roof membrane. Installing and waterproofing the structural attachments can be
labor-intensive and a source of anxiety for the customer and installer.
PV Laminate
PV laminates are relatively new to the PV industry. The laminates have adhesives
that adhere immediately to specific types of metal roofing panels. Similar to peel-
and-stick vinyl floor tiles, PV laminate works in the same manner. Place the PV
laminate “face up” on the roof panel. Secure the laminate to the roof by removing
the protective sheet and pressing down.
Installing PV Laminate
Laminates being installed on a new roof are usually attached when the roof panels
are still on the ground. Be sure to clean the laminates before you secure them to a
roof. And plan the layout of the panels before you secure them to the roof. They
are very difficult to adjust once they have been secured.
There are several criteria for installing PV laminate:
Existing roofs have to be qualified by the manufacturer’s engineering
division before the warranty can be validated.
Roofs must have a slope between 3.5 degrees and 60 degrees.
PV laminates cannot be applied to roofs that will experience temperatures in
excess of 85 degrees Celsius (185 degrees Fahrenheit).
Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, Solar Tiles, and Solar
Shade Canopies
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are PV products that have more than
one use and often replace standard building supplies. They provide PV energy
and shade, replace building components or materials, and become a part of the
structure in the process. BIPVs are incorporated into roof walls, façades, and
other applications. They also are incorporated into new building as skylights,
windows, and atria. BIPVs are becoming more popular due to the cost differential
between using them versus standard PV systems such as roof-mounted ones.
Substituting traditional building materials with BIPVs reduces the overall
construction cost.
Solar Tiles
The solar panels discussed throughout the chapter so far have been relatively tra-
ditional. Panels sit on top of the roof on a variety of mounting systems. Solar tiles
or solar shingles are seamlessly integrated with the tiles on your roof. Instead of
the solar panels being on your roof, your solar panels are the roof. BIPV solar tiles
blend in with the existing architecture. They fit the exact shape of the roof.
82 ADVANCED PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS
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