Residential BIPV Roof Coverings: Plan Check & Permitting Guidelines
This document provides general guidance for building departments to review plans and issue permits for the installation of steep-slope building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof coverings on one- and two-family dwellings as governed by the International Residential Code (IRC) and National Electrical Code (NEC).
The purpose of this document is to provide general guidance for building departments to review plans and issue permits for the installation of steep-slope (2:12 or greater) building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof coverings on one- and two-family dwellings as governed by the International Residential Code (IRC) and National Electrical Code (NEC). This information can also assist system designers and installers in preparing plans for submission that clearly demonstrate compliance.
The information provided may also be helpful to building departments that currently provide over-the-counter permitting for roofing, solar (or both), and wish to provide this option for BIPV roofing, which combines aspects of both product categories. Depending on the BIPV product, some departments might choose to issue separate permits for roofing and electrical, while others may see fit to combine both roofing and electrical scope into a single permit.
While most Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) have gained considerable experience with rooftop-mounted PV panel systems (solar modules and racking, mounted above an existing roof, attached to rafters or trusses), BIPV roofing has remained a small fraction of the residential solar market. As a result, the requirements in building codes and safety standards for their permitting and installation are not as widely known.
The recent emergence of more commercially successful BIPV roofing products has prompted renewed interest in how their compliance requirements differ from the more common rooftop PV panel systems. Those reviewing these systems for the first time may find it helpful to think of them as a “roof” first and as “solar panels” second.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Solar Energy and Technologies Office Award Number DE-EE0009001.0000. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.
Photo at top: GAF Energy Timberline Solar® Photovoltaic Shingle.
