PROJECT : PAGE :

CLIENT : DESIGN BY :
JOB NO. : DATE : REVIEW BY :
Wind Design for Low-Profile Solar Photovoltaic Arrays on Flat Roof, Based on SEAOC PV2-2012

INPUT DATA & DESIGN SUMMARY

Exposure category (B, C or D, ASCE 7-10 26.7.3) B
Basic wind speed (ASCE 7-10 26.5.1 or 2015 IBC) V = 110 mph, (177.03 kph)
Topographic factor (ASCE 7-10 26.8 & Table 26.8-1) Kzt = 1 Flat
Mean roof height or max monoslope roof height h = 20 ft, (6.10 m)
Mean parapet height (PV2 Figure 29.9-1 Notes) hpt = 2 ft, (0.61 m)
Overall building length WL = 182 ft, (55.47 m)
Overall building width WS = 110 ft, (33.53 m)

Array location
To North dN = 50 ft, (15.24 m)
To South dS = 10 ft, (3.05 m)
To West dW = 80 ft, (24.38 m)
To East dE = 30 ft, (9.14 m) Solar Panel Net (toward & away) LRFD Pressure
North-West corner 1 = 45.9 psf, ( 2198 N/m2)
Effective wind area for structural element being designed North-East corner 2 = 63.2 psf, ( 3024 N/m2)
A = 3.13 ft2 ( 0.29 m2) South-West corner 3 = 47.4 psf, ( 2268 N/m2)
South-East corner 4 = 56.0 psf, ( 2680 N/m2)

Max possible pressures for any solar arrays on the roof

pmax = 129.0 psf, ( 6177 N/m2)

ANALYSIS
Velocity pressure
qh = 0.00256 Kh Kzt Kd V2 = 18.43 psf
where: qh = velocity pressure at mean roof height, h. (Eq. 28.3-1 page 298 & Eq. 30.3-1 page 316)
Kh = velocity pressure exposure coefficient evaluated at height, h, (Tab. 28.3-1, pg 299) = 0.70
Kd = wind directionality factor. (Tab. 26.6-1, for building, page 250) = 0.85
h = mean roof height = 20.00 ft
< 60 ft, [Satisfactory] (ASCE 7-10 26.2.1)
< Min (L, B), [Satisfactory] (ASCE 7-10 26.2.2)
Design pressures for rooftop solar arrays
p = qh (G Crn)
where: p = pressure on solar panels (PV2 Eq. 29.9-1).
pmin = 16.00 psf (ASCE 7-10 30.2.2)
(G Crn) = gpE [(G Crn)nom (gc)] , (PV2 Figure 29.9-1 Notes)
gp = 1.00 , (PV2 Figure 29.9-1 Notes)
E = arry edge factors, (PV2 Figure 29.9-1).
(G Crn)nom = nominal net pressure coefficient, (PV2 Figure 29.9-1).
gc = 0.90 , from w and lp .(PV2 Figure 29.9-1 Notes)
w= 10.00 deg, angle of plane of panel to roof. (PV2 Figure 29.9-1)
lp = 5.00 , chord length of solar panel. (PV2 Figure 29.9-1)
apv = Min [ h , 0.5 (h Max(WL , WS))0.5] = 20.00 ft
An = 1000 A / [max(apv , 15 ft)]2 = 7.83 ft2 , (PV2 Figure 29.9-1 Notes)
h1 = 0.50 ft, solar panel height above roof at low edge.
hc = Min [ Min( h1 , 1 ft ) + lp sinw , 0.1 apv] = 1.37 ft, conservatively for multi-solar arrays.

Corner No. Zone 0o - 5o (15o - 35o) g c (G Crn)nom g c E p (psf)

1 1 1.12 1.37 1.25 2.00 45.90
2 2 1.49 1.94 1.71 2.00 63.15
3 2 1.49 1.94 1.71 1.50 47.36
4 3 1.70 2.35 2.02 1.50 55.98

Maximum possible pressures for any solar arrays on this roof

p = qh (G Crn) = 129.02 psf
where: gp = 1.00
E= 2.00
gc = 1.00
(G Crn)nom = 3.50