Install solar on ballasted roofs without added weight via Roll-A-Rack
Ballasted membrane roofs rely on evenly distributed weight for their structural support, but the design often leaves little room for additional load, such as solar panels. The added weight of solar can easily surpass a roof’s physical limit.
Roll-A-Rack, a Cleveland company that develops alternative racking systems for solar panels, has developed an innovative new product that allows solar panels to be installed on ballasted membrane roofs without compromising the structural design of the roof. The ingenious 12-inch metal channel rack evenly distributes existing roof ballast, while also securing solar panels. The roof ballast, along with the weight of the solar panels, properly secure the roof without adding weight and compromising its integrity.
“Roll-A-Rack makes solar feasible for nearly all ballasted membrane roofs without adding any additional deadload,” said Don Scipione, company founder. “Our system enables the weight of the solar panels and the racking system to become part of the ballast that secures the roof.
Roll-A-Rack and its product development research is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Roll-A-Rack is seeking developers and solar installers to help commercialize the installation processes.
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