Webinar

Roofing for Renewables: Designing Low-Slope Roof Systems for Photovoltaics

Roofing for Renewables: Designing Low-Slope Roof Systems for Photovoltaics

It is increasingly common to add photovoltaic (PV) arrays to new and existing building roofs. While this creates renewable energy opportunities for project stakeholders, it can result in roofing-related challenges for the design, construction, and building maintenance teams tasked with implementing and servicing these systems. These challenges can include adapting to evolving building code and insurance requirements and coordinating the PV system with other roof design needs related to winds, drainage, structural loads, or fire resistance. A coordinated and successfully executed roof design and installation plan is critical to ensure the lasting performance of both the PV array and roofing systems, since addressing future leaks or other roof failures can require taking the PV arrays offline or removing them entirely. In this presentation, we will share best practices and lessons learned through the lens of a building enclosure consultant using recent successful rooftop PV project examples. We will also highlight relevant building code requirements, provide general recommendations for coordinating design responsibilities among project team members, and review advantages and disadvantages of common PV array attachment methodologies and their relationship to the roofing system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify how PV arrays can be effectively integrated with low-slope roofing systems.
  • Discuss relevant building code requirements and design considerations for PV array systems.
  • Review advantages, disadvantages, and potential enhancements of different PV array attachment methodologies and their relationship to roofing.
  • Explore case studies to understand how to avoid common issues associated with rooftop PV.

Participants will earn 1 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the live webinar. Registration is free. Please note that space is limited – email events@sgh.com to join our waitlist if the session is closed when you register. 

About the Speaker

Brian Rose
Brian Rose | Senior Project Manager

Brian Rose provides a variety of building enclosure commissioning, consulting, and investigation services for owners, architects, and contractors. He has closely collaborated with project teams to develop novel and reliable solutions for numerous mixed-use residential, office, higher education, and cultural buildings striving for high sustainability goals, including net zero and Passive House. Brian leads the commissioning group in SGH’s Washington, DC, office and manages several complex, high-performance building enclosure design and rehabilitation projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He holds BECxP and CxA+BE certifications and is an active member of the Air Barrier Association of America, Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, and Association of Preservation Technology.