I didn't have the opportunity to investigate it with any forensic/scientific methodology. The clamps could have been very close to the eave, spaced too far in the corner zones, cantilevers could have been excessive... it's hard to tell. But I was surprised by the failure mode as well. It did give me confidence that the S-5's would not separate from the seams at least. FWIW it was Unirac standard rail with SolarWorld 60-cell on a 3:12 pitch at about 25 feet height, right on the beach (170 mph ultimate design wind speed, Exp D).
Jason On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 3:37 PM Will White <w...@solarenergy.org> wrote: > That's a really interesting failure mode. I would have thought the > fasteners would have pulled out but I guess it makes sense that the metal > ripped. > > On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 3:19 PM Jason Szumlanski < > ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: > >> I would say it was the metal itself. It was torn, so the clips that hold >> the metal to the roof held, at least long enough for the metal to tear. It >> is completely plausible that the point load was too high from too few >> clamps. >> >> >> >> On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 8:16 AM Will White <w...@solarenergy.org> wrote: >> >>> It's interesting that you experienced this as I've always told customers >>> that the roof will come off the building with the array attached before the >>> array comes off the metal roof. Sounds like the issue was with the >>> attachment (or lack of) between the roof and the building. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Will >>> >>> -- >>> *Will White* >>> Curriculum Developer >>> >>> e: w...@solarenergy.org >>> w: www.solarenergy.org >>> p: 802-272-3092 >>> >>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional >>> # 093006-34 >>> Do you envision a world powered by renewable energy? Be the change >>> <http://solarenergy.org/donate>. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Oct 18, 2020 at 5:41 PM Jason Szumlanski < >>> ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I would add that S-5s are only as good as the roof. We saw a large >>>> system (not ours) that ripped the metal right off the roof during Hurricane >>>> Irma. It literally tore the meta. The panels, rails, and S-5s were still >>>> connected, sitting on the ground with chunks of metal roofing still >>>> attached to the S-5s. It was quite the mangled mess. We salvaged quite a >>>> bit, but the client built a ground rack after this. >>>> >>>> To be fair, this was a totally exposed beachfront home. I don't know >>>> what the spacing was on the clamps, either. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sun, Oct 18, 2020 at 12:00 PM Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Wrenches >>>>> I think what you said is totally true,"its only as good as the >>>>> instalation" but here is where l differ, S-5's if installed correctly are >>>>> no different than anything else installed on the roof. >>>>> Jerry >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Oct 18, 2020, 8:42 AM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar < >>>>> offgridso...@sti.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> The S5 is only as good as the installer. I have seen them come off >>>>>> with a string of panels on an insurance inspection I did. >>>>>> >>>>>> I billed them and made another note in my journal of why the only >>>>>> thing that should go on a metal roof is rainwater. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar >>>>>> "we go where powerlines don't" >>>>>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ >>>>>> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> >>>>>> e-mail offgridso...@sti.net <offgridso...@sti.net> >>>>>> text 209 813 0060* >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sat, 17 Oct 2020 21:37:07 -0400, Hilton Dier III < >>>>>> hiltond...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm with Jerry Shafer on this one. S-5 clamps with rails work well >>>>>> without punching holes in the metal roof. If the roof is fastened well to >>>>>> beefy steel C channel it should be fine. The S-5 clamps themselves are >>>>>> stronger than the roofing. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Hilton Dier III >>>>>> Missisquoi River Hydro >>>>>> Renewable Energy Design >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >
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