Clik here to view.
An installer in Hawaii used the SunBeam system to hover over a multitude of air conditioning units on the Kauhale Makei Condominiums.
Rare is the flat and unadorned rooftop. Solar companies often face roofs resembling an obstacle course made of vents, pipes and uneven surfaces. What’s a solar contractor to do?
Mounting company SunModo listened to clients asking for a strong system capable of bridging obstructions and putting modules on a single plane, which eliminates shading. SunModo developed the EZHelio SunBeam commercial rooftop mounting system to fill this need.
“Our customers were struggling to find a good racking solution that could be elevated,” said SunModo account executive Brandon Gwinner. “We engineered a solution to meet this basic need, and it turned out to be a huge success.”
By spanning over obstacles, SunBeam takes full advantage of roof space to maximize system size, increasing ROI. Its aluminum construction reduces stress on the building structure while withstanding wind loads and salty air. A heavy duty beam allows longer spans, which reduces the number of posts.
Posts require cutting into the roofing material to the substructure and attaching. Gwinner recommends using the original roofer to apply flashing and boots around the penetration to keep the roof warranty intact.
A California-based contractor used SunBeam on a commercial roof complicated by an air conditioning unit and multiple skylights. The roof pitch was also asymmetrical.
“The SunBeam system made for a smooth and straight-forward installation,” said David Brown, solar consultant at Southwestern Solar Systems. “We were able to easily customize and adjust the racking leg lengths to account for multiple roof pitches on the site.”
Designing a SunBeam system is often a collaboration between installer and the SunModo team. While the components are standard, the number of posts will change due to wind load, snow load, height, tilt degree and obstructions. There is some customization that goes into each project.
“Preferably, a customer will start by sending us a roof diagram with modules,” Gwinner said. “Sometimes they will give me a roof diagram and ask, ‘How many modules can you fit?’”
A 20° tilt will often lead to a layout with modules three, four or five high. A no-tilt system, such as the one at Kauhale Makei Condominiums in Hawaii, can have unlimited modules on a single plane.
Contractors may worry about the effect of putting modules above vents, especially if they’re from a kitchen. Cliff Schrock, solar engineering consultant at SunModo, says 24 in. will probably be enough room for wind to disperse heat. Most vents have deflectors, too. SPW
