August 12, 2020
When the time comes to decide on a solar PV design, the engineering and design team at YSG Solar will take into account the specific electrical and structural needs of each building. Our solar system engineers and designers are experienced with a wide range of roofing structures and situations. The type of rooftop, roofing membrane, and building structure will, in large part, inform the commercial solar rooftop design for the project.
It’s All About the Roof
When designing your rooftop solar project, YSG Solar will use the existing rooftop structure as a blueprint for creating the most suitable solar array design. Different rooftops call for corresponding design types.
Flat Roofing Systems
For flat roofing systems, which use composite or single-ply membranes, the solar developer will likely use a tilted racking system. These are not ballasted, and will require some penetration of the roof.
Metal Roofing Systems
A standing seam metal rooftop requires no rooftop penetration; the solar system designer can opt instead for a clamp to attach the solar array to the roofing material. You can see an example of this in Brooklyn, New York, on Pitkin Avenue.
Rock or Gravel Ballasted Roofing
With this type of roofing, the system engineer may need to remove some of the rocks to allow the PV material to make contact with the roof surface. There is also the possibility of water collection issues if too many rocks are left during the installation process.
Commercial Solar System Cost
One of the reasons why rooftop solar projects are so cost-effective is that they incorporate the existing building structure and electrical system into the plan. There are no new structures that need to be built. This means the focus is on generating energy, and all the benefits that a commercial solar system can produce for your company and community.
Maintaining Your Commercial Solar System
As far as continued rooftop solar maintenance is concerned, YSG engages the original roofing company throughout the design process, to establish continued warranty coverage. YSG’s solar system engineers design PV systems to withstand occurrences of heavy wind and rain, as well as expansion due to temperature changes.
If you’re interested in rooftop solar for your property, contact YSG Solar today. Send us an email, or call at 212.389.9215 and we will determine the ideal solar project for your energy needs—commercial, residential, or community.
YSG Solar is a project development vehicle responsible for commoditizing energy infrastructure projects. We work with long-term owners and operators to provide clean energy assets with stable, predictable cash flows. YSG's market focus is distributed generation and utility-scale projects located within North America.