Solar panels over a skylight

[Inspector1989]

Had a question come up weather you can install a solar panel over an existing skylight on an ag building. I combed through the codes and couldn't find anything that restricted the ability to do so. Does anyone know if one can do this or not?

 

[jaggedben]

Well, if there's a prohibition it wouldn't be in the electrical code.

I think it probably depends on:
-what the fire code may say about access to skylights on this type of occupancy
-whether there's another code section that requires the skylight to be there (i.e. if there isn't, then okay to cover it?)

When you say an ag building I'm imagining most likely a corrugated metal roof with plastic skylight material of matching profile. And I'm asking myself is there any important difference between the skylight being covered by solar panels and it not being there in the first place. If not, I'd argue it's okay to fly over.

 

[Joe.B]

Agreed, not an NEC thing. And for an ag building probably not an issue. For residential (or maybe commercial) it may be if your energy code requires a certain amount of solar gain, or if there's a design element that relies on a certain amount of natural light.