The novel system secures panels on ballasted roofs and is intended not to compromise the roof’s structural integrity.
The Roll-A-Rack roll-forming machine forms the racking in a fashion similar to gutter installation.
A racking system for solar install on ballasted membrane roofs has been developed by Ohio-based Roll-A-Rack. The rack is designed not to compromise a roof’s structural integrity, which relies on its ballasts for stability.
The added weight of solar can often surpass a membrane roof’s physical limit, said Roll-A-Rack. To address this, the company developed a 12-inch metal channel rack that is distributed across existing roof ballast while securing the solar panels.
The rack can be as thin as 22-gauge, and roll-formed. Roll-A-Rack said it supports 50 psf snow loads and 37.5 psf wind uplift. The company said automated install is feasible for its product.
Roll-A-Rack said it is working to line up developers or installers to test the product. The first 100 kW of racking would be provided for free. The company also said it would perform wind uplift analysis to determine ballast requirements.
Product development was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Technologies Office.
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