Recently asce 7 10 was published and has become the basis for the 2012 series of the international codes i codes.
Asce 7 10 solar panels.
The design is in accordance with seaoc pv2 wind design for low profile solar photovoltaic arrays on flat roofs by structural engineers association of california and with asce 7 10 for solar photovoltaic arrays on pitched roofs like gable and hipped roof.
Determining wind and snow loads for solar panels 2 u s.
Model building codes have used asce 7 05 as the basis for several years which largely follows the design principles of allowable stress design.
Asce 7 10 seaoc solar panel program calculator.
With the introduction of the asce 7 10 there are two potential design principles used for calculating wind and snow loads for pv systems in the u s.
The spreadsheet is in imperial units.
Cain p e consultant.
Section 29 4 3 addresses buildings of all heights with a flat roof or gable hip roofs with a slight slope less than 7 degrees.
Asce 7 16 new parallel to roof method 7khvh uhvxowv irup wkh edvlv iru wkh qhz ioxvk prxqw phwkrg.
Required 10 inch minimum distance from roof edge or ridge height above roof between 2 inches and 10 inches minimum gap of 0 25 inch between adjacent rows of panels in earlier version of ac 428 minimum gap was 0 75 inch.
Asce 7 16 v2017 wind load calculators updated for instant download.
Section 29 4 4 covers the other roof slopes.
The provisions contained within asce 7 10 for determining the wind loads on rooftop equipment on buildings is limited to buildings with a mean roof height h 60 feet.
For example asce 7 16 now clearly states that the weight of solar panels and their support are to be considered as dead loads 1 roof live loads need not be applied to areas covered by solar panels under a certain spacing or height 2 and seismic design is based on already established principles in section 13 3 for non structural component.
This limitation was removed in asce 7 16 and thus the provisions apply to rooftop equipment on buildings of all heights.
This paper will show how to calculate for wind and snow loads using both design principles.
Drawing from published case studies and their own extensive experience with solar panels o rourke and isyumov present recommendations that are compatible with snow load procedures in minimum design loads and associated criteria for buildings and other structures including the asce 7 load factors thermal slope and exposure and asce 7 load.
Historic progression of wind calculations for solar 7khuh duh qr vrodu vshflilf surylvlrqv lq 6 ru lq.
In asce 7 16 there are two sections that cover rooftop solar panels.
Asce 7 10 with icc es ac 428 criteria physical constraints of ac 428 wind method.