The popularity of solar photovoltaic rooftops has created a need for guidance on their installations, given many building codes in Canada do not address relevant PV safety and structural issues. A lack of guidance in this area can expose installers and first responders, such as firefighters, needing rooftop access to residential and non-residential buildings to unnecessary risks.
The new Canadian Standards Association (CSA) publication, ‘SPE-900, Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop-Installation Best Practices Guideline,’ provides guidance and best practices for the design and installation of PV rooftop systems.
Published by the CSA Group, SPE-900 addresses the following:
Fire risks
Designers are guided on evaluating how the integration of PV modules on a building affects the roof's fire performance characteristics. The National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) requires roof coverings regulated under Division B, Part 3, to have a Class A, B or C Classification to protect the roof covering material from ignition in the event of a roof exposure fire originating from sources outside a building. Guidance related to the requirements in ULC 1703, CSA C22.2 No. 61730-1 and 61730-2, and CAN/ULC-S107 is included. Precautionary steps related to stand-off mounted PV systems as they relate to the NBCC classification are also noted.
Lightning strikes
For direct or indirect lightning strikes, SPE-900 provides precautions for surge arrestors and lightning protection in buildings where there is a critical nature of the power distribution system. Since the design and installation methods used in installing a PV system can help reduce the level of risk associated with lightning-induced surges, design considerations related to AC wiring, module wiring (string and parallel string) and power cabling are included in the standard. Precautionary information related to the strength and bonding for the racking is also covered.
Maintenance
SPE-900 recommends best practices for providing safe working conditions for maintenance, inspection and service personnel. A useful log sheet to record the inspection results for the components of a PV system is included in Annex D. Risks related to climbing and avalanches are also included.
Structural guidelines
At the time of publication, based on a scan of Canadian and international building codes and guidelines, the structural clause in SPE-900 resulted because there were few, if any, specific requirements related to roof-mounted PV modules and racks. Therefore, the largest section of the guideline is related to structural design. The publication's structural guidelines provide interpretation of existing code provisions and best practices for the structural engineering aspects of roof-mounted solar PV systems for new and existing construction.
Loading conditions
SPE-900 helps ensure that a rooftop installation of a solar PV system be designed to resist dead, live and other loads, and to recognize that it influences the loading conditions that the building would otherwise have been designed for in the absence of the PV system. Because the NBCC doesn't explicitly define loads on PV systems, nor its influence on the building loading defined, detailed consideration for dead loads is included.
PV modules and racks
The guide includes consideration for the design and structural resistance of PV modules and racks. Because it was noted that sliding and overturning problems are unique to ballasted racks, a section with best practices for the design of such systems is included. Designers are provided with information for various types of building components including wood frame, prefabricated wood trusses, open web steel joists, steel frames/decks, concrete suspended slabs, hollow core precast slabs, etc.
Waterproofing
SPE-900 also discusses waterproofing and the durability of PV integration on commercial roofs before, during and after installation to minimize any unintentional adverse effects due to the waterproofing functionality of the roof assembly.
Electrical
Because solar PV electrical issues are addressed by the Canadian Electrical Code Part I, Section 50 and Section 64, SPE-900 does not duplicate these requirements but, rather, points the user to the relevant sections of the code. Likewise, the guideline does not include aspects covered in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, Article 690. As always, local authorities having jurisdiction are the touch point for electrical and structural permit requirements for PV rooftop installations because specific requirements may vary by jurisdiction.
As a future development, we have worked with stakeholders and are evaluating the need to develop the SPE-900 into a standard for PV installation for rooftop and ground mount. In evaluating this opportunity, we would look into any existing documents related to fire and building construction so that conflicting requirements are avoided.
For more information on SPE-900, click here.
Muktha Tumkur is program manager for renewable energy at the CSA Group, a nonprofit standards development organization accredited in Canada and the U.S. She can be reached by email at muktha.tumkur@csagroup.org.
Victoria Alleyne is project manager for renewable energy at the CSA Group. She can be reached by email at victoria.alleyne@csagroup.org.
