First PV Project for MEP Firm.

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CelectricB

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Texas Panhandle
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MEP Designer
Hi all,
The engineering firm I work for is contracted to make the electrical plans for a residential PV system, but it's our first one, so we aren't exactly sure what responsibilities fall on us aside from wire and OCPD sizing. A solar power firm even drew up plans with NEC references and wire sizing "completed" (has not been checked yet). In your experience, what is the electrical engineer required to do for a photovoltaic system.

Kind regards,
Clint Billstrom
 
CelectricB said:
Hi all,
The engineering firm I work for is contracted to make the electrical plans for a residential PV system, but it's our first one, so we aren't exactly sure what responsibilities fall on us aside from wire and OCPD sizing. A solar power firm even drew up plans with NEC references and wire sizing "completed" (has not been checked yet). In your experience, what is the electrical engineer required to do for a photovoltaic system.

Kind regards,
Clint Billstrom
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That is a question that can have a complicated answer, but I have to ask why you are doing this. Most residential PV systems do not require the services of a MEP firm. Does the AHJ where the system will be built require a PE seal?
 
Some areas require that the roof support system be evaluated as part of the permit process for roof top solar. It seems that there are a lot of roofs out there that were not constructed in compliance with the building codes and are not suitable for adding the additional load of a solar system.
 
You don't say as much but this smells like the client is looking for a PE stamp shop and not an engineer. If this is a review and stamp job be very careful, you are taking on all the responsibility for the engineering design and probably being offered very little compensation. Depending on how it is set up it may even be illegal in your state for you to do this review and stamp work for a third party.
 
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pv_n00b said:
You don't say as much but this smells like the client is looking for a PE stamp shop and not an engineer. If this is a review and stamp job be very careful, you are taking on all the responsibility for the engineering design and probably being offered very little compensation. Depending on how it is set up it may even be illegal in your state for you to do this review and stamp work for a third party.
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Thanks for the warning. Don't worry, we actively avoid projects like that. We just want to start doing more interesting jobs, so a residential PV system seemed like a good introduction to solar. We know that we won't make a profit off this job, but we are looking to learn. As of now we plan to provide a one-line diagram depicting the arrays, inverters, ocpd, disconnecting means, and utility pole with meter, as well as wire & conduit sizing. Various notes referencing NEC 690 included. Is there anything obvious that we might be missing?
 
In my experience there is almost zero need for electrical engineering in residential solar. In general I think electrical engineering in solar isn't required unless there's a transformer involved or voltages over 600, pretty rare in residential. So I'm a bit baffled why they are looking for a stamp.

As far as stuff to watch out for, there's a ton of stuff that won't be obvious, but the question is too open ended to answer without more specifics.
 
jaggedben said:
In my experience there is almost zero need for electrical engineering in residential solar. In general I think electrical engineering in solar isn't required unless there's a transformer involved or voltages over 600, pretty rare in residential. So I'm a bit baffled why they are looking for a stamp.

As far as stuff to watch out for, there's a ton of stuff that won't be obvious, but the question is too open ended to answer without more specifics.
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There are a couple of AHJs here in Texas that require a PE stamp on every PV system, be it residential or commercial.
 
jaggedben said:
Specifically an electrical engineer?

(Also that's ridiculous and encourages stamp shops. But I'm preaching to the choir.)
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Yes, in some cases. In Texas a PE is a PE and can stamp any document he feels qualified to seal irrespective of the engineering discipline on his diploma. There are two PE's in the company I work for; I am an electrical engineer and the other PE is an architectural engineer. There are one or two AHJs that require a PE stamp on all PV system documents submitted for permitting, commercial and residential alike, but they will only accept my stamp because I am an electrical engineer and the other PE is not.
 
ggunn said:
Yes, in some cases. In Texas a PE is a PE and can stamp any document he feels qualified to seal irrespective of the engineering discipline on his diploma. There are two PE's in the company I work for; I am an electrical engineer and the other PE is an architectural engineer. There are one or two AHJs that require a PE stamp on all PV system documents submitted for permitting, commercial and residential alike, but they will only accept my stamp because I am an electrical engineer and the other PE is not.
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Does that mean they will not accept your stamp on racking design?
 
GoldDigger said:
Does that mean they will not accept your stamp on racking design?
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The AHJs in question only require that an electrical PE seal the design. They have never kicked back on racking.

Caveat: That may have changed; I have been designing only commercial PV systems for the last couple of years and none have been in those particular jurisdictions.
 
Funny, it's the exact opposite for me. Every stamp I've had to get was for structural, either racking or existing build structure or both. Or for structural for battery mounting, for that matter. Granted, I haven't managed permitting for any large commercial, only smaller stuff.
 
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