Darryl:
If you are talking about California, I must respectfully disagree. If you are not talking about California, I am ignorant. California Fire Code, 2016 version, states the following for group R-3 buildings (which I am fairly certain includes single family homes). This includes provisions for pitched roofs. Upon first reading, I do not see any improvements over the previous version (2012) except that it appears clearance from valleys has reduced from 36” to 18”. These regulations are implemented by local fire Marshalls in California (sometimes the same person as the Chief, sometimes not). This gives the Marshalls complete discretion. I have had good luck negotiating with Marshalls and finding good compromises. Excerpt from 2016 California fire code. *605.11.1.1 Roof access points. Roof access points* *shall be located in areas that do not require the placement* *of ground ladders over openings such as windows* *or doors, and located at strong points of building construction* *in locations where the access point does not* *conflict with overhead obstructions such as tree limbs,* *wires or signs.* *605.11.1.2 Solar photovoltaic systems for Group R-3* *buildings. Solar photovoltaic systems for Group R-3* *buildings shall comply with Sections 605.11.1.2.1* *through 605.11.1.2.5.* *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to* *structures designed and constructed in accordance* *with the California Residential Code.* *605.11.1.2.1 Size of solar photovoltaic array. Each* *photovoltaic array shall be limited to 150 feet (45* *720 mm) by 150 feet (45 720 mm). Multiple arrays* *shall be separated by a 3-foot-wide (914 mm) clear* *access pathway.* *605.11.1.2.2 Hip roof layouts. Panels and modules* *installed on Group R-3 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* *and modules are located. The access pathway shall* *be at a location on the building capable of supporting* *the fire fighters accessing the roof.* *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to* *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units* *horizontal (2:12) or less.* *605.11.1.2.3 Single-ridge roofs. Panels and modules* *installed on Group R-3 buildings with a single* *ridge shall be located in a manner that provides two,* *3-foot-wide (914 mm) access pathways from the* *eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels* *and modules are located.* *Exception: This requirement shall not apply to* *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units* *horizontal (2:12) or less.* *605.11.1.2.4 Roofs with hips and valleys. Panels* *and modules installed on Group R-3 buildings with* *roof hips and valleys shall not be located closer than* *18 inches (457 mm) to a hip or a valley where panels/* *modules are to be placed on both sides of a hip or* *valley. Where panels are to be located on only one* *side of a hip or valley that is of equal length, the* *panels shall be permitted to be placed directly adjacent* *to the hip or valley.* *Exception: These requirements shall not apply to* *roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units* *horizontal (2:12) or less.* *605.11.1.2.5 Allowance for smoke ventilation* *operations. Panels and modules installed on Group* *R-3 buildings shall be located not less than 3 feet* *(914 mm) from the ridge** in order to allow for fire* *department smoke ventilation operations.* *Exception: Panels and modules shall be permitted* *to be located up to the roof ridge where an* *alternative ventilation method approved by the* *fire chief has been provided or where the fire* *chief has determined vertical ventilation techniques* *will not be employed.* *605.11.1.2.6 Locations of DC conductors. Conduit,* *wiring systems, and raceways for photovoltaic circuits* *shall be located as close as possible to the* *ridge or hip or valley and from the hip or valley as* *directly as possible to an outside wall to reduce trip* *hazards and maximize ventilation opportunities.* *Conduit runs between sub arrays and to DC combiner* *boxes shall be installed in a manner that minimizes* *the total amount of conduit on the roof by* *taking the shortest path from the array to the DC* *combiner box. The DC combiner boxes shall be* *located such that conduit runs are minimized in the* *pathways between arrays. DC wiring shall be* *installed in metallic conduit or raceways when* *located within enclosed spaces in a building. Conduit* *shall run along the bottom of load bearing* *members.* [image: Gradient Cap_mini] Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Darryl Thayer *Sent:* Tuesday, April 03, 2018 8:51 PM *To:* newrewrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Clearance clarification please It is in the building code. It is for commercial flat roofs not for residential On Tue, Apr 3, 2018, 2:52 PM <ch...@oasismontana.com> wrote: Hey folks: What section of the Code relates to the 3' clearance for a solar array? …as in, the roof area around the array. I’ve been scrutinizing the NEC til my eyes are crossed….. THANKS! Chris Daum Oasis Montana Inc. 406-777-4309 406-777-4309 fax www.oasismontana.com _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
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