Solar Inspections
by
Drew Johnson and John Dalton
Burnham Energy, Inc.
www.burnhamnationwide.com
• Introduction
• Background
• Burnham’s Role
• Inspection Methodology
• Dirty Dozen
• Burnham’s Services
www.burnhamnationwide.com
Introduction
Burnham Energy, Inc. is a subsidiary of
Burnham Nationwide, the nation’s premier
permitting, code compliance and
sustainability consulting services company.
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3,000 cities across the United States
Fortune 500 companies
20 years of experience
100,000 permits nationwide
Burnham Energy, Inc. focuses primarily on
providing solar services, particularly PV
inspection services.
• Inspected in over 25 states
• Network of 20+ inspectors
• 3,000+ inspections
• NABCEP certified or equivalent
www.burnhamnationwide.com
Burnham Inspection Methodology
Our inspectors are trained to look at an
entire system and document all aspects
of the system.
We have an in-house staff that reviews
the inspections and makes additional
commentary ensuring that NEC
guidelines are met and manufactures
specifications have been followed
Once all of the documentation is
reviewed reports are produced
accompanied by any other data
pertinent to the system.
Link to report example: Click here
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1.Inspect components on the roof:
•Modules
•Racking
•Stand off
•Flashing
•Wire Management
•Grounding
•Junction Boxes
•Conduit
•Roof Condition/Damages
2.Inspect components at ground level:
•Main Service Panel
•Wire Sizing
•Breaker Size
•Interconnection
•Monitoring System
•Inverter
•Disconnects
Burnham Inspection Methodology
www.burnhamnationwide.com
Burnham Inspection Methodology
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Solar Dirty Dozen
•Burnham conducted a study – Sample size of 100 reports
•2010 released our first issued of Solar Dirty Dozen
•2014 Part 2 of Solar Dirty Dozen released
Findings:
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Same issues
No improvement with
quality.
Solar Dirty Dozen
1. Manufacturer’s specifications violations
2. Shared raceways with high and low voltage wires
3. In appropriate roofing methodology use for attachments and penetrations
4. Poor wire management; resulting in “hangers,” pinched wires and unprotected conductors
5. Improper grounding methods
6. Inappropriate use of wire nuts
7. Incorrect installation and/or inappropriate installation of a junction box
8. Non-compliance with NEC Code 705.12 Point of Connection that addresses the Opposite End
Rule (NEC Code 705.12(D)(2)) and the 100% Rule Violation (NEC Code 705.12(D)(2))
9. Conduit not properly supported or attached
10. Incorrect installation of an end clamp and/or mid clamp
11. Incorrect labeling of wire and color coding
12. Warning Labels and Signage
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Solar Dirty Dozen
100% Center Fed Violation
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Exposed Conductors
Solar Dirty Dozen
Mid Clamp installed incorrectly
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End Clamp installed incorrectly
Solar Dirty Dozen
Opposite End
Rule
Improper flashing
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Solar Dirty Dozen
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Solar Dirty Dozen
L3, used for 208v 3
phase, of an Enphase
trunk cable incorrectly
installed to a neutral on
a 240v system
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Solar Dirty Dozen
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Solar Dirty Dozen
Main breaker severely
downsized.
Floating
box.
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Services
•Inspection Services
•QA Inspection
•Vetting Inspection
•Compliance Inspection
•BurnhamEYE inspection Application
•System documentation
•Quality Review
•Permitting Services
www.burnhamnationwide.com
Contact Information & Resources
John Dalton
408-418-1880
Resources:
Brooks Engineering
www.brooksolar.com
jdalton@burnhamnationwide.com
Drew Johnson
408-418-1839
John Wiles
New Mexico, Southwest Technology Dev.
Institute
www.nmsu.edu
djohnson@burnhamnationwide.com
Lyleen Dauz
408-418-1883
ldauz@burnhamnationwide.com
International Renewable Energy Council
www.irecusa.org
North American Board of Certified Energy
Practitioners (NABCEP)
www.nabcep.org
National Electrical Code
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