Elevated panels

[Grouch]

is the PV array allowed to be mounted on a steel structure, elevated from the rooftop at a height where people can walk under it? I've seen images of it on a company website, so i'm assuming it is.

So my 3 questions are:
1) I guess it's allowed?
2) aren't there any accessibility requirements? doesn't the array have to be readily accessible or no?
3) NYC, as other jurisdictions i'm sure, has a requirement where you need a 6 foot wide pathway for the fire department on the rooftop. if the array is mounted on a steel structure, can you ignore this 6 foot wide pathway since the array is overhead? Assuming of course the steel structure is not blocking any portion of the rooftop either.

Thanks!

 

[jaggedben]

1) it's allowed unless you can show where it's prohibited
2) arrays absolutely do not have to be readily accessible
3) I'd say if the array structure is overhead (more than 6.5ft?) then it does not obstruct those pathways. But I'm a reasonable person, and it is arguably opento interpretation.

 

[Grouch]

Got it. Thank you sir.

 

[winnie]

Look up 'solar pergola'. Essentially elevated ground mount solar so you get the solar array and a shade structure, rather than dealing with mounting the panels to the roof.

It would be interesting to see which rules apply on a flat roof; I could imagine someone requiring the pathways as gaps between the panels.

Jon

 

[Grouch]

Look up 'solar pergola'. Essentially elevated ground mount solar so you get the solar array and a shade structure, rather than dealing with mounting the panels to the roof.

very nifty. thanks for the tip.

 

[ggunn]

It's pretty common to have elevated solar arrays over the top floor of a parking garage. The rules for pathways for firefighters do not apply, but some AHJ's have rules about how large the arrays can be.