Richmond, Calif.-based architecture and engineering firm Interactive Resources has been awarded a contract by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide solar feasibility studies for 24 California K-12 school buildings in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
The Sequoia Foundation's Solar Schools Assessment and Implementation Project in Berkeley, Calif., requires that a roof-feasibility structural assessment be conducted to determine the potential of school roofs to support a solar photovoltaic array. The Sequoia Foundation is preparing a Solar Master Plan that will plan and deploy the installation of PV systems on all appropriate district schools and administrative buildings.
Interactive Resources says it is providing structural engineering services in the rapid evaluation of 24 buildings for the application of photovoltaic arrays, which could also lead to additional school sites. Each building will be evaluated to determine the maximum permissible number of PV modules that can be placed on the existing framing without triggering a code-mandated seismic upgrade to the existing lateral-load resisting system or creating localized over-stress conditions resulting from the added weight of the array.
For each school roof analyzed, Interactive Resources will provide a written report that will include a summary of design parameters, assumptions and analysis results, including any structural deficiencies.
SOURCE: Interactive Resources
