Since fireplaces are usually bulky objects, they can take up a lot of space. This means that the solar panels will need to be installed around the perimeter of the chimney and, at the same time, kept at a reasonable distance. It is not advisable to install solar panels right against a chimney, as it can reduce the space needed for chimney maintenance and cause sediment to build up on the solar panels, especially next to brick chimneys. Will any installer place the panels over the ventilation grilles in the pipes? I know that the codes require that the ventilation grilles be 6 to 12 inches above the ceiling for prevent them from clogging.
But also keep in mind that the ventilation grilles can be shortened if you don't live in an area where there is snow and that the ventilation grille will be covered by a solar panel that will inherently help prevent debris from entering and blocking it. Big changes tend to come slowly, and it often takes time for society to catch up with the implications that flow from them. Let's think about how ridesharing apps started out as a crazy idea, but now there are entire levels of parking at major international airports dedicated to these services.
I think similar things have happened with rooftop solar energy.
The Uniform Solar Energy Code was published in the 1970s. Back then, everything revolved around solar thermal systems that heat water for space heating and domestic hot water.Although those systems are still available and are used and mentioned in code, the idea was never successful in the US. UU. Meanwhile, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy, which converts sunlight into electricity, has become a cutting-edge technology. Rooftop photovoltaic energy was still a niche market a couple of decades ago, although it was growing and becoming more established.
While technology was changing rapidly, installation practices were nothing more than that “practice”, and many hazards and flaws had yet to be revealed or addressed in building codes and regulations. Today, photovoltaic solar energy has a strong presence in the residential market. On the Colorado front, for example, roofs with solar panels are scattered everywhere. And the codes have been updated.
The International Code Council, in partnership with other stakeholders, is now publishing a volume entitled International Provisions on Solar Energy, which combines the requirements of several code publications in a single book. Unlike other codes, it was not developed independently. It is simply a conglomeration of various solar supplies dispersed in other volumes of code. Electrical and solar contractors are well aware of the electrical provisions of the solar code.
It is the non-electrical provisions, those contained in the building planning chapter of the International Residential Code (IRC), that are most overlooked. For residential installations, section 324 of the IRC contains most, but not all, non-electrical solar provisions. These provisions were developed recently and there are a lot of new things. I'm going to focus on the most common problems, although there are numerous exceptions that I encourage you to check for yourself.
While firefighting practices differ from district to district, the concept of ventilating and controlling smoke and heat from a structural fire is universal. Fighting a fire requires controlling smoke and air, and that means controlling and creating openings. Firefighters often climb the ridge of a roof to drill a hole and vent smoke. Doing so provides a way for smoke to leave the room and allow for a rescue operation.
It takes courage to climb the roof of a burning house, and placing solar panels on the road only increases the danger. On the other side of the discussion is the science of solar energy and the difficulty of placing panels efficiently to provide the most watts. Not all roof surfaces are suitable for solar energy; in the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing and unshaded exposures are the best option for solar panel installations. Once on the ridge, the path must continue along its length in order to access the cut ventilation grilles anywhere along the ridge.
The size of the path along the ridge depends on what part of the roof is covered with photovoltaic panels. For roofs where photovoltaic panels cover up to 33% of the total floor area (basically, as seen from above), the panels must measure at least 18 inches. Move away from a horizontal ridge on both sides to create the 36 inches. Where the panels cover more than 33% of the roof, a 36-inch roof. Windows used for emergency escape are often colloquially referred to as “exit windows”, but are described in the code as “emergency escape and rescue openings” (EERO) need clear escape routes to do their job.
Sliding quickly across a bank of solar panels and falling off the roof is likely to be as deadly as making your way through the house full of smoke. To avoid the possibility of running into this dilemma, there needs to be a safe path from the EERO to the edge of the roof. For any EERO that opens to a roof, a 36-inch clear camera. Another stone against the effective arrangement of solar panels on roofs is everything else that is up there, namely, the ventilation grilles in the pipes.
A home's drainage, drain, and ventilation (DWV) system is pretty incredible, but it's rarely honored as such. It transports the dirtiest things in and out of our homes, is cleaned and isolated from the air we breathe using only gravity, water and atmospheric pressure. But to work properly, the ventilation grilles that end in the roof have to breathe. While there may be gas vents and dryer vents on the roofs, there are usually many more vents in the pipes and they are often scattered.
Even my small ranch from the 1950s has three ventilation ducts in the roof. Solar contractors have had to place panels around these ventilation grilles as their industry grew, but no longer. The code now recognizes that pipe ventilation grilles can get in the way, but they can actually share space with solar panels. A complete rewrite of section P3103.1 of the IRC, relating to DWV terminations for roofs, now specifically allows solar panels to be placed on the ventilation grilles of the pipes.
Of course, there are limitations, but these relate directly to the problem of air entering and leaving through the ventilation grilles. The ventilation grille, when protected against snow thanks to the panel design, can be cut from a minimum height of 6 inches. At a height of only 2 inches. However, the spaces under the photovoltaic panels create a cozy place for birds and rodents to nest. These nests are now more likely to block a ventilation duct and, since it would be hidden under the panel, it wouldn't be obvious to the occupants, who might notice that their drains aren't working properly, but wouldn't know why.
To solve this problem, the new provisions require that ventilation terminations located under solar panels and solar collectors be protected by a “method” that prevents birds and rodents from entering or blocking the opening of the ventilation pipe.”. These new provisions address the problems of air movement, snow and annoying animals, but they don't specify exactly how to design them. Installing a mesh over the ventilation grille is probably not a good idea, as it could create a base that encourages the formation of nests or other debris that settles in its place. The most common is that the entire perimeter of the matrix is protected.
An unspecific code provision allows for freedom of design, but it can also allow for a more varied interpretation among building authorities. When the panels are to be installed, it must be verified that the existing roof meets the current prescriptive roof design requirements of Chapter 8 or that an engineer reviews and approves it. When structural improvements are required, it is often not due to the weight of the panels, but rather because it cannot be demonstrated that the old roof, which is often modified, can withstand even the minimum designed snow load. The prospect of adding photovoltaic panels basically brings out the sins of the past.
While “more codes can be considered negative, I think that's a limited point of view. Model building codes are designed to respond to society, and society is constantly changing. When new technologies become commonplace, they become a greater danger to communities and, at the same time, are more accepted by people in those communities. Codes come into play as these common techniques, hazards and products are established. As can be seen with solar energy, these new things often clash with old ones, and decisions have to be made.
With emerging trends, these decisions are made place by place, frustrating the new industry. Standardizing solutions to new problems provides manufacturers, retailers and installers with uniform government regulation of their work. Existing industries are also forced to review their own standards. Nobody thought too much about leaving free space for pipe ventilation grilles until they started installing solar panels.
The firefighters also didn't have to question the minimum path needed to reach the ridge until the roofs were covered with photovoltaic energy. The new provisions on non-electric solar energy represent a positive improvement to the code and provide a good balance between design freedom for a growing industry and the performance and minimum requirements of the existing systems they affect. Most solar-powered homes “store” electricity with net meters. Homeowners who install solar panels can get credit or money from their utility company for the energy they return to the grid if their state has net metering standards.
Installation of photovoltaic systems on roofs: get a detailed description of how the solar energy of houses is evaluated, how a photovoltaic system works and how is installed. Reconsider R-value recommendations: Does the falling cost of solar photovoltaic systems mean that it's cheaper to install more photovoltaic panels and skimp on insulation? Recommended products for home construction Complete and reliable guidance from professionals to make energy efficiency upgrades to any home Become a member and get unlimited access to the site, including the Energy Modernization Project Guide. Get advice, offers and expert advice on home construction in your inbox Fine Homebuilding receives a commission on items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Get full access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check and more, in addition to the printed magazine.
I came here to post exactly this. I've read that solar panels can go just above pipe vents and passive roof vents. I think I've read somewhere that they shouldn't go over the active ventilation grilles of bathroom fans. But I don't remember where I read it, nor the reasoning that justified it.
Fortunately, as explained above, solar panels are modular and can be placed in multiple locations and orientations on a roof. This is because many roofs have obstructions, so installing solar systems around chimneys, skylights, and ventilation grilles can be a complicated design challenge. The subsections clarify that the roof must withstand the dead load of the roof, including the weight of the panels plus the local snow load. Solar racks can be cut to fit in small areas, and the solar panel system as a whole can be placed at several points along a roof. The solar racks can be cut to fit in small areas, and the solar panel system as a whole can be placed at several points along the roof to accommodate the ventilation grilles.
Fortunately, solar panels are modular and can be placed in multiple locations and orientations on a roof. As you can see, there are numerous types of roof obstructions that can complicate a solar installation. By working with a reputable local solar company, you can see how many solar panels fit on your roof, how much energy production they could generate, and how much money you could save with solar panels.
