Alpha+ and Tau+
On-roof systems
Alpha+
Alpha+
When fast isn’t fast enough and easy is still too hard
The Mounting Systems Alpha+ is a pitched-roof, flush-mount
PV racking system. Thanks to its unique, patented Clickstone
fasteners, highly optimized structural design and integrated
electrical bonding, the Alpha+ system is unsurpassed for
installation ease and speed. A host of additional features
and engineering touches make the Alpha+ the mounting
system of choice for integrators and installers with a need
for speed and who appreciate the value of a product that
conserves both their time and their money.
Patented Clickstone technology
The key to the Alpha+ installation ease and speed is Mounting Systems’ patented Clickstone technology. The Clickstone
technology features a click, set and done installation at any
point along the rail for substantial time savings. The Alpha+
Clickstone mid clamps are fully preassembled at the factory
and arrive at the job site ready to be installed. No assembly
in the field is required which means reduced labor time and
reduced inconvenience due to lost, dropped or misplaced
parts.
Clickstone mid clamps are designed and preassembled in
the fully open position. This makes module installation
faster and easier since the module is simply slid into
position under the clamp top. Once the module is in place,
the bolt is tightened and secures the module in place.
Designed with installation in mind, Clickstone clamps reduce
labor and time on the roof during installation.
The Alpha+ Clickstone’s clever design makes it possible for
each module clamp to accommodate a wide range of module
thicknesses. In fact, just three clamps can handle modules
ranging from 28 to 50 mm.
1
Patented Clickstone technology
1. Click in place
2. Adjust, if necessary
3. Lock into position
Integrated electrical bonding
The Alpha+ system was designed from the outset to be fully
compliant with UL 2703 without the need for expensive,
third-party components. When the Alpha+ system is
assembled and installed in accordance with the installation
instructions, the system is cETLUS listed to UL 2703.
The CETLUS listed standard bonding mid clamps use a bonding
plate below the clamp bolt head to bond the module frame
to the Alpha+ system rails.
Clickstone bonding
Mounting Systems’ Clickstone technology pairs the clamps
and rails to create an electrically integrated bonding connection. Tightening the clamp upon installation will pierce
the oxide or anodizing layer of the rail and bond the system.
Bonding mid clamp
Fully bonded system
The Alpha+ rail splices are cETLUS listed to UL 467 and UL2703.
They provide intetgrated bonding across spliced rails without
the need for costly bonding jumpers or other hardware.
Simply put, the rails, clamps and splices provide a certified,
fully bonded system with no addional hardware.
Fire rated
The Alpha+ system is cETLUS listed as a Class A fire rated system with
Type 1 and Type 2 modules. Additional module types in process.
Bonding hooks
Clickstone bonding path
2
Alpha+
Bonding end clamp
Preassembled Clickstone mid clamps provide integrated
bonding to the module frames as well. As the clamp is
tightened, Mounting Systems’ proprietary bonding plate
pierces the anodized layers and securely bonds the module
frame to the system. Clickstone bonding end clamps are
also available for situations where bonding end clamps are
needed.
Unmatched versatility and economy
The Alpha+ system includes a unique combination of
features and capabilities that make it versatile and
economical. For example, the symmetrical rail design with
wide top surfaces allows the Alpha+ to be installed in a
shared rail configuration. Instead of having to install two
rails under each row of modules, the Alpha+ system allows
the inner rows of modules in an array to share rails.
a
b
Alpha+
c
d
a
Shared rail configuration
e
As illustrated above, an array with two rows of modules
needs only three rails: a 25% saving in rail cost. And, the
more rows that are shared, the greater the savings. An array
with three rows of modules needs only four rails instead of
six. An array with six rows needs only seven rails instead of
twelve: a 42% saving in rail cost.
The Alpha+ system can be installed on virtually any type of
sloped roof or roof covering. The versatile design allows it to
work with L-feet, hanger bolts and roof hooks. Therefore it
can be easily installed on composition shingle, sheet metal,
corrugated, flat tile and curved tile roofs.
Hanger bolt with attachment
c
Roof hook for flat tiles
d
Roof hook for curved tiles
e
Universal roof hook
Alpha+ roof attachments
And every Alpha+ roof attachment is available with
Mounting Systems‘ unique QuickAttach mechanism that
further speeds and simplifies system installation. With
QuickAttach, the rail rests on the roof attachment so a single
installer can easily and quickly align the rail horizontally
and vertically. Once in place, a simple push and twist on the
QuickAttach mechanism locks the rail in place and holds it
while the rest of the roof attachments are installed.
Roof hook with QuickAttach
3
L-foot
b
L-foot with QuickAttach
Instead of the usual discrete end clamp for every module
thickness, Alpha+ variable end clamps cover module
thicknesses from 31 mm to 50 mm with only three clamps.
Fewer SKUs means less inventory, less complexity and fewer
errors for more effective time and labor use.
And beautiful, too
The Alpha+ rails and clamps are available in both mill and
black anodize finish. Decorative rail end caps are available
in both gray and black. End caps provide a seamless
finished look and reduce potential debris buildup within
the rail.
Light but strong
Alpha+ rail splices are full-strength structural splices. There
is no need to install an additional roof attachment at the
splice location.
a
b
a
Alpha+ rail
b
Splice
A full array skirt is available to make the finished array even
more aesthetically pleasing. The skirt provides a finished
appearance to the array.
Alpha+ system components are crafted of corrosion-resistant
aluminum or high-grade stainless steel for long lasting
durability. All Mounting Systems products carry a
comprehensive, 10-year warranty.
System planning at your fingertips
Mounting Systems makes array planning and layout easy, too.
The Quick Configurator is a comprehensive, web-based
software tool that lets users plan and lay out code-compliant
PV installations. Systems are based on pertinent data such as
location, building structure, appropriate code, layout, roof
obstructions, modules, etc.
1 Mounting Systems strongly recommends limiting spans to a maximum span of 8-ft or as calculated by the Mounting Systems Quick Configurator to avoid overloading roof rafters or trusses.
Services of a professional solar installer or structural engineer are advised.
4
Alpha+
The Alpha+ system’s optimized aluminum rails provide high
strength with up to 15% less aluminum than rails with a
comparable moment of inertia (a measure of the bending
resistance of the rail). Alpha+ rails are capable of spanning
over eight feet with typical installation parameters1. Less
aluminum means lower material costs, lower shipping costs
and easier handling on the roof.
The Quick Configurator allows for design in portrait or
landscape orientation, shared rail configurations, cross rail
configurations and even three-rail configurations for heavy
snow-load regions.
Alpha+
Once the layout is complete, the Quick Configurator provides
complete static and dynamic load calculations, verifies
structural integrity to code, provides a construction diagram
showing roof zone data and provides a complete Bill of
Materials for the installation. The Quick Configurator will also
provide a stamped PE letter and pertinent UL certifications
to include in the permitting package.
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For installers, distributors, and customers using the Alpha+
for multiple jobs, a downloadable version of the software
is available from Mounting Systems to allow planning jobs
directly on a computer with or without internet access.
Sometimes, things just click
From its ultra-fast Clickstone technology to unique features
not available on any other system, the Mounting Systems
Alpha+ is the state of the art in pitched roof PV mounting
systems.
Alpha+ technical data
Application
Pitched roof – on-roof
Roof types
Suitable for most types of roof construction
Roof slope
Up to 60°
Building height
Up to 65 ft fl 20 m 1
PV modules
Framed, frameless
Module orientation
Landscape, portrait
Size of module array
Any size possible
Position of the module array
No special requirements
Distance between roof
Up to 10 ft / 3 m
1
Splice options
2
1
attachment points
IBC 2009
IBC 2012
Alpha+
Standards
Clickstone mid-clamp
ASCE 7-05
ASCE/SEI 7-10
ANSI/AISC 360-05
ACI 318-08
Aluminum Design Manual 2010
Eurocode 1-DIN EN 191-1-1 – Actions on structures
Eurocode 9 - Design of aluminum structures
Certification
UL 2703
ULC ORD C1703
Fire Rated Class A Type 1 and Type 2 modules
Supporting profiles
Extruded Aluminum (EN AW 6063 T66)
Hooks, small parts
Stainless steel (V2A)
Color
Mill finish, black anodized or black paint
Warranty
10 years
Roof hook with QuickAttach rail connection
3
1 Different maximum values may apply, depending on site, building, choice of roof attachments and module type.
2 The Mounting Systems QuickConfigurator can be used to verify the structural requirements of each specific project.
3 For details, please consult Mounting Systems, Inc. full warranty document, available upon request.
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Tau+
Tau+
The high-speed, low-cost standard for PV installation on
trapezoidal metal roofs
Tau+ is an exceptionally economical system for mounting
framed or frameless modules on trapezoidal metal roofs.
The Tau+ uses Mounting Systems’ new, patented Clickstone
technology that speeds and simplifies module mounting.
Coupled with the Tau+ system’s innovative rail attachment
clips, the system dramatically reduces rail installation time,
labor and cost.
Patented Clickstone technology
The key to the Tau+ installation ease and speed is Mounting
Systems’ patented Clickstone technology. The Clickstone
technology features a click, set and done installation at any
point along the rail for substantial time savings. The Tau+
Clickstone mid clamps are fully preassembled at the factory
and arrive at the job site ready to be installed. No assembly
in the field is required which means reduced labor time and
reduced inconvenience due to lost, dropped or misplaced
parts.
Clickstone mid clamps are designed and preassembled in
the fully open position. This makes module installation
faster and easier since the module is simply slid into
position under the clamp top. Once the module is in place,
the bolt is tightened and secures the module in place.
Designed with installation in mind, Clickstone clamps reduce
labor and time on the roof during installation.
The Tau+ Clickstone’s clever design makes it possible for each
module clamp to accommodate a wide range of module
thicknesses. In fact, just three clamps can handle modules
ranging from 28 to 50 mm.
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Patented Clickstone technology
1. Click in place
2. Adjust, if necessary
3. Lock into position
Simple Installation
Tau+ uses a unique rail attachment technology that fastens
to the sides of the trapezoid corrugations for protrait
oriented arrays. The Tau+ fasteners take advantage of the
greater strength offered by the shear resistance of both
the shaft of the screw and the metal between the screw
hole and the top of the corrugation. Installation remains
exceptionally fast and easy due to the clever design of the
rail and clip interface.
e
b
d
c
f
g
a Tau+ rail
e Chip-free, self-drilling screws
b EPDM rail cushions
f
c Set screw bonding mid clamp
d Bonding plate mid clamp
Tau+ systems are supplied with self-adhesive EPDM pads that
are placed on the top of the roof corrugations to allow the
Tau+ rail to rest on the roof without damaging the paint.
With the rail resting on the roof, the Tau+ attachment clips
are simply inserted into the rail channel and allowed to
rest against the side of the corrugation. As the clip drops to
the rail it captures the rail and holds it. The Tau+ clips are
preassembled with an EPDM sealing pad. A chip-free, selfdrilling screw with an EPDM sealing washer is then used to
secure the clip to the roof and lock the rail in place.
Fast, easy, economical and secure
The unique Tau+ roof attachment system provides
unmatched speed and ease of installation. If roof
corrugations are not suitable for standard Tau+ rail clips, top
clips which attach to the top surface of the roof corrugation
are available.
Tau+
a
Top attachment clip (for very low-rise
trapezoidal ridges)
g Side clip
As with other Mounting Systems‘ technologies, the Tau+
rail is designed to allow modules to be mounted in a
shared rail configuration which dramatically reduces rail
cost and installation time. For example, if an array has
three rows of modules, instead of six rails, two under each
row of modules, the Tau+ shared rail configuration only
requires four rails – a 33% reduction in the number of
rails required. And, as the number of rows increases, the
savings grow too.
And, for landscape orientation, the Tau+ system can be
even more economical. Special, short, landscape mounting
rails attach to the corrugations and secure the modules
without the need for full-length rails. The landscape rails
can also share modules for maximum installation economy
and speed.
Tau+ landscape rail option
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Integrated electrical bonding
The combination of Clickstone bonding mid clamps and a
listed grounding lug1 provides a complete and secure bond
between modules and rails. The Tau+ splice has integrated
bonding that provides a high-ampacity bond between rails,
eliminating the need for expensive bonding jumpers.
Tau+
Bonding Splice
System planning made easy
The Mounting Systems Quick Configurator, a web-based
software planning tool, makes code compliant planning and
layout of a Tau+ array fast, easy and reliable. Systems are
based on pertinent data such as location, building structure,
appropriate code, layout, roof obstructions, modules, etc.
Tau+ - high speed, high strength, low cost
The combination of installation speed, low parts count,
efficient design and low cost makes Tau+ the system for
mounting PV arrays on trapezoidal metal roofs.
1 Mounting Systems recommends the Burndy WEEB-Lug 8.2
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Tau+ technical data
Application
Pitched roof — on-roof
Roof coverings
Trapezoidal sheet metal
Min. sheet thickness
Steel: 0.55 mm fl 0.02 in
1
Aluminum: 0.8 mm fl 0.03 in
2
Min. rib height
0.8 in. fl 20 mm
Roof pitch
Up to 20°
Maximum roof height
Up to 20 m fl 66 ft 3
PV-Module
Framed, frameless
Module orientation
Portrait, landscape
Possible height leveling
Up to 0.2 in fl 5 mm
Standards
International Building Code IBC 2009
Detail side clip and module clamp
Tau+
California Building Code CBC 2010
ASCE/SEI 7-10
Aluminum Design Manual 2010
ANSI/AISC 360-05
ACI 318-08
Rail material
Extruded aluminum profiles (EN AW 6063 T66)
Rail attachments
Aluminum (EN AW 5754)
Detail top clip and splice
Side clip: Aluminum (EN AW 5754)
Top clip: Aluminum (EN AW 6063 T66)
Connection parts
Stainless steel (V2A)
Color
Mill finish
Warranty
10 years
4
Detail Clickstone
1 Not suitable for sandwich roofs.
2 Adapters available for ridge heights below 0.8 in. • 20 mm.
3 Depending on the site situation, the building, the selected attachments and the type of module, other values may apply.
4 Please see the Mounting Systems, Inc. warranty document for details.
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Mounting Systems, Inc.
820 Riverside Parkway
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Phone 1 855 731 9996
info-us@mounting-systems.com
www.mounting-systems.us
Subject to change without notice
2015 © Mounting Systems, Inc.