Re: [RE-wrenches] Ground mount fire code clarifications

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 10:12:06 -0700

I, second Jay's /no gravel/ sentiment.  I saw a huge 160 acre solar farm that they covered with hundreds of thousands of dollars of gravel.
Punch Line?  Only the weeds came back.  And only the nice 3 ft tall ones that some might call brush..... 


Just use a weed eater or manually pull the taller stuff as needed a few 
times a year.  Smaller cordless weed eaters don't throw rocks as bad as 
the big motorized ones, and I would recommend clearing the rocks, not 
adding more.


Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760

On 3/21/20 11:03 AM, Jay wrote:

There is another aspect to the 10’ rule which is, its protection for 
the array from wildfires. 10’ might not be enough for that though 
depending on where you live.



In regards to what’s being discussed, I have many ground mounts (not 
talking pole mounts)out there, I try to have them as high off the 
ground as practical, and to allow easy grass cutting. Yes brush would 
have been removed before install.
I don’t agree with bringing  gravel in, or any sort of barrier, we don 
t need a sterile environment under the array.  And anyone who’s ever 
seen such a weed cloth/gravel area will see it grass in over time, so 
it really doesn’t work.
Where I live, no fire danger in the winter after the rains, and during 
the green grass of spring. Cut the grass as it drys, and as we get no 
summer rain no more grass grows, until the following winter 
rains,spring time.



Many people live in green all year areas, Hawaii for example, or what 
about if you have enough water to keep it all green?


In the end it’s the AHJ’s world

Jay

Peltz power.










On Mar 20, 2020, at 7:28 PM, Martin Herzfeld <[email protected]> 
wrote:



Dan,


I think there should more discussions on ground-mounted arrays as an 
option in addition to rooftop systems - to get out ahead of any 
issues.  In addition, any renderings for ground-mounted arrays and 
ground-mounted stuff as ESSs.



1.  By definition, a brush could mean a "slight and fleeting touch" - 
which we do not want to do at these times :) or "undergrowth, small 
trees and shrubs."



2.  The challenge also in one and and two family dwellings when there 
is a setback of only (3) three feet as an accessory structure and the 
(10) foot rule.



3.  I think mounts can be categorized in general as SPMs (Side of 
Pole Mounts), TPMs (Top of Pole Mounts), MPM's (Multiple Pole Mounts) 
or an Open Structure with the ability to walk underneath or a Closed 
structure where you can not walk underneath.


4. BTW, you may wish to look at versions of ISEP and the IRC too?

"A.   RS402.4 (R324.6) Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems.


Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems shall be designed and installed 
in accordance with Section (R301).


B.  RS402.4.1 (R324.6.1) Fire separation distances.


Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems shall be subject to the fire 
separation distance requirements determined by the local jurisdiction."




5.  Gravel and the various types is also my goto soil amendment. In 
California, I'd also suggest working with a C27 Landscaping 
Contractor on what type of blue flowers would be okay.



What do you think?


All the best,


Martin Herzfeld, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) Certified 
Master Trainer ™ for Photovoltaics (PV) Installation Professional 
#IREC 10037

Contract Training Provider (CTP)
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D56, D31, C-7
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Instrumentation


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On Fri, Mar 20, 2020, 4:06 PM Dan Fink <[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:


    Hello esteemed Wrenches; I am trying to clear this up for a
    client and his AHJ, which is also puzzled at how to interpret IFC
    2018, Section 1204.4, which states:

        Setback requirements shall not apply to ground-mounted,
        free-standing photovoltaic arrays. A clear, brush-free area
        of 10 feet (3048 mm) shall be required for ground-mounted
        photovoltaic arrays.

    I found one lone informational note in a white paper stating this
    was to prevent a burning PV array from igniting surrounding
    vegetation and the fire spreading.

    So, has anyone dealt with an AHJ on this before? Our questions are:

      * What exactly is a "free-standing photovoltaic array" that is
        exempt? A pole mount? Couldn't burning debris from that
        ignite vegetation underneath?
      * What exactly does "A clear, brush-free area of 10 feet (3048
        mm)" mean? "10 feet" is a linear measurement, not an area,
        that would be in square feet.
      * What is "brush"? Does grass count as brush?

    I would interpret this on the safe side as meaning that all
    vegetation under the PV array and out to a 10 foot perimeter
    should be cleared, except for pole-mount arrays (that exception
    makes no sense to me).

    I always recommend to clients that the area /under/ the ground
    mount array should be pea gravel bordered by railroad ties, but
    out to 10 feet from the array edge seems excessive.

    Any input greatly appreciated!

    Dan Fink
    Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting
    NABCEP PV Associate
    NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector
    IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
    ~ PV Installation Professional
    ~ Small Wind Installer
    NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers
    d <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
    <mailto:[email protected]>
    970-672-4342

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