R i. Installer’s Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Part I. Procedure to Determine the Total Design Wind Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Part II. Procedure to Select Rail Span and Rail Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual SunFrame i. Installer’s Responsibilities Please review this manual thoroughly before installing your SunFrame system.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Part I. Procedure to Determine the Design Wind Load [1.1.] Using the Simplified Method - ASCE 7-05: The procedure to determine Design Wind Load is specified by the American Society of Civil Engineers and referenced in the International Building Code 2009. For purposes of this document, the values, equations and procedures used in this document reference ASCE 7-05, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Miles per hour (meters per second) Figure 1. Basic Wind Speeds. Adapted and applicable to ASCE 7-05. Values are nominal design 3-second gust wind speeds at 33 feet above ground for Exposure Category C. Step 3: Determine Roof/Wall Zone: The Design Wind Load will vary based on where the installation is located on a roof. Arrays may be located in more than one roof zone.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Step 3: Determine Roof Zone (continued): Using Roof Zone Setback Length, a, determine the roof zone locations according to your roof type, gable, hip or monoslope. Determine in which roof zone your pv system is located, Zone 1, 2, or 3 according to Figure 2. Figure 2.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Table 2. pnet30 (psf) Roof and Wall Basic Wind Speed,V (mph) 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 170 1 1 1 1 10 20 50 100 5.9 5.6 5.1 4.7 -14.6 -14.2 -13.7 -13.3 7.3 6.9 6.3 5.8 -18.0 -17.5 -16.9 -16.5 8.9 8.3 7.6 7.0 -21.8 -21.2 -20.5 -19.9 10.5 9.9 9.0 8.3 -25.9 -25.2 -24.4 -23.7 12.4 11.6 10.6 9.8 -30.4 -29.6 -28.6 -27.8 14.3 13.4 12.3 11.4 -35.3 -34.4 -33.2 -32.3 16.5 15.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Roof 27 to 45 degrees Roof 7 to 27 degrees Roof 0 to 7 degrees Table 3. pnet30 (psf) Roof Overhang Zone Effective Wind Area (sf) Basic Wind Speed, V (mph) 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 170 2 2 2 2 10 20 50 100 -21.0 -20.6 -20.1 -19.8 -25.9 -25.5 -24.9 -24.4 -31.4 -30.8 -30.1 -29.5 -37.3 -36.7 -35.8 -35.1 -43.8 -43.0 -42.0 -41.2 -50.8 -49.9 -48.7 -47.8 -58.3 -57.3 -55.9 -54.9 -74.9 -73.6 -71.8 -70.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Step 7: Determine adjustment factor for height and exposure category, λ: Using the Exposure Category (Step 6) and the roof height, h (ft), look up the adjustment factor for height and exposure in Table 4. Table 4. Adjustment Factor (λ) for Roof Height & Exposure Category Exposure Mean roof height (ft) B C D 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.05 1.09 1.12 1.16 1.19 1.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Table 6. Occupancy Category Importance Factor Category I II III IV Category Desicription Buildings and other structures that represent a low hazard to human life in the event of failure, including, but limited to: Building Type Examples Agricultural facilities Certain Temporary facilities Minor Storage facilities All buildings and other structures except those listed in Occupancy Categories I, III, and IV.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Part II. Procedure to Select Rail Span and Rail Type [2.1.] Using Standard Beam Calculations, Structural Engineering Methodology: The procedure to determine the Unirac SunFrame series rail type and rail span uses standard beam calculations and structural engineering methodology.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Table 7. ASCE 7 ASD Load Combinations Description Variable Downforce Case 1 Downforce Case 2 Downforce Case 3 Uplift Side Units Dead Load D 1.0 x D ______ 1.0 x D ______ 1.0 x D _______ 0.6 x D _______ sin(roof angle) x D __________ psf Snow Load S 1.0 x S ______ sin(roof angle) x S __________ psf Design Wind Load Pnet Total Design Load P P 0.75 x S _______ 1.0 x Pnet ____ 0.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Table 8b.Table L-Foot SunFrame Rail Span load) 8b. L-Foot SunFrameSeries Series Rail Span (uplift(side and downforce) Span (ft) 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 11 11.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Table 9.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Part III. Installing SunFrame The Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Instructions supports applications for building permits for photovoltaic arrays using Unirac PV module mounting systems. This manual, SunFrame Rail Planning and Assembly, governs installations using the SunFrame systems. [3.1.] SunFrame® rail components: 3 3 6 2 1 7 2 8 Figure 4. SunFrame components.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual 1. Rail — Supports PV modules. Use one per row of modules 1 plus one. Shipped in 8- or 16-foot lengths. Aluminum extrusion, anodized (clear or dark bronze) to match PV module frame. 2 2. Cap strip — Secures PV modules to rails and neatly frames top of array. Lengths equals rail lengths. Cap strips are sized for specific PV modules. Shipped in 8- or 16-foot lenghs. Predrilled every 8 inches.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual SunFrame Installing the array: Safe, efficient SunFrame installation involves three principal tasks: A. Laying out the installation area and planning for material conservation. B. Installing footings and rails, beginning with the lowest row and moving up the roof. C. Placing modules and cap strips, beginning with the highest row and moving down the roof.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual 2. Installing the lowest row of L-feet and rail: In the lowest row, it is not necessary to use L-foot adjusting sliders, even if you plan to use them in subsequent rows. Install L-feet, in conjunction with proper flashing equipment and techniques, directly onto low profile roofing material such as asphalt shingles or sheet metal.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Using standoffs with L-foot adjusting sliders Two-piece aluminum standoffs may be used with footing sliders, although flashings may not be available to cover the entire length of the slider. Use the bases of the standoffs only in the lowest row. In subsequent rows, attach the shaft With standoffs of equal length, orient L-foot to compensate for height difference.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual 3. Laying out and installing the next row of L-feet: With L-feet only: Position the second row of L-feet in accordance with Figure 10. Ensure that you measure between the lower bolt hole centers of each row of L-feet. Install the second row of L-feet in the same manner and orientation as the first row, but leave the lag screws a half turn loose.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Material planning for rails and cap strips Preplanning material use for your particular array can prevent structural or aesthetic problems, particularly those caused by very short lengths of rail or cap strip. This example illustrates one approach. assemblies and cap strip assemblies need to be cut and spliced from 192-inch sections of rail and cap strip.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual 6. Securing the first module: Cap strip screws Gather sufficient lengths of cap strip to cover the length of the first rail. For maximum visual appeal and material conservation see “Material planning for rails and cap strips” (p. 20). Permissable overhang: 1/3 module width Slide the first module into final position at one end of the array.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E SunFrame Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual 9. Installing the end caps: Attach the end caps to the ends of the rails by securing with the truss head sheet metal screws provided (Fig. 16). Figure 16. End cap installation.
R SunFrame 1411 Broad Alb uq uerq Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual Frequently asked questions about standoffs and roof variations How high above the roof is a SunFrame array? mechanism that installs faster than any other standing seam attachment on the market today. The answer depends on the orientation of your L-feet and the length of your standoffs, if used. See the illustration appropriate to your installation.
R 1411 Broadway B oulevard N E Albuquerque NM 87102-1545 USA Unirac Code-Compliant Installation Manual SunFrame Warranty Information See http://www.unirac.com for current warranty documents and information.
