Wind loads on roof-mounted photovoltaic and solar thermal systems DG 489
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
Wind loads on roof-mounted photovoltaic and solar thermal systems (DG 489) was written by Paul Blackmore and published by BRE on 22 May 2014.
Roof-mounted solar systems (both solar thermal (ST) and photovoltaic (PV)) have seen a surge in popularity driven by incentive schemes and the rising cost of energy from other sources. These systems must be designed and installed to withstand wind loads, but there are no British or European Standards that give specific guidance on wind loads on these systems and the guidance that is available is limited.
The first edition of this Digest, published in 2004, presented the best information available at the time for a limited range of integrated and above-roof types of roof-mounted PV systems. Since then there has been considerable expansion in solar systems, which has led to the development of a range of installation configurations that were uncommon or unavailable in 2004. As a result, the Digest has been revised and expanded to include guidance for a wider range installations and example calculations, and it is now applicable to both PV and ST systems.
It includes guidance for installers, designers and manufacturers, local authorities, architects and specifiers in the UK, based on the Eurocode for wind actions (BS EN 1991-1-4:2005) and the UK National Annex.
Its contents includes:
- Wind loads - determining the design wind load.
- Simplified method for determining peak velocity wind pressure, qpPressure coefficients.
- Designing free-standing solar systems on flat roofs to resist uplift, overturning and sliding.
- Fixing solar modules to the roof structure.
- Example calculations.
- References.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE National Solar Centre.
- BREEAM.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Five important factors to consider before installing solar panels.
- Large scale solar thermal energy.
- Renewable energy sources: how they work and what they deliver: Part 4: Solar thermal hot water systems DG 532 4.
- Solar photovoltaics.
- Solar thermal systems.
- Solar-assisted heat pump.
Featured articles and news
Not buildings. Happy holiday from DB.
Future Homes Standard: Industry calls for more ambition
As the Government FHS consultation finally closes.
Improving government projects with data and AI
Enabling better outcomes, efficient modern delivery and influential leadership on government projects.
BSRIA Living Laboratory Innovation Challenge
Final days for submission, closing March 29.
Windows, their frames, forms, factors and functions.
The hidden subtleties of U-Value calculations
Different contexts and what to include as variables.
A brief run down with related articles.
Electrical sector calls for safer public EV charge points
Serious concerns about electrical safety in the public domain.
Building Blocks manifesto presented to parliament
Architects Declare call in for support of five critical policies.
The four elements of project management with APM
Analysis, expectations, collaborative communication and partnerships.
City of London launches Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit
Empowering owners to initiate necessary adaptations.
Guidance on RAAC in listed buildings
Published by Purcell, endorsed by IHBC, SPAB and C20.
Learning from the past.
Reluctance to hire people with criminal convictions revealed
Employing People with Criminal Convictions Report.
Tackling unconscious bias; Women's History Month
Personal reflections, as the last week of March approaches.