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Aesthetically-Pleasing Solution for Both PV and Snow

 

 

Project at a Glance

"Not only do we avoid the shipping, and on-site handling and leveling of rails, but we are able to reduce our overall cost per watt through lower material cost and installation time as compared to a rail-based solution.”

-Stephen Russell, Roost Solar

The Situation & Results

Bruce Goode, a retired cattle-ranch owner and airline pilot, recently downsized and purchased a small 8-acre equestrian estate with spectacular mountain and lake views of the Okanagan Valley area of British Columbia, Canada. The property features a new 3,500-square-foot, multi-purpose barn with a 24-gauge Cascadia Metals Black SMP Standing Seam Metal Roof.

The spacious main floor will be used as a workshop area with a tack room and riders’ lounge. The upper floor open loft area will be used as a “hunting lodge/cowboy shack” themed retreat and entertainment area complete with taxidermy mounts, in addition to a hobby/work area for gunsmithing and another area for exercising.

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What Worked?

The owner specified a standing seam metal roof for its sustainability and durability, since it is the only roof type with a service life that actually exceeds the service life of a solar PV system. This enables him to avoid potential costly disassembly of the PV array, re-roofing and re-assembly further down the road.

The ridgeline of the barn roof was oriented exactly due east/west, to afford maximum solar gain for the 90 solar panel system mounted on the south-facing upper roof and lower roof surfaces.

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Engineered Solar PV System

The S-5-PVKIT® 2.0 solar solution (in black to match the black anodized PV frames) enabled solar installers to direct-attach PV modules to the standing seams, eliminating the need for a traditional rail mounting system and provided a simple, secure, economical and penetration-free method for attaching the solar modules.

 

Durable and Long-Lasting Metal Roof System

Additionally, in the event of a nearby wildfire, a metal roof was chosen for its non-flammable, non-combustible properties, since it will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike, which also helps the owner save on insurance premiums.

 

Engineered Snow Guard System

S-5!’s X-Gard™ 2.0 snow retention pipe system was selected for its compatibility with the project’s standing seam metal roof. It is mechanically-attached with round-point setscrews, gripping the seam securely without penetration and without damage to the panels’ protective finishes.

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Long Term Outlook

The PVKIT provides an aesthetically-pleasing, penetration-free PV mounting solution. The X-Gard pipe-system reduces the risk of rooftop avalanches, providing superior holding strength required for the area’s heavy snowfall.

S-5! Products Used

The pre-assembled PVKIT® used in rail-less solar PV mounting can save you in logistics and installation time. It is compatible with all S-5! clamps and most brackets. It fits all 30-46 mm module frames and offers multiple slots for wire management.

The S-5-S (“S” stands for snap-lock) is a non-penetrating, standing seam metal roof (SSMR) clamp. The S is designed for most popular vertical snap-together profiles -- typically with vertical dimensions of 1.5” (38 mm) and 1.75” (44 mm).

Learn more about the products featured in this case study.

PVKIT S-5-S Mini Clamp
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