Setbacks for solar pv systems are required by the ibc international building code and adopted by some state and local permitting authorities.
Roof setbacks solar.
Setback refers to the distance that solar panels need to be from the side and top edges of a roof.
Setbacks are for firefighter roof access to the ridge line.
The problem is the new setback guidelines make ideal solar roof space unavailable sometimes as much as half or more of the roof area.
Any roof with pitch equal or less than 2 in 12 9 46 degrees doesn t require any setbacks pathways.
This could due to a jurisdictional requirement a fire code requirement or a company design guideline.
For homes with sprinkler systems if the system takes up less than 2 3 of the plan view total roof area the setback for ridge ventilation is also relaxed to 18 inches.
Hip roofs arrays must be located to provide a minimum 36 inch wide access pathway from the eave to the ridge on all roof sections containing solar equipment.
Roof setbacks define how much distance there must be between the system and the edges of the roof.
The international fire code 605 11 3 2 4 that states panels modules installed shall be located no higher than 3 ft below the ridge to allow for fire department ventilation operations significantly decreases the attractiveness of residential solar pv because it applies to both sides of a peaked roof.
This is a requirement imposed by the 2018 international fire code section 1204 and adopted by the authority having jurisdiction ahj i e.
Roof setbacks from ridge for ventilation relaxed from 36 inches to 18 inches for solar systems that take up less than 1 3 of the plan view total roof area.
The exact size of the fire setback depends on the size of the building but for an average sized home each roof section that has solar panels requires two clear 36 inch wide pathways running along the edge of the roof.
The intention of the setbacks is to provide firefighters with access to the peak of the roof in order to provide positive ventilation in the event of a house fire.
Panels modules installed on residential buildings with hip roof layouts shall be located in a manner that provides a 3 foot wide 914 mm clear access pathway from the eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels modules are located.
According to cal fire s solar photovoltaic installation guidelines below are illustrations of currently enforced fire setbacks pathways for residential solar system installations.
These requirements don t exist everywhere so check with your local authorities.
