I have been on both sides of the part of this process where this has
become somewhat normal for smaller installations. The company
overseeing the work has a Word template that is pretty clunky. I am not
a fan of this for some of the reasons stated, but the cost of on site
inspection by those who are specialized in the technology can be pretty
high. Some of the on site inspection processes are over the top too.
Most of it seems to be about gathering data to generate reports that
justifies the expense of hiring the company that is doing the
inspections.
My recommendation is if you know this is going to be required, take
pictures as the system is being built. Some of the requested
information is impractical, not acessable, etc after the system is
installed unless you are going to start taking things apart, which I am
telling the inspection company I am not going to do. Get me the process
now, and not after the fact.
Chris
On 2021-04-01 23:33, Jerry Shafer wrote:
> Wrenches
> virtual inspections are becoming normal, I am just north of Williams
> inspection and we started these pics or video all the way back to Late March
> last year, they do this for the far away location but that also where cell
> service stinks so video can be difficult
> Jerry
>
> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 10:37 AM William Miller <will...@millersolar.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Friends:
>>
>> We just finished a grid-tied project [1] that included a pretty complicated
>> service upgrade. The project is in Monterey County, California. The site
>> is pretty remote on the south end of the Big Sur coastline and Highway 1 is
>> closed (as is not uncommon) to the north with a washout. This makes it time
>> consuming for an inspector to reach the site, but even without the washout
>> the travel time is measured in hours.
>>
>> Days in advance we scheduled the final inspection on the building department
>> web-site as is SOP and were awarded a slot for yesterday. Yesterday morning
>> an inspector called at 7:30 AM to announce they were too busy to make the
>> appointment. Instead I was directed to take a series of photographs to
>> verify the validity of our installation work. Below is the list they
>> provided. Note how vague the requirements are, particularly the fifth one.
>> I was told that this process will be standard operation procedure for the
>> County of Monterey in the near future for solar installs.
>>
>> This seems wrong to me. I can't believe that any collection of photographs
>> can accurately portray if even the most simple photovoltaic system, let
>> alone one with a 300 amp CT service and 400 amp transfer switch, is
>> installed correctly. I know in the 1980s the solar water heating industry
>> had acquired a collective black-eye due to shoddy installation procedures
>> and I fear this is where the PV industry may be headed.
>>
>> I submitted a handful of photos and was granted a final approval. I have
>> very mixed feelings about this "success." I feel like I cheated on a test.
>>
>> I am curious if any of you have had a similar experience to this. As always
>> I am informed and sometimes amused by what I learn on this forum.
>>
>> List of requested photographs:
>>
>> ☐ PV module model number, quantity, and location according to the approved
>> plan.
>>
>> ☐ Roof penetrations flashed/sealed according to the approved plan.
>>
>> ☐ Array exposed cables are properly secured, supported, and routed to
>> prevent physical damage.
>>
>> ☐ Grounding/bonding of rack and modules according to the manufacturer's
>> installation instructions.
>>
>> ☐ Equipment installed, listed and labeled according to the approved plan
>> (e.g., PV modules, dc/dc converters, combiners, inverters, rapid shutdown
>> equipment).
>>
>> ☐ Overcurrent devices are the type and size according to the approved plan.
>>
>> ☐ Disconnects according to the approved plan and properly located as
>> required by the NEC.
>>
>> ☐ PV system markings, labels and signs according to the approved plan.
>>
>> ☐ Connection of the PV system to the grounding electrode system according to
>> the approved plan.
>>
>> ☐ Access and working space for operation and maintenance of PV equipment
>> such as inverters, disconnecting means and panelboards (not required for PV
>> modules) [NEC 110.26].
>>
>> ☐ The rapid shutdown system is installed and operational according to the
>> approved plan [NEC 690.12].
>>
>> William Miller
>>
>> Miller Solar
>>
>> 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
>>
>> 805-438-5600
>>
>> www.millersolar.com [2]
>>
>> CA Lic. 773985
>>
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Links:
------
[1]
https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/Portfolio/Rework/BIG-SUR-SERVICE/Big_Sur_Service_Upgrade.html
[2] http://www.millersolar.com/
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