Solar panels on flat roof
Solar panels may be placed on either a flat roof or a sloping roof. When placing solar panels on a flat roof, it is important to take into account that the solar panels will be a maximum of one meter above the roof edge. If the solar panels on flat roof reach higher then one is no longer exempt for a building application.
A large proportion of new construction or thorough renovations have flat roofs.
Until a few years ago, solar panels on flat roofs were always placed under an inclination of 35° and in portrait (with the long side up). Nowadays, solar panels on a flat roof are usually placed under an inclination of 12° to 15° and in landscape (with the short side up).
A major advantage of this is that the solar panels can be placed more subtly. Typically, the height from the roof surface to the highest point of the panels is about 35cm, depending on the mounting materials chosen.
Furthermore, the panels do not need to be placed as far apart (smaller row spacing) because when they are lower, they do not cast shadows on the next row of solar panels.
Shade causes loss of efficiency in any solar panel installation and we want to try to avoid it at all times.
So by placing the solar panels on flat roof under lower inclination and in landscape we obtain smaller row distances and more panels can be implanted on the same roof area.
Are solar panels harmful to my flat roof?
If you fear for your roof, be sure to ask for more info on the flat roof mounting system used. Solar panels on flat roof are fixed by balastering. This means that one will not be drilling holes in your roof. The choice of a specific mounting system means that there will have to be more or less weight as ballast so that the solar panels on flat roof will not go flying in a violent gust of wind.
Even for roofs with very limited stability, there are extremely light mounting systems. If you know the regulations of your roof with a limitation for the ballast per square meter, please let us know
Do solar panels on a flat roof cost more?
No, for the cost price of solar panels on a flat roof, you certainly don't have to stop there. After all, the cost of installing solar panels on a flat roof or sloping roof is the same. Installing solar panels on a flat roof is a little easier but the materials used are a little more expensive.
The two roughly cancel each other out, making solar panels on flat roofs as well as solar panels on pitched roofs a great investment.
Some more important things to consider for mounting solar panels on a flat roof include:
- The distance from the eaves
- Solar panels closer to the roof edge are more subject to the influence of strong gusts of wind. So we always recommend respecting a certain distance from the roof edge.
- Roof grommet
A 50mm diameter grommet is already more than sufficient to accommodate all cables. If there is no grommet, you will have to walk over the edge of the roof. - Shadow
- Not only shadow from the other panels is a culprit for the efficiency of your installation but also the shadow from any chimneys, trees, outdoor units, etc. With an installation from EnergyKing, we guarantee you an optimal implantation on your roof and our specialists take all these factors into account to obtain the highest possible efficiency of your solar panel installation.
