Flat roof install

[flyingsparky]

Hi Guys, We are MCS registered PV installers and have been for the last 18 months or so, but our main business is electrical contracting. Hence, I class us as fair weather installers who only fit 10 - 20 systems each year. Anyway, we have our first flat roof system to install and need some advice. We are planning to fit the Renusol flat roof tray (Consule+) and I am wondering if we should be installing something between the tray and the felt roof. In this heat it would be very easy to cause permanent damage. Do you guys install these mounting systems, do you like them and what do you use to protect the roof, if anything. Thanks in advance, Clive

 

[Worcester]

@flyingsparky we could give advice, however in order not to invalidate the warranty of the roofing this really should come from either
1) the mounting system manufactuer (Renusol)
or
2) the Roofing covering manufacturer.
Those are the ONLY sources that we would take this kind of advice from.

p.s. we have 10 off 1m wide x 10m long x 6mm thick re-constituted rubber matting that we have used under Renusol consoles on felt roofs spare in our store if that interests you )

The thing to watch with Consoles is ensuring the h/2 rule from the edge and the large amount of ballast that they need.

 

[flyingsparky]

Thanks Worcester,
that matting may well come in handy, will pm you for more details. We are unable to penetrate the felt anywhere and chose the consuls because we thought the wind loadings would be less. Would we have been better of with a standard Schucco flat roof system?

 

[The Solar King]

Here is a flat roof solution we have been looking at, mainly for felt on a wooden roof.

JUAL - Roof Console

It can be supplied with differing makes of felt (eg Icopal) which should mean the roof covering warranty is not invalidated. Pull out is huge so you don't need too many of them to meet wind loading. We are still waiting to hear on the job we would use them for.

Unfortunately there are only two suppliers covering UK and Ireland. I have been quoted somewhat large prices, probably because they would be special order. if it comes to it, would look to get supply direct from a distributor in Denmark if this proved a more cost effective route.

 

[Worcester]

The three things to consider on flat roofs are overturning and sliding, and mass/ ballast.
There are lots of systems out there that are zero penetration that need minimal balance, the console system as it is per panel requires the most ballast of them all. The others rely on the integrity of interconnection of rows. The absolute least ballast non-penetrative solution is Solion, however they do have large edge distance requirements. K2, Wagner and a load of others offer non-penetrative flat roof solutions suitable for felt, you will be down at 20 degrees elevation or so though.