SUCCESSFULROOFTOPPHOTOVOLTAICS:

HowtoAchieveaHighQuality,WellMaintained,CompatibleRooftopPVSystem

TheBenefitsofRooftopPV

TherooftopsofNorthAmericaofferanattractiveplatformtoachievelongtermenergy
independencewhilereducingenvironmentalimpactandsustainingastrongeconomyandsocietyfor
futuregenerations.Thisrooftopplatformforthefutureisespeciallyattractiveforthedeployment
ofphotovoltaic(PV)systemswhichgenerateelectricitythroughthedirectconversionofsunlightinto
usableelectricalpower.AccordingtoUSCensusdata1,therooftopsoftheUnitedStatesaloneoffer
over200billionsquarefeetofpotentialsurfaceareafortheinstallationofPVsystems.Assumingonly
25%ofthisareaissuitableforunobstructedandcontinuousPVoperation,thetotalenergy
generatingpotentialexceeds50,000megawatts,ortheequivalentofover10GrandCouleeDams2.

Thebenefitsofferedbyrooftopsfortheeconomicalandsustainabledeploymentofrenewablesolar
energyalsoinclude:

AccesstoSunlight.Becausetheroofsurfaceisgenerallylocatedabovetheshadelinefortrees
andadjacentstructures,thissurfaceoffersvirtuallyunobstructedaccesstoavailablesolar
energy.
LowCostSolarRealEstate.Becauserooftopsarealreadyservingafunctionalpurposeby
keepingwateroutofbuildingsandhelpinggenerateeconomicvalueintheformofoccupancyor
rent,theiruseasaplatformtogeneratesolarenergyisgenerallymuchlessexpensivethanthe
acquisitionofundevelopedrealestate.Inaddition,developmentcosts,includingdesign,zoning,
infrastructure,etc.maybesignificantlylowerusingexistingrooftopsascomparedtodeveloping
anew,freestandingsolargeneratingfacility.
Unobtrusive,SecureLocation.Becauseroofsurfacesaregenerallylocatedabovethe
streetscapetheinstallationofrooftopsolarmaynotoverlyimpingeonthedailyactivitiesand
ambienceofdevelopedcommunities.Inaddition,becauseroofsofferlimitedaccessibility,
rooftopsolarsystemsareinherentlyeasiertosecureascomparedtogroundlevelinstallations.
ClosetotheCustomer/ClosetotheGrid.Ingeneral,theusersoftheenergygeneratedby
rooftopsolararelocateddirectlybeneaththerooftop,reducingtransmissionandoperating
costs.Inaddition,becauserooftopsolarisgenerallylocateddirectlywithinthecurrent
developedelectricgrid,nonewtransmissionlinesorcontrolsarenecessary.
AttractiveInvestment.Theeconomicsofrooftopsolararebecomingincreasinglyattractivefor
bothcommercialandresidentialcustomers.Forthehomeowner,thecostofrooftopsolarafter
availablefederalandlocalincentivesmaygenerateuptoa15%returnoninvestment1insome
statesandforcommercialowners,theuseofpowerpurchaseagreementscombinedwith
growingfederalandlocalincentivesprovidesanattractiveROIinmanyareasofNorthAmerica.
MaterialSynergies.Usingmodernmaterialstechnologies,theenergygeneratingand
waterproofingfunctionsofrooftopsolarcanbeeffectivelycombinedintoBuildingIntegrated
Photovoltaic(BIPV)systems,offeringsignificantmaterial,installation,andmaintenancecost
savings.

TheChallengesofRooftopPV

Inadditiontopotentialbenefits,thegrowingdeploymentofrooftopsolaracrossNorthAmericaalsoposesa
numberofchallengesthatmustbeeffectivelyaddressedinorderforrooftopsolartoachieveitspromise.These
criticalchallengesinclude:

MaintainingRoofWatertightness.Theprimaryfunctionofaroofingsystemistomaintainwatertightnessand
resistthepenetrationofmoistureintotheunderlyingbuilding.However,theinstallationofaPVsystemmay
createconditionsthatmayjeopardizetheabilityoftheroofingsystemtosuccessfullyperformitswatertight
function.ManyPVsystemscreatenewroofpenetrationsandattachmentsthatmaycauseleakageand
interferewithdrainage.Inaddition,thePVsystemmayaddnewloadstotheroof,suchasincreasedweight,
addedheatandreflectedultravioletraysthatmaydamagetheroofunlesscountermeasuresare
implemented.PVinstallationwillalsoaddserviceloadsthatcandamagetheroofduringnormaluseand
routinesystemmaintenanceofboththeroofandthePVsystem;andtheseadditionalserviceloadsalsowill
requiretheimplementationofdesignandoperatingcountermeasurestoassurelongtermwatertightness.

TheBottomLine:WiththeinstallationofarooftopPVsystem,theroofingsystembecomesmorethan
justaroofitbecomesapermanentplatformforthecontinuousoperation,serviceandmaintenanceof
thePVsystem.

MaintainingtheRoofWarranty.Billionsofsquarefeet4ofcommercialroofinginstallationsacrossNorth
Americaareprotectedbymanufacturerslimitedwarrantiesprovidingfortherepairoftheroofintheeventof
leaks.Inaddition,manycommercialbuildingownersrelyonthislimitedwarrantyprotectionaspartoftheir
overallroofsystemmaintenanceprogram.Likealllimitedwarranties,however,thecoverageofferedmaybe
severelylimitedifcriticaldesign,installationand/ormaintenanceproceduresarenotfollowed.Fromthestart,
theroofingsystemmustbedesignedandinstalledinaccordancewithroofingmanufacturerspecifications,
andPVsystemdetailsmustbeacceptedbythewarrantyroofingsystemmanufacturerpriortoinstallation.In
addition,thebuildingownerorownersagentmustfollowspecificmaintenanceandnotificationrequirements
inordertomaintainthefullforceandeffectofthelimitedwarranty.

TheBottomLine:Roofingwarrantiesareavaluabletoolforthebuildingowner,buttheycarry
importantlimitationsandconditionsthatmustbeaddressedforsuccessfulrooftopPVinstallationand
operation.

MaintainingContinuousOperations.Becausemanycommercialroofinginstallationsarefinancedusinglong
termPowerPurchaseAgreements(PPAs),thecontinuous,undisruptedgenerationofsolarpoweriscriticalto
thefulfillmentofthetermsofthePPA.Asaconsequence,themarginofsafetyrequiredinthedesign,
installationandmaintenanceoftheroofmaylikelyexceednormalexpectationsandminimumstandardsfor
commercialroofingsystems.Asanexample,commercialroofingsystemsaregenerallydesignedtoresist
typicalweathereventssuchasrain,snow,andwind;buttheyarenotalwaysdesignedtomeetunusual
weathereventssuchwindblowndebris,hurricanes,andhailstorms.Inadditiontothedamagingpotentialof
unusualweatherevents,itisimportanttorecognizethatrepairsforsuchdamagemayaddtothedisruption
byrequiringthetemporaryremovalandreassemblyoftherooftopPVsysteminordertorepairtheunderlying
roofingsystem.

TheBottomLine:ArooftopPVsystemshouldbedesignednottosimplymakeitthroughthestorm,
buttominimizetheneedformajorrepairsorreplacementthatcouldcompromisethecontinuous
operationofthePVsystem.

MeetingBuildingCodes.Givenitsinstallationonandintegrationwiththeroofingsystem,rooftopPVsystems
mustmeetanumberofimportantcriteriaprescribedbymodernbuildingcodes.First,thecombinedroofing/
PVsystemmustmeetorexceedexternalfirestandardsasrequiredbythegoverningbuildingcode.
ConventionalPVarraysusuallydonotaffectthefireratingoftheunderlyingroofingsystem,butthinfilm
laminatesgenerallymustbetestedandcertifiedtomeetfirecoderequirements.Inaddition,thecombinedPV
/roofingsystemmustmeetorexceedwindupliftresistancestandardsasrequiredbythegoverningbuilding
code.BothconventionalPVarraysandthinfilmlaminatesgenerallymustbetestedandcertifiedtomeetwind
upliftcoderequirements.

TheBottomLine:ArooftopPVsystemmustbedesignedandinstalledtomeetcriticalbuildingcode
requirements,includingbutnotlimitedtoexternalfireandwindupliftstandardsandfulfillmentof
thesestandardsgenerallyrequirestestingandcertificationofthecombinedPV/roofingsystem.

ManagingSafetyRisks.Thecombinationofroofingandenergygenerationcombineseveralrisksthatmake
rooftopPVsystemsuniqueascomparedtoeithernormalroofingorelectricalactivities.Becauseofthehigh
voltagegeneratedbyPV,groundprotectionandaccesstoswitchgearandconduitsposeimportantsafety
risks.AndbecauserooftopPVisinstalledataconsiderableheightabovetheground,fallprotectionbecomesa
criticalsafetyissue.Becauseofthesecriticalsafetyrisks,insurancerequirementsarealsoimportant,especially
generalliabilityandworkmenscompensationcoverage.Finally,itisimportanttonotethattheserisksdonot
endwiththesuccessfulinstallationofarooftopPVsystemtheycontinueeverydaythesystemisin
operationontherooftop,andhence,highvoltageandfallprotectionbecomesadailyrequirement.

TheBottomLine:ArooftopPVsystempresentsacombinationofrisksthatmustbeaddressed,including
highvoltageoperation,fallprotection,andinsurancecoverageandtheserisksarepresenteveryday
therooftopPVsystemisinoperation.

ManagingtheInvestmentHorizon.AlthoughrooftopPVsystemsarebecomingmoreandmoreattractiveas
investments,theinvestmenthorizonremainsverylonggenerallyatleasttwentyyearstoachievean
acceptablereturnoninvestment.Asaconsequence,theunderlyingroofingsystemmustalsoprovidethis
sameminimuminvestmenthorizoninordertorealizethefullpotentialofrooftopPV.Asillustratedbymany
ofthepreviouschallengesidentifiedinthispaper,oneofthemostcriticaldeterminantsofthelongevityofthe
roofingsystemisthecompatibilityofthesystemwhenusedinconjunctionwithaPVsystem.Inaddition,the
longevityofmodernroofingsystemsmayvarysignificantlydependingonthequalityofmaterials,design
detailsandinstallationpracticesusedtointegratethesematerials.Finally,allmodernroofingsystems,
regardlessoftheamountofrobustnessbuiltintothesystem,mustbewellmaintainedovertimetoassure
optimalservicelifeisachieved.

AssuringtheeffectivematchbetweenaroofingsystemandaPVsystemisespeciallycriticalwheneverthe
installationofaPVsystemiscontemplatedoveranexistingroof.Notonlymusttheremainingservicelifeof
theexistingroofsystemisadequatetomeetorexceedtheinvestmenthorizonofthePVsystem,buta
detailedreviewofthecompatibilityoftheexistingrooftoaccommodatethePVsystembothinitiallyaswell
asduringongoingoperationswillbecriticaltoassuringthatlongterminvestmentobjectiveswillbe
achieved.Insomecases,theexistingroofcanberetrofittedorupgradedtoprovidethenecessaryservicelife
andcompatibilitywiththePVsystem;butmanysituationsmayarisewheretoexistingroofingsystemissimply
inadequatetomatchtherequiredinvestmenthorizon.

TheBottomLine:FailuretomatchtheinvestmenthorizonoftheroofingsystemandthePVsystemwill
likelyhaveanadverseeffectonlongtermrooftopPVinvestmentreturn.

MeetingtheChallengesofRooftopPV

BecausethepotentialbenefitsofrooftopPVoffersomuchintermsoflongtermenergyindependenceand
environmentalsustainability,andbecausetheuniquechallengesofmatchingPVsystemstocompatibleroofing
systemsaresocritical,theCenterforEnvironmentalInnovationhasdevelopedasetofguidingprinciplesthatcan
beusedbydesigners,buildingowners,andthePVinvestmentcommunitytoassurethatthecombinedrooftopPV
systemisdesigned,installedandmaintainedforoptimaleconomicandenvironmentalbenefit.

SuccessfulRooftopPV:GuidingPrinciples

1.

Startwithahighquality,wellmaintainedroofingsystemdesignedforcompatibilitywiththeintended
PVsystem,orupgradeanexistinghighqualityroofingsystemforcompatibilitywiththePVsystem.

2.

3.

4.

Makesuretheroofingsystemwillprovideatleast20additionalyearsofusefulservice.Useacoverboard
asasubstratefortheroofingmembranetopreventdamageandprotecttheenergyefficiencyoftheroof
insulation.MatchroofmembranethicknessandprovenperformancetotherequiredservicelifeofthePV
system.Elevateframingandconduitsabovetheroofsurfacetopromotedrainage.

Alsomakesuretheroofingsystemiswellmaintainedsothatcontinuousoperationsarenotaffected.Stop
potentialleaksbeforetheystart.Useroundframingatpenetrations.Installsacrificialmembranelayersor
walkwaysatcriticaltrafficlocations.Provideadditionalmembranelayersorcoatingsatflashings.
Establishaformalperiodicinspectionprogramtoverifytheconditionoftheroofingmembrane,flashings,
andallcriticalroofsystemdetails

MakesuretheroofingwarrantyisnotcompromisedbythePVsysteminstallation.
MakesuretheroofsystemmanufacturerhasacceptedallPVsystemdetailsespeciallyattachments&
penetrationspriortoPVsysteminstallation.Initiatealongtermroofmaintenanceprogramwith
qualifiedroofingprofessionals.Maintaincommunicationswiththeroofsystemmanufacturerandroofing
contractor.

MakesurethePVroofingwilldomorethanjustmakeitthroughthestormtohelpinsurecontinuous
operations.

Inareasofhighrainfallorsnow,increaseflashingheightsandroofdrainageprovisions.Inhailzones,
selectonlytestedhailresistantPV/roofingassemblies,andincreaseroofmembranethicknessandinstall
coverboardstominimizehaildamage.Inhighwindzones,selectonlytestedhighwindupliftPV/roofing
assemblies,andaddsacrificialmembranelayersandinstallcoverboardstominimizedamagefromwind
blowndebris.

AnticipateandplanforthehighlevelsofservicetrafficandotherimpactsassociatedwithPV.
Toaccommodatetheeffectsofhighmaintenancetraffic,Installprotectivewalkways,increasemembrane
thickness,andaddprotectivecoverboards.Inaddition,establishoperationalcontrols,suchasrestricting
roofaccessandmaintainingaroofaccesslog.

ToaccommodatetheeffectsofheatbuildupandreflectedultravioletfrequentlyassociatewithPV
systems,installasacrificialmembranelayerdirectlybeneaththePVsystemtoreduceheatbuildupon

5.

6.

theprimarywaterproofingmembrane.Inaddition,installadditionalmembraneorcoatinglayersat
exposedverticalflashingstoreduceUVexposure.

AnticipateandplanfortheeventualreplacementofboththePVsystemandtheroofingsystem.

Establishaproactiveandorganizedapproachtoroofsystemrepair&replacement.Repairorreplace
flashingsandothercriticalroofdetailsaspartofanongoingpreventativemaintenanceprogram.In
addition,designforroofreplacementthatdoesnotinterruptoperation.Forexample,considerre
skinningtheexistingroofmembraneinlieuofcompleteremovalandreplacement.

Engagequalifiedprofessionalstoinsureallbuildingcodesandsafetyregulationsaremet.

Involvequalifiedroofingprofessionalsasimportantmembersoftheinitialdesignandplanningteam.
Obtainassurancesthatlocalbuildingcodesarebeingmet,andrequireallinstallationandservice
personneltomeetrooftopsafetyregulations
Finally,keeproofingprofessionalsinvolvedintheongoingserviceoftheroofingsystem.

Theseguidingprinciplesareintendedtoofferastartingpointfortheeffectiveselectionofhighquality,compatible
andwellmaintainedrooftopPVsystems,buttheymustbesupplementedbyadditionalinformationavailablefrom
otherroofingindustrysources,includingnonprofitassociations,testingandstandardsorganizations,codebodies,
andprofessionalroofingconsultants,contractorsandmanufacturers.Formoreinformationabouttheeffective
implementationoftheseguidelines,pleasecontacttheCenterforEnvironmentalInnovationinRoofing,visitthe
Centerswebsite,orcontactanymemberoftheCenter.

Notes:
1. DerivedfromUSCensusBureaudatabyTEGNOSResearch,Inc.(2008).
2. Assumes1wattaveragesolarpowerproductionduringdaylighthourspersquarefootofsuitableroofsurface(200billion
squarefeettotalroofsurfaceX25%suitableusagefactorX1watt/squarefoot=50,000megawatts).
3. WillDemandforSolarHomePickUp?BusinessWeek,11/03/08.
4. Hoff,J.L.(1997)."HistoricalWarrantyCost:AnEffectiveMeasureofLongTermRoofSystemPerformance."Proceedingsof
theFourthInternationalRoofingSymposium,Gaithersburg,MD.