Solar Panel

Photovoltaic (PV) panels (Solar Panels) are roof-mounted solar modules—typically installed on rails/racking and anchored to the roof system—that convert sunlight into electricity for on-site use or export to the grid. In single-storey steel buildings and PEMBs, PV is especially attractive because these buildings usually have large, unobstructed roof areas, simple roof geometry, and high daytime electrical demand (lighting, ventilation, production equipment). As a result, the roof can serve not only as weather protection but also as a productive “energy surface,” improving the building’s overall performance.

From a structural standpoint, PV panels are not merely “energy accessories”; their dead load, and their interaction with roof live loading and roof system behavior, must be explicitly considered in design.

According to ASCE 7-22 [1] and IBC 2024 [2], roof structures that support solar panel systems shall be designed to resist each of the following conditions (LC1 & LC2):

1- The uniform and concentrated roof live loads specified in Table 4.3-1 with the solar panel system dead loads. (EXCEPTION: The roof live load need not be applied to the area covered by solar panels where the clear space between the panels and the roof surface is 24 in. (610 mm) or less.)

LC1: Roof Dead Load + PV Dead Load + Roof Live Load (when the clear space is > 24 in.)
LC1: Roof Dead Load + PV Dead Load (when the clear space is ≤ 24 in.)

2- The uniform and concentrated roof live loads specified in Table 4.3-1 without the solar panel system present.

LC2: Roof Dead Load + Roof Live Load

Accordingly, MkaPEB accounts for both conditions during load generation, analysis and design, ensuring PV-supported roof systems are evaluated in a code-consistent manner.

[1] American Society of Civil Engineers. "Minimum design loads and associated criteria for buildings and other structures." American Society of Civil Engineers, 2022.

[2] International Building Code, 2024 Edition