Alternative module mounting methods?

[jaggedben]

Another thing about wood... fire resistance, or rather the lack thereof. 600V DC can be an excellent source of heat.

Another wrench in the gears is going to be when Consumers Energy meets it's 70 MW goal. At that point, they will stop net metering and also stop allowing for grid ties. They get to decide who hooks to their system and who doesn't.

Well, someone should be lobbying for them to up the quota, because there should be no particular reason their grid can't handle more than 1% of peak solar. It should be able to handle many times that.

 

[ggunn]

I am all for safety and applaud your company for going the extra mile to keep you guys safe.

What I do wonder about is why the guys that put the shingles on the roofs never have fall protection, but the guys that put the rails and modules on the same roof have to have it. Outside new commercial / industrial construction I have never seen a roofer with a harness on.

I don't know that there is a legal/OSHA difference in requirements, but roofers are working on a flat surface underfoot while solar installers are working on racking, etc. that is raised from that surface. Once the rails are in place, there are tripping hazards everywhere and installers are often walking around amongst them carrying modules. I wouldn't want to do it without fall protection.

 

[K8MHZ]

I don't know that there is a legal/OSHA difference in requirements, but roofers are working on a flat surface underfoot while solar installers are working on racking, etc. that is raised from that surface. Once the rails are in place, there are tripping hazards everywhere and installers are often walking around amongst them carrying modules. I wouldn't want to do it without fall protection.

Thanks, that's a great answer!

 

[jaggedben]

I don't know that there is a legal/OSHA difference in requirements, but roofers are working on a flat surface underfoot while solar installers are working on racking, etc. that is raised from that surface. Once the rails are in place, there are tripping hazards everywhere and installers are often walking around amongst them carrying modules. I wouldn't want to do it without fall protection.

Thanks, that's a great answer!

I don't know, my take is more nuanced. At a certain steepness (~30 deg) rails and attachment points become helpful things to stand on or grab onto. Also a rope is a tripping hazard, in fact it's the worst kind, because it moves around on you. You're own rope ends up naturally underfoot, and someone else's rope can trip you when you're not even moving. (Also I don't know anyone who carries around modules while roped in. You've got to manage your rope when walking around, and you can't if the module is taking up both hands. If you need to be roped in when carrying modules, you don't take many steps before you either secure the module or pass it to someone else.)

As for roofers, I hate to stereotype, but perhaps they tend to be more macho/stupid/exploited. Also, I regret to say, not all solar installers follow the rules.

I believe there is no OSHA difference. If there's a drop over 6 ft you're supposed to have fall protection, whether roofer, solar installer, or theatrical technician.