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Solar plan check

ICE

ICE

Oh Well
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
12,934
Location
California
Los Angeles County has suspended plan checking for solar permits. Field inspectors are now responsible for the plan checking. The truth is that few inspectors, if any, pay attention to the plans so there is no reason to expend valuable engineer’s time on plan checking.

In the short term there shouldn’t be too many problems. The equipment is plug and play. The Achilles heel of the solar industry is the source of energy. Solar equipment is not as robust as lawn furniture. The Sun and pollution will degrade it and that’s when the lack of attention to installation instructions will be apparent.

Here’s a tip, all solar racking has installation instructions. There is valuable information in the installation instructions. If you inspect solar, you have never seen racking installation instructions.
 
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If inspectors do not look at the plans the answer is not to get rid of the plans. Maybe we need train the inspectors.

A little secret, not all issues can be addressed in the rack installation instructions.
 
Kind of to Ice's point on the damage from the sun, I did see a study conducted some years ago that suggested that overall return on investment was actually a little better in moderate climates due to improved lifespan of solar arrays. I know locally there was an array in service for over 30 years and still producing well over half of the initial amount produced. I wonder if it is still in service.
 
The inspectors will not perform an inspection of solar no matter the training. There's a great deal that doesn't get inspected....solar is the least of it. The benefit of plan checking was that the bare minimum standards were on paper and that encouraged the installers to meet code. The solar industry is quick to adapt. Plans will become boilerplate to the degree that one set will be all that's ever needed.
 
But don’t you need to inspect the electrical connections at the main panel? Seems like you frequently post pictures of badly done connections.
 
jar546 said:
This cannot and would never fly in a hurricane zone. No way, no how unless there is plan review.
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California leads the way. The push for renewable energy outstrips common sense. When the state legislature mandated that we can only do one inspection I predicted that self certification was next. California is there by default.
 
It is a good point though. A good plan review catches major issues and saves everyone money and time. Makes the whole rest of the process much easier.
 
tmurray said:
It is a good point though. A good plan review catches major issues and saves everyone money and time. Makes the whole rest of the process much easier.
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If a jurisdiction has competent inspectors, a lack of plan check is not as serious as it nseems. Southern California does not qualify for that .
 
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We also see a lot of people missing the fire access routes around the panels and that would be really hard to fix in the field.
 
phillier937 said:
We also see a lot of people missing the fire access routes around the panels and that would be really hard to fix in the field.
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Other missed Fire Dept considerations are that the point of roof access shall not be over an opening in the wall such as a window or door and the array is not allowed below an EERO.
 
phillier937 said:
We also see a lot of people missing the fire access routes around the panels and that would be really hard to fix in the field.
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Field issues: Additional panels added, panels placed on other parts of the roof not matching plans, panels placed to close to rakes and ridges, panels over plumbing vents, different panels provided, main breaker panel issues, meter socket connection issues, grounding, bonding issues. Sending someone that knows nothing about the install at inspection. And just about all the things ICE has provided pics of.

Review issues: Panel locations, panel attachment conflicting information, anchoring fastener clarification, wrong snow load for area, missing engineers stamp, wrong codes listed numerous times, muni business licenses, company contact issuses (too many people involved with project and high turnover). Valuation figures from $10k to over 56k and dicussions in regards to how others calculate the permit fee valuation, on going.

Lately engineering coming from out of state signed by engineers from other states with local companies doing the permit applications.

I will say lately there has been some solor companies that have got it together, and have provided a few better projects.

We require a solar tech at the final inspection and we go inside to inspect the main panel, it's a good opportunity to ask questions about thet system with the tech and homeowner. :eek:
 
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Pcinspector1 said:
Valuation figures from $10k to over 56k and dicussions in regards to how others calculate the permit fee valuation, on going.
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Slight thread drift … recently when we pull an interior reno permit in Montgomery county Md (DC suburb) we have to include a copy of the GC proposal showing the value of the work.
 
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