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 sbushong@solarpowerworldonline.com Twitter: @Solar2Steven

Chad Parsons Ecolibrium Solar cparsons@ecolibriumsolar.com Phone: Twitter:

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