Yes! And the IFC and IRC both allow local fire officials to basically require, or allow, whatever they want (Exception 2 to IFC 1204.2 and IRC R324.6).
Brian Mehalic NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59 520.204.6639 Solar Energy International http://www.solarenergy.org SEI Professional Services http://www.seisolarpros.com On Wed, Apr 4, 2018 at 9:22 AM, Darryl Thayer <darylsol...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thank you good comments, facts, i am in Mn my last 3 installs the fire > marshal said he did not care, he would use the north side of the roof or > not at all. > > On Wed, Apr 4, 2018, 9:53 AM William Miller <will...@millersolar.com> > wrote: > >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> > _______________________________________________ > 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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