 0060 > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > >
_______________________________________________ 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
