William I'd be interested in including similar PE fee language in my proposals. If you'd send that I would appreciate it. I have only experienced a similar requirement once. In 2006 I was ordered to include a PE report, to local bldg. code enforcement, on a fairly typical residential PV install. I sent the engineering data that UniRac had online, plus a solid model CAD rendering of the roof with a cutaway view and details. They dropped the requirement for the report and issued a permit. This 2.6 kW system was the first grid-tied & permitted install in the service area for Denton Muni Electric, Texas. Later, through the owners persistence, and an invitation for me to speak to city council & environmental committee, DME started the first PV rebate program in North Texas on Jan 1 this year. The Wrenches information has been a huge source of good ideas and inspiration to me. I have created a Commissioning Report based on suggestions from other Wrenches. I also bought a Fluke insulation tester and am working on creating a report to document the results of GF testing on future installs. What a great resource this group is! And thanks for your consistent levelheaded input. Best regards Jim Duncan North Texas Renewable Energy Fort Worth Texas ----- Original Message ----- From: William Miller To: RE-wrenches Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 5:05 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar System Certification
Brian: I looked up the Municipal Codes (http://www.ci.yorba-linda.ca.us/~ci26/how-do-i/get/get-city-codes) and this requirement is right in there. I hope you have a provision in your contract that allows for additional billing for unanticipated engineering fees. Everyone should. If you need language, contact me off line. Fortunately I have never experienced anything like this. This requirement sounds unreasonable. It is sort of like asking an air conditioning contractor to have the air conditioning unit tested in the field. Individual solar components are listed. The combining of the components is facilitated by the manufacturers specifications and on-line sizing tools. Having said that, an amateur can easily screw the design and installation of even the most simple grid-tie system. This provision is the ultimate consumer protection. It sounds onerous at first but does have a benefit. Good luck, and give us a hint how much this certification costs. William Miller At 01:31 PM 12/18/2009, you wrote: I am curious if any of you have had to deal with this issue before. The following is an item we got back from the City of Yorba Linda for a Plan Check correction: All electrical solar systems shall be tested and approved by a California Registered Electrical Engineer. The engineer shall furnish a report stating their name, registration number, its date of expiration, address where the testing occurred and the dates of testing and approval. Such report shall be presented to the City inspector for approval at the time of final inspection. (YLMC 15.28.020) Note on the plans. All experiences and suggestion are appreciated. Best Regards, Brian C. White Design Engineer - PV Systems Eagle Roofing Products 120 North Auburn Street - Suite 212 Grass Valley, CA 95945 Phone: 530-273-2948 Cell: 530-575-5550 e-mail: bri...@eagleroofing.com <mailto:bri...@eagleroofing.com> _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.717 / Virus Database: 270.14.113/2573 - Release Date: 12/17/09 23:35:00 Please note new e-mail address and domain: William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
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