Rooftop photovoltaic panel drainage design

Can a PV system obstruct the drainage of a roof?

A PV system should not interfere with the drainage of the roof system. However, it is common to see PV arrays covering the roof drains, which significantly hinders access for clearing of debris from the drains. The layout design of a PV system should consider how the drains will be accessed for maintenance.

Do PV arrays obstruct roof drains?

PV arrays can obstruct roof drains, which significantly hinders access for clearing of debris from the drains. The layout design should consider how the drains will be accessed for maintenance. Both adhered PV arrays and ballasted PV systems run the risk of impeding rooftop drainage.

How are rooftop PV systems mounted?

There are two primary mounting methods for PV systems on commercial building roofs: Ballasted Racking – Uses heavy weights, typically concrete blocks, to anchor PV systems on a flat roof. Some hybrid-ballasted systems use a combination of ballast and roof penetrating anchors to fasten the system to the roof.

How to install photovoltaic panels on a roof?

Photovoltaic panel installations in roofs with different formats. PV modules can be placed horizontally or at an angle on flat roofs (Bayod-Rujula et al., 2011). In sloped roofs, PV modules are generally applied at the same inclination angle as the roof, and placed in parallel to increase the system efficiency.

Are rooftop photovoltaic systems suitable for building roofs?

Their incorporation into building roofs remains hampered by the inherent optical and thermal properties of commercial solar cells, as well as by esthetic, economic, and social constraints. This study reviews research publications on rooftop photovoltaic systems from building to city scale.

Who should install a rooftop PV system?

All rooftop PV systems should be installed by reputable solar installers. American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Commercial Rooftop PV System, Alcatraz Island (NABCEP). Photo credit: National Renewable Energy Laboratory Will a rooftop PV system impact roof drainage, or maintenance of other rooftop systems? No.