MOUNTING SYSTEM
CERTIFICATIONS
01/18/16
CODY NORMAN
APPLICATIONS ENGINEERING MANAGER
Agenda
•
About SnapNrack
•
Evolving Certification Landscape
•
Third-Party Engineering
•
UL Standard 2703
•
Collaborative Certifications
•
Questions
2
About SnapNrack
2007
2009
2014
• SnapNrack was initially
developed for use by a
vertically integrated EPC
contractor, REC Solar, as a way
to drive down life-cycle costs in
a market with declining
incentives.
• AEE Solar (REC’s sister
company, a solar distributor)
saw the advantages of
SnapNrack, and began selling it
to its base of more than 2000
solar contractors.
• SnapNrack was acquired by
Sunrun Inc. an integrated
renewable energy company as
a means to provide Sunrun
partners with a lower cost
solution for mounting panels
on homes.
2014
2015
2016
• SnapNrack receives UL 2703
Listing, helping to further drive
down installation labor costs,
and material costs.
• SnapNrack increases scope of
UL 2703 Listing, including
additional approved modules
and Mechanical Load
certification
• Launch of SnapNrack RL
• Forecast continued growth over
2015
Evolving Certification Landscape
Increasing level of AHJ scrutiny on
PV system installations due to:
• Increasing volume and
penetration of PV projects
• Mandated AHJ review lead
time, i.e. CA AB 2188
AHJs now have to manage:
• Increasing quantity of permit reviews and inspections
• Maximum lead time for reviews and inspections
• Typically performed without additional resources
• Less time available per project for technical review
Image: Sunrun
4
Evolving Certification Landscape
AHJs are in similar position as growing solar
companies – continually do more with less
Approach for growing solar companies:
• Install intuitive products
• Reduce the level of expertise required by
the installer
Approach for AHJs in high-penetration markets:
• Rely on certification agencies to approve the
application and compatibility of products
• Reduce the level of expertise required by
plan checker/inspector
• Reduce the time required per project to
review documentation from contractor and
manufacturers
5
Evolving Certification Landscape
Current certification landscape is a balance of:
• AHJ requirements, enforced to manage increasing PV install
volume
• Available certifications, developed and edited by test labs and
third-party agencies
• Manufacturer participation, based on market requirements
and level of investment
• Contractor feedback, driving market requirement, certification
development and refining AHJ requirements
6
Third-Party Engineering
Longest standing and most widely required certification is
an Structural Engineering Report stamped by a licensed
Professional Engineer
Stamped Engineering Report consists of:
•
•
•
Calculations performed by PE in
accordance with applicable codes and
standards (IBC, ASCE 7)
Structural load limitations based on
manufacturer/third-party test data and
code requirements
Installation and application specifications
7
Third-Party Engineering
Benefits of Structural Engineering Report:
•
Provides PV Designer with means to
determine design specs specific to a
project based on loading conditions
(design wind speed, ground snow load,
exposure category, etc.)
•
Typically waives site-specific
Professional Engineering requirement
with AHJ(if installation is designed/built
within specification)
8
UL Standard 2703
•
UL STANDARD 2703: MOUNTING SYSTEMS,
MOUNTING DEVICES, CLAMPING/RETENTION
DEVICES, AND GROUND LUGS FOR USE WITH FLATPLATE PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES AND PANELS
•
UL
•
•
•
2703 has three components:
Grounding/Bonding
Fire Classification
Mechanical Loading
•
UL 2703 Listing certifies :
• All metallic components in the system fault
current ground path are adequately bonded to
ground
• Roof-mounted systems maintain a fire rating
when installed with specific module Types in
certain applications
• Allowable applied loads for mounting system in
various configurations, using various
components
9
UL Standard 2703 – Grounding/Bonding
Grounding/Bonding Overview:
• Mounting system mechanical
clamping/retention devices bond components
in fault current ground path to ground
•
Supersedes requirements for additional
grounding and bonding components
•
Listed system rather than independently
Listed components installed as system
10
UL Standard 2703 – Grounding/Bonding
Compliance Best Practices:
•
Install per the mounting system
Installation Manual
•
•
Ensure mounting system components
used on project are all included in Listed
system
•
•
UL’s basis of testing and approval are the
specifications/details of a manufacturer’s
Install Manual
Incorrect components could void UL Listing
Update permit package submittals with
appropriate details and documentation
•
Designs w/ WEEBs will cause confusion at
the inspection
11
UL Standard 2703 – Grounding/Bonding
Marking/Labeling Practices:
• UL 2703 requires smallest unit packaging
to bear UL Listed label:
• Remember to keep packaging on site
for inspection
•
Ground lugs require UL “GR” stamp
• If installed ground lug is not accessible,
have additional ground lug to display at
inspection
•
Installation Manual required to bear the UL
Listed label:
• Keep the Install Manual on site to
confirm compliance with manufacturer
requirements during inspection
12
UL Standard 2703 – Fire Classification
Fire Classification Overview:
•
2012 IBC states that the modules,
mounting system and the roof are
considered a system
•
This system requires testing to meet
standards “…commensurate with intended
designated System Fire Class Rating for
building code compliance purposes…”
•
California adopted the 2012 IBC
requirements in 1/1/14, delayed UL
1703/2703 adoption until 1/1/15
•
Both mounting system manufacturers and module manufacturers required
to have their products tested and Listed
• Module manufacturers test modules to UL 1703 standards to determine
the Type
• Mounting system manufacturers test with UL 1703 Listed modules in
specific configurations
13
UL Standard 2703 – Fire Classification
Mounting System Testing:
•
Spread of Flame test
•
•
Burning Brand on top of the module.
•
•
Assembly is subjected to a 1400 degree flame in a
12mph wind for 10 minutes.
Burning Brand placed on top of module.
Burning Brand between module and roof.
•
Class B Burning Brand is ignited and placed between
module and roof surface
•
Testing for Steep-Sloped applications:
• Test fixture and specifications for roof slopes greater
than or equal to 2:12
•
Testing for Low-Sloped applications:
• Test fixture and specifications for roof slopes less
than 2:12
• Symmetrical (parallel to roof) and asymmetrical
(tilted above roof) testing
14
UL Standard 2703 – Mechanical Loading
Mechanical Loading Overview:
• Load testing program to determine allowable applied
pressures/loads of a mounting system installed with a module
•
Test plan developed by manufacturer, in coordination with NRTL,
to define test load values, test fixture configuration and
application of test results
• Test loads applied on top of
module, on module backsheet
and directly to components to
simulate downforce, uplift and
side loads
•
Results are broken out by
allowable loads in positive and
negative directions for each
tested support spacing
15
UL Standard 2703 – Mechanical Loading
Mechanical Loading Results:
• Test results are heavily impacted
by UL 2703 pass/fail criteria which
may not demonstrate mechanical
performance of mounting system,
i.e. backsheet contact
•
Test results are specified at
discrete attachment spacing:
•
•
Spacing results may not correspond
to attachment spacing for specific
project
Allowable attachment spacing may
be limited for UL compliance but
not for standard structural
engineering
16
Collaborative Certifications
•
The UL 2703 grounding/bonding certification has
sparked the question among manufacturers and
AHJs regarding bonding the balance of
conductive roof mounted PV equipment, i.e.
module-level power electronics (MLPE)
•
Major hurdle – no universal test standard exists
that combines grounding/bonding requirements
of UL 1703, 1741 and 2703
•
Manufacturers of mounting systems and MLPE devices are collaborating with
NRTLs to develop test programs that will allow mounting system
manufacturers to include MLPE devices in the UL 2703 Listing for
grounding/bonding
•
AHJ acceptance will continue requiring education as each Listing has
specifications for compliance since they come from custom test programs
17
Questions?
18
Connect with SnapNrack
Connect with SnapNrack to receive the latest information about
SnapNrack’s products, industry news, and installation tips!
•
•
•
•
•
Email
contact@snapnrack.com
Facebook
www.Facebook.com/SnapNrack
Twitter
www.Twitter.com/SnapNrack
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/company/snapnrack-inc
YouTube
www.YouTube.com/SnapNrack
19
Thank you!