Good luck with that dysfunctionality. In Rhode Island, it states that a
PE has to sign a statement attesting to the structural integrity if non
engineered racking system is used. We used engineered systems as most
everyone does. However, we now have a new Building Official that has
reported me as I am an ME and not an Structural Engineer even though we
are using an engineered system and the State form says PE only. We
have gone from bad to worse. I have been doing this work for over 20
years and now because of this new person, who seems to want to mark his
territory, I no longer can do this work. Three engineering degrees, one
a Masters, a PE and still not good enough for RI. Chris
On 11/16/2021 8:09 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:
This is mostly for Florida wrenches, but there may be some wider
insight and similarities with other jurisdictions.
In Florida, many jurisdictions require a solar contractor to sign an
affidavit stating that solar panels are installed per certain
guidelines, typically that they meet some Florida Solar Energy Center
standard and that they are installed in or around trusses and the
system weight does not exceed 5 lb per square foot. The affiant signs
this document under the penalty of perjury in order to avoid the
requirement for a detailed inspection of the structural attachments.
I have been on a one-man mission trying to get these documents revised
in each jurisdiction where I work. My problem with the document in
most jurisdictions is twofold:
1. The affidavit often references an FSEC design guide that is
intended for solar pool heating and solar domestic water heating
systems. It is not applicable to photovoltaic systems, yet
jurisdictions ask you to certify that a PV system was installed per
this design guide.
2. There are numerous products on the market and instances where a
decking only attachment is appropriately used without attaching to a
truss. There is nothing I can find in the International Building Code
or Florida Building Code that requires a truss attachment. If the
product being used is designed for decking only and if the system is
designed by a professional engineer, I don't see any requirement for a
truss attachment. Futhermore, a commercial roof may not even have
trusses, per se. A concrete screw or anchor may be used, or a
ballasted or semi-ballasted mounting system could work. Purlin
attachments are common. Base plates with screws in steel decking can
work. Perhaps the most common exception to truss attachments here are
standing seam clamps.
Anyway, I'm trying to figure out the origin of these documents and how
they were originally applied to both solar thermal and PV systems. I
don't have a problem signing them if they are accurate and what I'm
signing is not perjurious. But I'm seeing contractors blindly doing
just that every day.
Jason Szumlanski
Florida Solar Design Group
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
Pay optional member dues here:http://re-wrenches.org
List Address:[email protected]
Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:
https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out or update participant bios:
http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
--
Christopher Warfel
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
401-466-8978
<http://entech-engineering.com>
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
List Address: [email protected]
Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:
https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out or update participant bios:
http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
