Slope Factor for Roofs With Solar Panels 1

[Cambridge99]

When designing a new truss for a roof that will have solar panels on one side do you consider the roof as non-slippery on the solar panel side? (i.e. should the slope factor = 1 for lower sloped roofs?) The panels being proposed have a 3/8” high, rounded seal between the panels. I found an interesting article on slippery roofs at the following site:

https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-228.html

 

[msquared48]

I would think that the solar panels would act like a shear key against the sliding of the snow.

What's with the entry below the link?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[woodman88]

Unless your building has a design problem using the non-slippery roof I would use the non-slippery factors, just in case they remove the solar panels in the future.

Garth Dreger PE
AZ Phoenix area

 

[Ltwine]

Two things to look into:

1. Snow accumulation behind the panel.
2. How fast the snow on panel will melt, any chance for snow accumulation on the panel.

I will take the worst case.