Snow load is the governing load for photovoltaic power stations located in frigid zones, high-altitude regions and northern areas in winter. Compared with wind load, snow load exerts more destructive impacts on supports. Unlike wind load which acts instantaneously, snow load is a long-term static load that bears on solar ground mount system and modules for days or even months. It causes multi-dimensional damages to structures, joint connections, foundations and overall anti-overturning performance, thereby triggering malfunctions such as structural deformation, collapse and module breakage. Combined with various solar mountings scenarios including flat ground, sloped terrain and flat rooftops, the specific impacts are elaborated as follows: I. Uniform Snow Cover: Causing Overall Plastic Deformation and Fatigue Damage of Supports Large-area evenly distributed snow imposes sustained and uniform vertical pressure on photovoltaic arrays, representing the most fundamental and prevalent form of snow load action. Deflection Deformation of Main and Secondary Beams When support crossbeams and guide rails bear snow weight over a long period, permanent downward bending that cannot restore the original flat state will occur if the section size of profiles is too small, wall thickness is insufficient or span length is excessive. Deformation leads to uneven stress on modules, making the glass prone to micro cracks. Meanwhile, the original inclination angle of photovoltaic panels is altered, weakening drainage and snow removal capacity and creating a vicious cycle of snow accumulation. Accumulated Structural Fatigue Alternating loads from repeated snow accumulation and snowmelt in winter keep support profiles under persistent tension and compression, resulting in fatigue damage. After long-term operation, the overall rigidity of supports declines and stability deteriorates continuously, with structural loss far greater than that in snow-free regions with mild temperatures. Verticality Deviation of Supports Sustained compressive force on vertical columns triggers slight tilting and settlement, disrupting the overall flatness of arrays. This indirectly impairs subsequent wind and seismic resistance and reduces the overall stability of the power station. II. Uneven Snow Cover Inducing Eccentric Stress and Torsion-Shear Structural Failure This constitutes the primary inducement of damage for mountain-slope supports, steep-inclination supports and rear-row supports shaded by obstructions, as well as the core cause of snow-load collapse accidents. Uneven snow distribution driven by gravity, wind direction and shading generates eccentric loads and breaks the stress balance of supports. Unilateral Eccentric Compression Shading from buildings or trees and inconsistent panel inclination lead to thick snow on one side of a single row of supports and bare surfaces on the other side, generating massive eccentric bending moments. Support crossbeams and vertical columns endur...

Against the backdrop of global energy structure transformation, rooftop photovoltaic systems have become a popular choice for households and businesses due to their environmental and economic advantages. However, many homeowners and building managers often have a concern during the initial assessment phase: Will installing solar panels damage my roof? Will it increase the burden on the roof and even affect the safety of the house? These concerns are actually reasonable, as the roof is the most critical component in protecting the building. Improper installation could lead to severe consequences. Therefore, before deciding whether to install solar energy, understanding the relevant details and precautions can help make a suitable choice. Firstly, we need to know several common reasons for roof damage: ① Unprofessional installation Unprofessional drilling can lead to water leakage, uneven load-bearing of installed brackets, or cables pressing on weak materials on the roof, all of which can directly damage the building. ② Insufficient roof load-bearing capacity The weight of the photovoltaic system is 30-50 kilograms per square meter. Long term installation of photovoltaic systems on roofs with insufficient load-bearing capacity may cause roof deformation. ③ Improper waterproof treatment Insufficient waterproof protection during necessary perforation of the roof. ④ Lack of maintenance and natural aging The erosion of sunlight and rainwater can indirectly highlight the rusting of brackets and damage to sealants, thereby endangering the safety of the roof. There is no need to worry excessively about the above situation. When the roof bearing capacity is appropriate, adopting the correct waterproof treatment or choosing a design that does not penetrate the waterproof layer during installation can effectively reduce the risk of leakage. Here are several factors should be paid attention: ① Installation of sloping roof: Sloping roofs are commonly used in residential buildings, and when installing solar systems, brackets or fixtures are typically used to secure the panels along the plane of the roof. Attention: Improper drilling and sealing during installation may result in rainwater infiltration. In addition, the long-term pressure of solar system can have an impact on load-bearing components, especially in old structures. ② Flat roof installation: Traditionally, flat roofs are common in commercial buildings. The installation of photovoltaic systems generally adopts a ballast installation system (using heavy blocks, such as cement blocks), which can avoid penetrating the roof. Attention:The ballast block may compress the waterproof membrane. Improper installation may also puncture the installed waterproof layer. ③ Metal roof: Photovoltaic brackets can choose fixture systems as much as possible to avoid drilling holes; Apply double-layer sealant to the drilled area. Attention: Tight fixtures can cause metal plates to bend and even damage the anti-corrosion...

For island and coastal PV projects, wind load is only part of the challenge. Last month, we received an inquiry from an Indonesian customer for a ground-mounted carbon steel solar mounting system. During the project evaluation, we found that the site was located in an island area, very close to the coastline, with relatively low terrain. For projects like this, many teams usually focus first on one key factor: “What is the design wind speed?” However, for coastal solar projects, there are several other critical factors that directly affect the long-term reliability of the mounting structure. Here are some key points we always evaluate: 1. Wind Load Conditions Coastal and island areas are often exposed to stronger wind conditions due to: · Open terrain; · Seasonal monsoon; · Typhoon risks; · Limited surrounding protection. Therefore, during the design stage, it is important to confirm: a. Local design wind speed; b. Applicable design standard (ASCE, Eurocode, or local codes); c. Terrain category and site exposure conditions. 2. Corrosion Risk from High Humidity and Salt Mist Coastal environments usually involve: ·High humidity; ·Strong salt spray; ·Accelerated corrosion conditions. In many coastal areas, the environmental corrosion category can reach C4-C5, and even C5-M (marine environment). For these conditions: 1) Carbon steel structures are usually recommended with hot-dip galvanizing ≥80μm. For projects requiring higher durability, or where the budget allows, 100μm+ galvanizing thickness can provide additional protection. Another advanced option is: 2) S350GD steel with ZAM450 (Zinc-Aluminum-Magnesium coating), which offers excellent corrosion resistance for challenging environments. 3. Important Details That Are Often Overlooked Besides wind load and corrosion protection, several site conditions should also be carefully reviewed: a. How far is the project site from the coastline? b. What is the site elevation above sea level? c. Has the area experienced tidal flooding, seawater intrusion, or seasonal water accumulation? d. Is the project located on reclaimed land, coral sand, or low-lying coastal terrain? e. Is there a geotechnical investigation report available? f. Has the project owner or utility company provided the final layout and ground elevation information? g. What type of foundation will be used — concrete foundation or ground screws? One more important reminder: If concrete foundations are used, salt-contaminated sea sand should never be used, as it may accelerate reinforcement corrosion and affect the long-term durability of the foundation. A reliable solar mounting system is not only about structural strength. It is about understanding the project environment, selecting the right materials, and paying attention to every engineering detail. At Corigy Solar, we have been dedicated to solar mounting systems for more than 10 years. Whether it is a MW-scale ground-mounted project or a large commercial PV application, we believe: Engin...

Flat roof mounting system for solar panels are mainly divided into two categories. One is ballasted mounting type which has no any damage to roof. The other is using expansion bolts to fix the feet of structure to the roof, the expansion is drove into the roof, so this type has damage to flat roof. 1. Damaged type flat roof solar mounting solution. We can adopt this type of flat roof solar mounting structure if the flat rooftop is strong enough. The structure on roof is similar with structures on ground. Material can be both aluminum and steel. Weight of aluminum material structure is lighter compared with steel steel. So aluminum is more ideal for such type of flat roof mountings. But cost of aluminum material is more expensive than that of steel. There is a risk of roof water seepage with this PV mounting method. So we have to waterproof the roof. 2.Ballasted type of flat roof solar mounting structure. Solar panel ballast mount on flat roof is very popular now, especially for the old buildings. Because roof of such old buildings is weak , it can’t suffer from any damage on it. So driving bolts into the rooftop isn’t a good solution. Ballasted PV mounting structure isn’t penetrate the roof, it is a friendly mounting way to old building rooftop. And more material of this mounting structure is normal aluminum,which is lighter , so it is good to weak roof. Ballast mounting system also has an advantage of easy installation, which could save a lot installation cost. There is a special ballasted type. Normally we put ballasted stone or block on the bottom rail of structure to resist the wind. But we also can fix the feet of structure to the ballasted block by expansion bolt, the blocks are put on roof. We can also embed the anchor in the cement block when producing the concrete block. And then fix the structure to the anchor by nut. Corigy also do good in flat roof solar mounting systems. If you have flat roof solar projects , welcome to send inquiry to us. Thank you. Ballasted vs. Bolted Flat Roof Solar Mounts – Which to Choose? Choosing a flat roof solar racking system? Learn the pros and cons of ballasted and penetration mounts, plus cost-saving tips for old buildings. CORIGY SOLAR more professional and flexible solar mounting solutions waiting for you here! CONTACT US! Above news from CORIGY SOLAR Sales & Marketing department Phone: +0086-592-6883200 E-mail: sales@corigy.com

Balcony pv mounting systems are highly popular in Europe. These small-scale PV devices have sparked an energy revolution in countries like Germany and Austria, enabling renters and apartment residents to easily access clean energy and reduce electricity bills. For example,with the government streamlining approval processes, Germany has installed over one million balcony solar systems nationwide; and Austria has revised its Apartment Law（WEG-Novelle 2024） to accelerate the adoption of balcony solar power. So what kind of balcony is suitable for installing solar panels? Simply put, balconies that meet the following three conditions are suitable for installing solar energy systems: structural safety, appropriate orientation and sufficient sunlight, and also compliance and legality. Firstly, it is necessary to ensure the load-bearing safety of the balcony and mounting brackets. The balcony solar brackets and railings must be able to withstand the additional weight of photovoltaic modules and brackets. The railing is sturdy and can be hung or fix the solar mounting structure. For some special balconies, attention should be paid to the following aspects: If your balcony is a closed balcony, it needs to have good glass transparency and no serious obstruction. If your house is old or has a suspended balcony. Those balconies has insufficient load-bearing capacity and requires professional evaluation or reinforcement before installing a solar energy system to avoid danger. If you live in a high-rise building, you need to strengthen the wind resistance of the railings and solar brackets. Due to the high wind speed in coastal/typhoon areas, special reinforcement of solar mounting supports is also required. Secondly, the orientation and lighting conditions of the balcony are also important. In the Northern Hemisphere, facing south on the balcony is optimal for obtaining the longest sunshine duration and the highest power generation efficiency. The area around the balcony where the solar energy system is installed should be unobstructed by tall trees or buildings to ensure direct sunlight on the photovoltaic panels. In Europe, countries with superior lighting conditions such as Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are very suitable for installing balcony pv mounting systems. However, countries like the UK with short daylight hours and frequent rainy days are not very suitable. Some high latitude countries, such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland, may experience long polar nights in winter, which also requires careful consideration. Last but not least, it is important to determine whether installing solar energy systems on balconies complies with local policies. And it is necessary to confirm whether to apply for registration with relevant units in advance. For example, Belgium and Hungary currently have very strict policy restrictions for balcony pv mounting systems due to considerations of power grid safety and regulations. When installing balcony...

Corigy not only designed many big mega watts solar mounting structures on flat ground , but also have many excellent experiences in making solar mounting solutions for mountain terrains with various slopes. How to design the photovoltaic mounting structure on slope ? Corigy have developed height adjustable ground screw, angle adjustable clamp, and angled beam to deal with different cases of sloped solar mountings. There are four types of slope solution 1/2  When on flat ground or the PV table perpendicular to the slope’ direction just as picture. We use normal type of mounting structure, no need to add any extra component. 3.  When the PV table is placed diagonally on a slope, the angle adjustable clamp and height adjustable ground screw need to be added in structure. The function of these two adjustable components is to ensure all the height from module to the slope are the same.  4.  When the PV table is placed vertically on the slope , special beam with angle will be used in such case. In this solution, the angle degrees of beam should be the same as the slope angle. So we have to confirm the slope angle in degrees and then customize the beam based on it.Of course, the height adjustable ground screw is also used in this case. What special project information should we collect in additional for slope project ? Besides the normal on flat ground project information we need to collect , we have to collect the extra project information for slope as following: 1, What is the slope angle in degrees, and what is module orientation angle ? 2, Are the solar panels installed parallel to the slope ? Do the modules and slope also form a certain angle ? 3, Is the orientation of the module consistent with the orientation of the slope. Corigy has a lot true experiences in design slope solar mounting structures. If you have this kind of project, please feel free to contact with us to get free solution. CORIGY SOLAR more professional and flexible solar mounting solutions waiting for you here! CONTACT US! Above news from CORIGY SOLAR Sales & Marketing department Phone: +0086-592-6883200 E-mail: sales@corigy.com