Date post: | 20-Jun-2015 |
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Low Slope PV Code Requirements
q This webinar will be available afterwards at www.solarpowerworldonline.com & email
q Q&A at the end of the presentation q Hashtag for this webinar: #SolarWebinar
Before We Start
Steven Bushong Solar Power World
Moderator Presenter
Chad Parsons Ecolibrium Solar
Codes & Standards for Low Slope PV System
Presented by: Chad Parsons
Agenda • Ecolibrium Solar introductions & highlights • Mounting system types • Code and regulations • Questions & answers
Ecolibrium Solar • Founded in 2010 • Leadership team • CEO – Jan Willem Van der Werff • CTO – Brian Wildes (Founder) • VP, BD – Joe Viny • GM, C&I – Chad Parsons • GM, Residential – Sam Veague
• Locations • Headquarters – Athens, Ohio • R&D Center – Boulder, Colorado • Manufacturing – Ohio, Canada, & China
Highlights • Ve2ed by major U.S. banks and 3rd party engineers • Projects in 4 countries • Projects in 18 states • EcoFoot patent • Capacity of 150MW+ per year
EcoFoot2+
EcoFoot2 Installer Feedback EcoFoot2+
EcoFoot2+ Components & Benefits
Foot
Clamp
Deflector
• Faster installation • Fewer, preassembled parts • Be2er packaging • Quicker turnaround
• Engineering packet • Project delivery
• Deeper validation
Low Sloped Mounting System Types • A2ached system
• Relies on penetrations in roof surface and connections to the framing • Benefits: reduced dead loading and tilt flexibility
• Ballasted system • Relies on weight of modules, racking system, and ballast material • Benefits: decreased labor, low profile,
• Hybrid • Relies on combination of a2ached and ballasted features • Benefits: combination of above
Which Codes Apply?
Low Sloped System Codes & Standards
• Codes • International Building Code/ASCE 7 • International Fire Code (IFC)
• Standards • Subject UL 2703 • ANSI/UL 1703
International Building Codes (IBC)
• Standard building code in United States • Developed by International Code Council • Updated every 3 years (2006, 2009, 2012) • References ASCE 7 for design specifics
ASCE 7 • Developed by American Society of Civil Engineers • Updated every 5 years (2005, 2010) • Minimum design loads for structures
• Flood • Snow • Rain
• Based on design criteria • Exposure • Occupancy • Wind speed
• Ice • Seismic • Wind
• Seismic variables
• Snow load • Wind speed
International Fire Code • Developed by International Code Council • Updated every 3 years (2006, 2009, 2012) • 2012 edition addresses solar safety (Section 605) • Protects firefighters and guides installers • Based on 2008 CAL FIRE guidelines
• Markings • Conductor routing • Access and pathways
Seismic Design – Then & Now • IBC references ASCE 7 for seismic design • Historically, Section 13.4 has governed
• Nonstructural components shall be a2ached • No frictional resistance allowed
• 2013 California Building Code made changes to method • Added Ballasted PV Systems to ASCE 7 definitions • Ballasted PV systems not required to be a2ached • Friction coefficients can be used to withstand seismic forces
• Experts expect 2015 IBC to adopt approach in 2013 CBC
Seismic Design – SEAOC PV1-2012
• Report from Structural Engineering Association of California • Published in August 2012 • Validated two low sloped system seismic design methods
• A2ached • Una2ached
• Una2ached
SEAOC PV1-2012 - Unattached • Completely una2ached arrays now allowed in California
• Maximum of 7 degree slope • 36 inches or less from roof surface to center of mass of system • Design to accommodate displacement
• Arrays allowed to slide • Arrays spaced to avoid collision
• Three methodologies • Prescriptive design (formulas) • Nonlinear response history analysis (computer models) • Shake table testing (physical tests)
Unattached Prescriptive Design • Calculate minimum distances between subarrays • Based on seismic design criteria • Output information: • Between subarrays • Between subarrays and rooftop structures • Between subarrays and building edges
• Ensure subarrays do not break apart • Calculate strength of connection between modules • Edit layout to ensure
SEAOC PV1-2012 - Attached
• Based upon ASCE 7 Chapter 13 • Friction allowed to resist lateral forces • 7 degrees slope or less • 36 inches or less – roof surface to center of mass • Factor of safety applied to coefficient of friction
Subject UL 2703 • In development by Underwriters’ Laboratory • Not yet an official “standard” through ANSI • Issue 2 released in 2012 • New version under review by Standards Technical Panel • Provides requirements for mounting systems • More to come after STP vote and ANSI acceptance…
ANSI/UL 1703 • Developed by Underwriters’ Laboratory • Approved by ANSI (officially a standard) • Requirements for flat plate modules/panels • New version published October 25, 2013 • Changes to fire rating requirements for modules and
systems • Planned effective date October 25, 2016
ANSI/UL 1703 Fire Changes • Experts realized fire approach needed to be updated • Modules
• Previously received a Class rating • Now receive a type rating based on construction
• System • Previously unaddressed • Considers module and mounting system in combination • Now receive a le2er class rating (A, B, or C) based on performance
ANSI/UL 1703 Fire Test Plan • Tests conducted on standardized test deck • Spread of Flame test conducted according to UL 790
requirements
• Flame applied from one of three orientations • South edge • East edge • North edge
Class A Class B Class C Array Setback Based on test deck performance
Flame Duration
10 minutes 10 minutes 4 minutes
Temperature 1400 F 1400 F 1300F
ANSI/UL 1703 Fire Test Performance • Flame must not spread (parallel to flame direction) beyond:
• 6 feet in 10 minutes to qualify for A • 8 feet in 10 minutes to qualify for B • 13 feet in 4 minutes to qualify for C
• Burning pieces must not fall off test deck to qualify for any system
• Flame must not extend laterally to the width of test bed for any system
ANSI/UL 1703 in United States
• Effective date October 25, 2016 • System Classification according to building construction type:
ANSI/UL 1703 in California • 2013 California Building Code (CBC)
• Required compliance with UL 1703 standard on January 1, 2014 • No modules or mounting systems were prepared by this date
• Office of State Fire Marshall • Proposed delaying effective date until January 1, 2015 • Recommended previous rules apply in the meantime
• California Code of Regulation • Manage California Building Code • Accepted proposal and updated CBC
ANSI/UL 1703 in California
• Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones – Class A • State Responsibility Areas – Class B • Wildland-‐‑Urban Interface Fire Areas – Various Classes • All other areas according to building construction type:
ANSI/UL 1703 Ecolibrium Solar
• Ecolibrium Solar recently completed testing for EcoFoot2+ • Qualified as Class A rated system with Type 1 modules
Questions? Steven Bushong Solar Power World [email protected] Twitter: @Solar2Steven
Chad Parsons Ecolibrium Solar [email protected] Phone: Twitter:
q This webinar will be available at www.solarpowerworldonline.com & email
q Tweet with hashtag #SolarWebinar
q Connect with Solar Power World
q Discuss this topic on EngineeringExchange.com
Thank You