If we do not want the solar collector to be the weak point of the roof, then we must choose a fixing technique that meets the following requirements:
- 1.It should withstand the vagaries of the weather
- 2.On the roofs of tall buildings it must be dimensioned so that the structure withstands wind pressure of up to 1000 N/m2. That is, the collector must be fixed in such a way that not even two able-bodied people could drag it off the roof with their combined strength.
- 3.It should not let moisture get in under the roof covering.
- 4.It should not spoil the aesthetics of the building.
01Fixing integrated into the roof
When building new houses it is possible to integrate the solar collector into the roof; in this case the collectors are installed not above the roof covering but in place of the roof covering. The installation in this case also requires sheet-metal work. The method is very similar to the installation of roof windows. Installed with this method the collector blends into the surface of the roof, so it is aesthetic and does not present a separate point of attack for the wind. The disadvantage of the method appears when the collector has to be replaced later.
02Fixing with a mounting frame
In most cases the collector is fixed above the roof covering with the aid of a mounting frame. Most collector manufacturers produce mounting frames suitable for the installation of one or two collectors. The price of mounting frames is rather steep. This is mostly thanks to the marketing trick that the price of the collector can be kept low this way, because part of the margin is realised in the price of the mounting frame.
03A lot can be saved by replacing the factory mounting frames
Replacing the mounting frame requires some thought and enquiry, but it is by no means an insoluble task. Care must be taken, however, that the fixing must withstand temperatures above +100ºC and below –20ºC. Moisture and frost must not damage it. Because of air pollution the components must not corrode in a slightly acidic environment either. The joints must remain releasable even after 10–20 years. This is only possible if we apply NONOX stainless or acid-resistant structural elements and fasteners.
04A special NONOX stainless and acid-resistant fastener collection developed for the installation of solar collectors
In the range of Menet-Trend Kft there is a NONOX acid-resistant fastener collection developed expressly for the installation of solar collectors. Practically for every collector and roof type there are those NONOX stainless and acid-resistant fasteners with which the factory mounting frame can be replaced. The simplest solution is when we fix two roof hooks per collector to the rafter with suitable screws. The roof hook can be pushed in under the tile or the slate, similarly to a snow guard. The lower part of the collector is then fixed with a stud bolt. The situation is not always this simple, but knowing the type and dimensions of the collector and the structure of the roof, those elements can quite certainly be found in the collection with which the solar collector can be installed safely and in accordance with the conditions mentioned above.
05Speaking of safety…
The installation of solar collectors does not require special expertise, but two things must certainly be watched. On the one hand, one must be very attentive when moving about on the roof. On a steep roof appropriate fall protection must be applied. The other source of danger is the possibility of burn injuries. Under the effect of sunshine the surface of the collectors heats up very quickly, therefore installation is only safe to carry out under shading or a sun-shade sheet.
There exists a universal NONOX stainless and acid-resistant solar-collector mounting fastener set for users who would like to save by replacing the factory mounting frame, while it matters to them that the structure should last for decades under the open sky and that the wind should not damage it either.
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