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  • 1.  Wind loads on solar panels per ASCE 7-16

    Posted 03-02-2023 12:07 PM

    I am designing a 560,000 square foot building with solar panels on over 75% of the roof area.  Is ACSE 7-16 section 29.4.3 the appropriate provision to use for accounting for the wind load applied to the MWFRS or should another section of 7-16 be used, i.e. 29.4.1?  Section 29.4.3 seems more apt for C & C loads than for MWFRS loads, especially considering the graph in Figure 29.4-7 is limited to 5,000 square feet for the Normalized Wind Area. 


    #ASCE7
    #ASCE7-16
    #WindandWindLoads
    #SolarandSolarPanels

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    Steven Ray P.E., M.ASCE
    Structural Eng
    LJB Inc.
    Miamisburg OH
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  • 2.  RE: Wind loads on solar panels per ASCE 7-16

    Posted 03-05-2023 11:30 AM

    Per Section 29.4.3, roofs, and other portions of the MWFRS must be designed for two cases:

    1- The case where collectors are present.  The loads from section 29.4.3 are applied to the roof over the footprint of the panels, and the standard roof wind loads are applied elsewhere.

    2- The case where collectors are not present, in which case the standard loas are used.



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    Ronald Hamburger, SE
    Consulting Principal
    Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
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