Can solar panels be installed on rafters or trusses?

Whether your roof is constructed with rafters or engineered trusses, both can be good fits for solar panels. Both rafters and trusses provide significant structural integrity for a solar panel installation, and most solar companies have significant experience installing on both types of roof supports.

What are solar ready trusses?

There are things such as “Solar Ready Trusses”. These are based on standards that have been agreed upon by all the engineering stakeholders for building homes & structures that intend to have solar installed on them. Therefore, they have been pre-engineered to handle the loads & attachment methods.

How do you attach a truss to a roof?

“When attaching to almost any roof that is supported by wood rafters or trusses, and then covered with plywood or OSB deck, the easiest and safest approach is to attach rail or racking anchorages to the truss/rafter, but attach to every one, not every second or third one, thus distributing loads evenly over all trusses,” he said.

How do I install a solar PV system?

Install a mounting system for solar thermal or solar photovoltaic panels. Consider the roof type (material and slope), weatherproofing, installation convenience, and wind and snow loadings. Choose an appropriate racking and mounting system for the type of PV module, and install the system along with needed flashing and seals.

Should you add lag screws or hanger bolts to a truss?

Which would have an effect on your home insurance, resale value, etc. Solar engineering tries to override the fears of truss manufacturers by pointing out that the top chord of any truss or rafter is under compression, and therefore adding steel lag screws or hanger bolts will only improve the strength of the wood involved.

Can a solar array be installed on a shingled roof?

The design of a solar array on a shingled or tiled pitched roof is influenced by whether the system will be attached to the roof’s rafters or decking, and there isn’t exactly a straight answer on which is best. It really depends on the entire building’s structural support and the mounting system. The go-to option, said S-5!