Interest in site-specific electricity generation has increased
significantly during the past few years through federal and local
incentives and an increased demand for energy efficiency and
reduced energy costs. And one way to achieve site-specific
electricity generation is through roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV)
system installations.
However, homeowners and building owners who are interested in
rooftop electricity generation often overlook the need for an
appropriate substrate that will provide equivalent service life for
the roof-mounted PV system. Many existing roof systems are not
adequate to provide a substrate for the expected life of
roof-mounted PV modules, which could last as long as 30 years.
A typical roof system may not be designed to take the abuses
inherent with the installation of rooftop equipment of any kind.
Worker traffic, using the roof surface as a work platform,
additional load on the roof structure, drainage and the possibility
of ponding water are concerns when adding any type of rooftop
equipment. When a roof-mounted PV system is installed, these same
concerns need to be assessed and resolved appropriately on a
project-by-project basis. In addition, there are concerns specific
to PV system installation that...
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