Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

Introduction
For the majority of residential solar energy systems — whether it is photovoltaics (PV) for producing electricity
or solar hot water systems used for pool heating, hot water heating or space heating — the solar panels1 that
collect the sun’s energy are usually installed on the home’s roof.
As such, where the solar panels are supported by and connected to a building they are normally covered
under the jurisdiction’s building code, which means there is a need to carry out a review to ensure
conformance to the structural requirements as outlined in the building code.
Through the work done in the City of Toronto’s pilot solar hot water deployment program — the Toronto Solar
Neighbourhoods Initiative — Toronto has developed a simple methodology to evaluate rafter roof conditions
and to confirm that the solar installation is in compliance with the building code (the Ontario Building Code in
the case of Toronto). This bulletin outlines the solutions that have been developed by the City of Toronto.

Roof Considerations for the Installation of Solar

There are two concerns that must be addressed when considering the structural capacity of roofs for the
installation of solar panels:
1. Can the roof structurally support the solar panels?
2. Will the solar panels stay attached to the roof based on the local design provisions outlined in the building
code?
The second issue can be satisfactorily dealt with through the use of a P.Eng-stamped structural drawing of the
system’s mounting system showing the details of the connection to the roof. Good engineering design will
include:
a. Wind loading — will the solar panels blow off the roof due to winds?
b. Freeze-thaw cycling — will the panel’s mount be loosened by repeated cycles of thermal expansion and
contraction?
c. Weather proofing — will the roof continue to provide protection from water penetration?
The issue of identifying the roof’s capacity to hold solar panels, however, is more complex and relates to both
the roof conditions and the mounting method proposed.

1 PV panels are commonly referred to as “modules” while solar thermal panels are referred to as “collectors.” As this bulletin
applies to both solar technologies it uses the term “solar panels.”

Solar Permits is made possible by an investment by the

The Solar Permits Initiative has been developed by the
Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) to share knowledge gained
through the largest single-city solar hot water project in
Canada — Solar Neighbourhoods.
 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

In Canada there are two primary roof construction methods:

• Rafters (sloped roofs) or joists (flat roofs)
• Trusses (sloped and flat roofs)

Figure 1: Roof Construction Details

Rafter roof Truss roof

While rafter (and joist) requirements are defined in the building code (i.e. their size, spacing and maximum
allowable span), trusses are a product that is engineered (i.e. they are P.Eng stamped for use in a specific
application). Thus a solution for rafters can be standardized whereas a solution for trusses is unique to the
specific truss design.
In evaluating solar for roofs there are three issues:
1. The weight of the solar panels (the dead weight or distributed load).
2. The height of the solar panels above the roof (the active load or the uplifting load due to wind).
3. The connection points to the roof (the point-load conditions).

1. Solar Panel Weights

As shown in Table 1, the weight of solar panels varies between technologies and, for hot water collectors,
between products. In most cases solar panels are below the weight of two layers of asphalt shingles (roofs
under the Ontario Building Code are designed to accommodate up to three layers of roofing shingles).

Table 1: Solar Panel Weights on Roofs

System or Panel Full Load (kg) Distributed
Size (m2) Load (psf)1
Seasonal SDHW System (typical) * 3.5 270 15.7
Solar Hot Water Collectors (as measured in the 4.6 – 5.9 94 - 140 3.3 – 5.3
Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Initiative)*
Photovoltaic Solar Modules (typical) 1.2 each 14 2.4
Solar Pool Heating Collectors (typical) * 3.8 each 17 0.9
Asphalt Shingles - 2 layers of shingles 3.8
Standard Asphalt Shingles - 190 lbs/100 ft 1.9
Weight of average Canadian male 83 20.8
(codified structural live load for a worker)
* Note – weight of solar collectors when filled with fluid

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 May 2010 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar

2. Height above the Roof

To maximize performance solar panels need to be directed at the sun. This is done for both the direction
(south) and angle or tilt (from the horizon). The optimal angle for performance is typically equal to the latitude
or slightly less (due to the higher percentage of solar energy received in the summer months).
For solar water collectors there is the additional requirement of a minimum slope to allow proper circulation of
the heat transfer fluid — this is usually 10-15o minimum. Where the collector’s heat transfer fluid needs to be
drained when not in operation (for freeze or overheating protection), this is usually increased to 20o minimum.
When considering solar panel heights above the roof there are three possible conditions:
a. Flush to roof — typically this is on a sloped roof but can, for PV modules, also include flat roofs;
b. Angled mount on sloped roof — slightly angled above the roof line to increase tilt of the panels on a low
tilt roof;
c. Angled above the roof on flat roofs.

Figure 2: Roof Mount Types

A B C

Generally solar panels are not installed directly onto a roof for the following reasons:
• PV modules require air circulation to keep the modules cool, which will increase their performance;
• Installing solar panels directly onto the roof can increase the heating of the roof covering, causing
premature degradation of the covering;
• A direct mount (which is not weather sealed) would allow moisture between the solar panels and roof
resulting in a potential weakening of the attachment method due to the thermal freeze-thaw expansion
cycle.
However there are some exceptions where solar panels may be directly mounted onto the roof:
• Solar pool collectors are generally installed directly (often supported by straps underneath the collectors)
on the roof as the mounting design allows the collectors to slightly shift about on the roof due to
temperature expansion and contractions of the plastic solar collectors. The low temperatures that these
collectors operate at prevents roof covering degradation.
• PV “shingles” which replace conventional roof coverings;
• Solar panels installed like skylights — integrated into the roof structure (shingles and sometimes sheathing
removed) and flashed in on all sides.
One of the primary considerations of roof mounting of solar panels is the wind loading — often referred to
as the active or uplifting load. As the height of the solar panels above the roof increases the wind loading
also increases. Above 18 inches the potential impact of wind loading increases significantly. Thus a flush roof
installation is generally defined as one that is less than 18 inches above the roof.

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 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

3. Solar Point Load

Unless the solar panels are directly mounted onto the roof, their weight will be concentrated at the point of
connection to the roof — referred to as their point load. Thus a 100 kg solar panel with four roof connection
points will have a point load of 25 kg at each connection. As such, the design of the mounting structure is a
critical element in determining the types of roofs that can adequately support a solar panel.
Table 2 below illustrates the importance of good rack design. Collectors A and B have about the same
distributed load, but Collect A’s rack design distributes this weight more evenly on the roof, allowing it to be
installed on a wider variety of roofs. Collector A could be installed on a roof (composed of 2x8” rafters with
spacing of 16”) to a maximum rafter span of 6.6m while collector B can only be installed up to a maximum
span of 4.42 m on the same roof. Collector D — which is considerably heavier than the other collectors —
can be installed on roofs with spans up to 4.92m due to the effective distribution of its load across the entire
roof.

Table 2: Maximum Roof Spans for Solar Water Collectors

Collector A Collector B Collector C Collector D

evacuated
Type flat plate flat plate tank on roof
tube
Distributed Weight (psf) 3.7 3.3 5.4 15.8
Maximum Rafter Span (2x8
6.60 4.42 3.18 4.92
rafters w 16” spacing)

Information for this table was derived from the structural drawings and solar span table of solar collectors in the Toronto Solar
Neighbourhoods Initiative.

Defining a Solar Span Table

Building codes define conditions (design provisions) that will influence the structural loading of a roof.
Conditions such as wind load, snow load, and strength of rafters are defined and can be used to calculate
the specific roof conditions2 that will accept the point load weight of a specific solar mounting design. Once
defined for a standard condition, then it is simply one further step to calculate the acceptable roof rafter
span with different rafter sizes and spacing. This then results in a “solar span table” showing the roof rafter
construction details that will accommodate the specific solar panel and mounting design.
If the solar panel and the mounting design remain constant then this solar span table can be used to evaluate
all rafter roofs in a jurisdiction to determine if they have the adequate structural elements (rafter size, spacing,
and span) for solar. This is the solution offered in New Zealand3 and adopted by the City of Toronto’s building
department to allow for a simple assessment of roofs for solar. Table 3 provides an example of a solar span
table using the Solar Neighbourhoods Standard Sloped Mounting System for flat plate collectors found in
Appendix Appendix 2.

2 Roof conditions are generally rafter size (i.e. 2x6s), rafter spacing (generally 16” or 24”) and rafter span (the distance between
structural supports of the rafter).
3 Manual for Structural Assessment for Installation of Solar Water Heating in Domestic Dwellings; www.solarindustries.org.nz/
documents/030149_Manual_for_Structural_Assessment.pdf

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 May 2010 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar

Table 3: Example of a Solar Span Table

Maximum span (ft) for roof rafter with solar installed
Rafter Size Rafter Spacing
Mm Nominal 16” 24”
38 x 89 2x4 9.0 7.5
38 x 140 2x6 12.8 10.6
38 x 184 2x8 15.6 12.9
38 x 235 2 x 10 19.1 15.8
38 x 286 2 x 12 22.3 18.4

Developing the solar span table (and the accompanying structural drawings of the solar panel mounting
design and attachment to the roof) is generally the responsibility of the solar system supplier and must follow
the design provisions determined by the local regulator. In the case of the Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods
Initiative, it was determined that the majority of solar hot water flat plate collectors in the program were of
similar dimensions and weight and could be installed on a sloped roof in a similar fashion. Thus the program
developed its own set of structural drawings and span table, which can be used as a “generic” design for
installing solar hot water collectors in Toronto. The standard conditions are defined in Table 4 below and the
full drawings, engineer’s letter of compliance and sample engineers’ calculations can be found in Appendix
A4.

Table 4: Conditions for use of the Solar Neighbourhoods’ Standard Slope Roof Drawings
Solar Collectors
Type Flat Plate
Max Dimensions 8.5 ft x 8.5 ft (72.25 ft2) – 6.71 m2
Max Weight (Dead) 131 kg – 289 lbs
Connection Points to roof Either 6 or 8 roof connections points
Connection Method 3/8” x 4” SS lag screws or bolts into middle of rafters
Distributed Load 4.0 psf
Point Load 36.1 lbs (8 points) or 48.2 lbs (6 points)
Roof Conditions
Roof Slope 30o or steeper

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 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

Verifying that Roof Conditions are Adequate for Solar

The final step is to verify the roof conditions at the proposed site of installation and compare them to the
solar span table of the product that is being considered. Toronto Building has developed a SDHW Roof
Structure Report (found in Appendix 1) which can be used to do the evaluation of the roof components
(rafter size, spacing and span).
Once completed the roof structure report is compared to the solar span table to ensure that the roof
conditions are adequate as outlined in the following example.

Example: Evaluating a Roof for Solar

The roof is evaluated and found to consist of 2x6 rafters with 400 mm (16” spacing) and the span of the
rafters at the proposed solar panel installation is 2.3m.

The solar span table for the proposed solar installation shows that this type of roof (2x6s with 16”
spacing) can hold this system up to a rafter span of 2.52m. Thus the roof is adequate for this proposed
solar installation

Maximum Spans (m) For Roof Rafters — Solar Thermal Structural Load
Rafter Size Rafter Spacing (mm)
mm Nominal 400 600
38 x 89 2x4 1.69 1.74
38 x 140 2x6 2.52 2.56
39 x 194 2x8 3.18 3.17
38 x 235 2 x 10 4.08 3.98
38 x 286 2 x 12 4.89 4.69

Do all Solar Panels Need Roof Structural Confirmation?

From the work that the Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Initiative has done in partnership with Toronto Building
it appears likely that the vast majority of solar panel installations do not represent a structural concern for the
integrity of a residential roof. Various other jurisdictions have also come to a similar conclusion. For example,
the City of Palo Alto, California only requires a structural analysis to be undertaken if the additional roof load
exceeds 5 psf. 4 The Solar America Board of Codes and Standards (SolarABCS) also recommends that a
structural permit not be required where the PV array is less than 5 psf (and point loads are under 40 lbs per
connection).5
However there are some conditions that should be considered in making an assessment of whether a
structural review is required. The following table can provide guidance on conditions that would minimize
the potential impact of a solar panel installation on the structural integrity of a residential roof based on the
experiences in Toronto and elsewhere.

4 Solar Water Heating Program Technical Handbook; City of Palo Alto Utilities; May 17, 2008; www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/
filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=12062
5 Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems; Solar America Board for Codes and Standards; May 2009; www.solarabcs.org

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 May 2010 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar

Table 5: Minimizing Roof Structural Concerns for Solar

1. The solar panel’s distributed weight is less than or similar to other products with long-term
use on roofs (i.e. 2 layers of shingles). Typically this structural acceptability is between 3-5
psf in many jurisdictions.
2. The solar panel’s connections to the roof results in the panel’s weight being fairly equally
distributed amongst the rafters under the solar panel. Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods
experience for solar hot water collectors that fall under (1) is that this is under 50 lbs per
connection.
3. The mounting structure must provide direct connection to the roof to prevent wind uplift
and anchorage penetration must be directly to rafters.
4. The solar panels are installed within 18” of the roof (i.e. flush to roof or slightly above the
roof).
5. The mounting structure is an engineered product specifically designed to mount the solar
panels to roofs similar to that at the proposed site.
6. There are installation instructions provided by the supplier of the mounting structure and
they follow good engineering practices.
7. The roofing material is lightweight (i.e. asphalt shingles, cedar shakes, metal, etc.).

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 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

Appendix 1: Toronto Building’s SDHW Roof Structure Report

Building SDHW Roof Structure Report

This site review report may be sent directly to an inspector or faxed directly to the District Inspection Office.

 North York 416-696-4179  Toronto and East York 416-696-4151 Date Permit No.
 Scarborough 16-696-4166  Etobicoke York 416-696-4169 Day Month Year

Project Location
Street No. Street Name Unit No.

Roof Assessment Assessment is done underneath the proposed solar collector installation location.
Roof Slope (angle from horizon, flat =0°): If roof is sloped - direction of roof slope (i.e. S, SW, SE):

Roof Structural Evaluation

Rafter type:  38 x 89 (2” x 4”)  38 x 235 (2” x 10”) Rafter Spacing (on centre):
 38 x 140 (2” x 6”)  38 x 286 (2” x 12”) Rafter Span (mm or feet) at proposed location of solar collectors:
 38 x 184 ( 2” x 8”)
Rafter span: is the distance, measured along the length of rafter, between the two structural supporting members of the rafter.

Roof Plan

Please sketch out the roof

(in bird's eye view) showing
dimensions of roof elements, the
direction of the rafters and the
proposed location of the solar
collectors. Show compass
points. Assessment of the roof is
done underneath the proposed
location of the solar collectors as
shown on this sketch.

Applicant
I have reviewed the roof joist size, spacing and span at the proposed location of the solar collectors and the information contained in
this report is true to the best of my knowledge.

..................................................................................... ...................................................................................... ................................................................................

Print name Signature Date

If homeowner does not sign below then a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN) is required

Individual BCIN: Firm Name:

(or) Firm BCIN: Phone No.:

Note: BCIN is not be required if the Designer is an Ontario licensed P.Eng or Architect (proof required).

Owner

..................................................................................... ...................................................................................... ................................................................................

Print name Signature Date

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Appendix 2: Solar Neighbourhoods’ Standard Sloped Roof Mounting System for

Flat Plat Collectors

Maximum Spans (m) For Roof Rafters - Solar Thermal Structural Load
Rafter Size Rafter Spacing (mm)
mm Nominal 400 600
38 x 89 2x 4 2.74 2.30
38 x 140 2x 6 3.89 3.23
38 x 184 2x 8 4.74 3.92
38 x 235 2 x 10 5.84 4.81
38 x 286 2 x 12 6.80 5.59

Maximum Spans (ft) For Roof Rafters - Solar Thermal Structural Load Maximum Spans (m) For Roof Rafters - Solar Thermal Structural Load Maximum Spans (ft) For Roof Rafters - Solar Thermal Structural Load
Rafter Size Rafter Spacing (Inch) Rafter Size Rafter Spacing (mm) Rafter Size Rafter Spacing (Inch)
Inch Nominal 16 24 mm Nominal 400 600 Inch Nominal 16 24
1-1/2 x 3-1/2 2x 4 9.00 7.53 38 x 89 2x 4 2.68 2.28 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 2x 4 8.78 7.46
1-1/2 x 5-1/2 2x 6 12.77 10.59 38 x 140 2x 6 3.78 3.18 1-1/2 x 5-1/2 2x 6 12.40 10.44
1-1/2 x 7-1/4 2x 8 15.56 12.86 38 x 184 2x 8 4.61 3.86 1-1/2 x 7-1/4 2x 8 15.11 12.67
1-1/2 x 9-1/4 2 x 10 19.14 15.78 38 x 235 2 x 10 5.68 4.74 1-1/2 x 9-1/4 2 x 10 18.64 15.55
1-1/2 x 11-1/4 2 x 12 22.30 18.35 38 x 286 2 x 12 6.63 5.52 1-1/2 x 11-1/4 2 x 12 21.75 18.10

Continued on page 10

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 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

Appendix 2 continued: Solar Neighbourhoods’ Standard Sloped Roof

Mounting System for Flat Plat Collectors

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 May 2010 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar

Appendix 3: Sample Engineers’ Letter of Structural Compliance

Sustainable EDGE Ltd.

250 MERTON STREET  SUITE 502  TORONTO  ONTARIO  M4S 1B1

T 416.481.0400  E CONTACT@ S -EDGE. COM  WWW .S- EDGE. COM

October 8, 2009

Wade Tam
Toronto Building, City of Toronto
100 Queen Street West

E
Toronto, ON M5H 2N1

L
RE: SLOPED ROOF SOLAR COLLECTORS

P
Dear Mr. Wade Tam,

The attached sealed drawings, S-1 to S-3 are based on Sustainable EDGE’s structural

M
design calculations, which considered solar system dead loads, live liquid loads, roof structure self
weight, specified snow load, and wind 1/50 year live load including a 2.5 gust factor, as per Limit

A
State design provisions of the Ontario Building Code.

S
These drawings are only for flat plat type solar hot water collectors. This structure is designed to
hold two typical solar hot water collectors of a maximum array size of 8.5’ x 8.5’ (72.25 square feet)
and a maximum dead weight filled with heat transfer fluid of 131 kg. Sloped roof installation is
considered to be for roofs at a slope of 30° or steeper.

If installed as shown in the enclosed documents for sloped roof installations and using the materials
specified within those documents, and provided that the existing roof rafter size meets the span
requirements of Tables 1 and 2 for 6 connectors or Tables 3 and 4 for 8 connectors on drawing S-1,
the installed system would meet the structural requirements of Part 4 of the Ontario Building Code.

I trust the above is sufficient information for meeting the structural permit requirements of the City of
Toronto Buildings Department.

Sincerely,

Mario Kani, P.Eng.

President

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 Technical Bulletin #1 : Evaluating roofs for solar May 2010

Appendix 4: Sample Roof Calculations

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