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Big modules, bigger ballast? – New safety considerations for the rooftop sector

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Join this webinar and learn more about wind effects on big modules, aerodynamic testing, structure codes, and how to ensure your next project is safe.

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Big modules, bigger ballast? – New safety considerations for the rooftop sector

If it wouldn’t be for ballasting, a mild storm could blow away rooftop PV installations easily. The exact amount of ballast has always been a point of contention between various wind tunnel experts and the mounting structure suppliers. To make matters more contentious, modules hit a growth spurt last year, and there is no clear regulatory guidance as to how this additional surface area should affect ballasting calculations.

In this pv magazine Webinar, together with our initiative partner Premium Mounting Technologies, PMT, we want to take a deep dive into the aerodynamics of rooftop installations. Joining us from the company is their founding CTO, Peter Grass.

We will look at the aerodynamics of bigger modules and discuss wind tunnel studies to determine the right ballast. We will show what installers and project developers can do to rest assured wind will not blow their installation off the roof with the next storm that is brewing. Also, we will talk about the implications of a lack of clear regulations in the form of codes and standards.

Finally, we will also look at PMT’s latest roof top mounting system designed for large form factor modules. According to its makers, they didn’t just tinker with the system’s girth but also had it wind tunnel tested for use with large modules, which had them overhaul the ballasting advice.

Join this webinar and learn more about wind effects on big modules, aerodynamic testing, structure codes, and how to ensure your next project is safe. The session will comprise a presentation part and an interactive Q&A session – providing attendees with the opportunity to put their questions to the speakers and become a part of the discussion.

pv magazine Webinar content: 

  • New, bigger modules with different wind behavior
  • Aerodynamic testing for rooftop solar installations
  • Lack of standardized regulation
  • Ensuring safety, even without codes
  • Q&A

Questions can be submitted beforehand or during the webinar through a chat window. Marian Willuhn, editor at pv magazine, will be the host of this webinar.

Registration for this pv magazine Webinar is free of charge.

Speakers

Peter Grass, Founder and Chief Technology Officer | PMT

Peter Grass founded PMT – Premium Mounting Technologies in 2012. Since then, he has evolved the company as a CEO as market leader with innovative and practical mounting solutions.

Daniel Markus, Head of Building Aerodynamics | IFI Institut für Aerodynamik

Daniel Markus is an expert on the field of wind actions and wind loads on buildings and solar structures such as high-rise buildings, PV ballasted roof-mount systems and single-axis trackers. He has long-time experience with wind tunnel testing.

Moderators

Marian Willuhn | Editor, pv magazine

Covering news on power electronics, start-ups and inverters, Marian writes for pv magazine’s international, Australian and German news platforms. He also helps edit the German print magazine. Marian previously worked as a PR-advisor for different clients in the renewable energy business.

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