Roof Penetration Code Compliance

Do your rooftop installations meet current building codes?

EcoFasten Solar manufactures a line of watertight roof flashings that meet or exceed virtually all local, state, national and international building codes. Our flashing systems are supplied as complete kits and can be use with all attachments brackets and racks on the market. Custom solutions are available to work with all commercially available proprietary mounting systems.

According to local, state, federal, and international building codes roof penetrations need to be properly flashed to prevent the infiltration of water. This sentiment is echoed by trade associations knowledgeable about roofing, plumbing, electricity, and mechanical installation. This sentiment is further echoed by local, state, and federal agencies and ultimately governed by the "Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)."

In general, it is agreed , that any roof penetration should be properly flashed in a manner that will provide a watertight seal for no less than the life expectancy of the given roofing material. Determining the remaining service life of any given roof can be complex. At a minimum the solar integrator should provide a roof attachment flashing that will provide an equal or greater service life than that of the solar array they are installing.

The minimum roof penetration flashing for steep slope applications is; of corrosion resistant metal, the recommended minimum weight is 16 oz. (.55mm) copper , 26 ga (.477mm) stainless steel, galvanized steel minimum 24 ga (.607mm) may be used but must be painted, aluminum minimum .032" (.812mm), as well as lead 2 1/2 lb/ft2 (1.00mm).

Known Building Codes

v - meets or exceeds all known relevant and current building and construction codes.

Note: Uniform Building Codes (UBC) were last updated in 1997 and replaced by International Building Codes (IBC) in 2000. They are regularly updated and published by the International Code Council (ICC) to provide consistent and safe building standards.

Applicable Trade Associations

EcoFastenSolar's products meet or exceed best practices guidelines and speicifications as set by major roofing and contracting associations.

v - meets or exceeds relevant trade associations best practices and specifications.

Manufacturers Associations

EcoFastenSolar's products meet or exceed best practices guidelines and speicifications as set by major roofing manufacturer and supplier associations.

v - meets or exceeds manufacturers' best practices and specifications.

Manufacturers

During the development of the Eco-Fasten, Quik-Foot and Green-Fasten roof mounts, we worked closely with roofing and roof rack manufacturers to ensure that our systems would not void warranties and will work with virtually all rack systems.

American Wood Council, NDS 2005

Table 2, Lag pull-out (withdrawl) capacities (lbs) in typical roof lumber (ASD)

Use Table 2 to select a lag bold embedment depth to satisfy your Uplift Point Load Force (lbs.) requirements. It is the installer's responsibility to verify that the substructure and attachment method is strong enough to support the maximum point loads calculated.

Sources: American Wood Council, NDS 2005

Notes:

1. Thread must be embedded in the side grain of a rafter or other structural member integral with the building structure.
2. Lag bolts must be located in the middle third of the structural member.
3. These values are not valid for wet service.
4. This table does not include shear capacities. If necessary, contact a local engineer to specify lag bolt side with regard to shear forces.
5. Install lag bolts with head and washer flush to surface (no gap). Do not over-torque.
6. Widhdrawl design values for las screw connections shall be multiplied by applicable adjustment factors if necessary. See table 10.3 in the American Wood Council NDS for Wood Construction.

Glossary Of Terms

ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association)

ARMA is a trade association representing the majority of North America's asphalt roofing manufacturing companies, plus their raw material suppliers. The association includes almost 95 percent of the nation's manufacturers of bituminous-based roofing products.

Information ARMA gathers on modern asphalt roofing materials and practices is provided to building and code officials, as well as regulatory agencies and allied trade groups. But our work doesn't end here. Committed to advances in the asphalt roofing industry, ARMA is proud of the role it plays in spearheading R&D, and in promoting asphalt roofing to those in the building industry and to the public.

• ARMA Web Site

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

In construction, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) is the governmental agency or sub-agency which regulates the construction process. In most cases, this is the municipality in which the building is located. However, construction performed for supra-municipal authorities are usually regulated directly by the owning authority, which becomes the AHJ.

During the planning of a building, the zoning and planning boards of the AHJ will review the overall compliance of the proposed building with the municipal General Plan and zoning regulations. Once the proposed building has been approved, detailed civil, architectural, and structural plans must be submitted to the municipal building department (and sometimes the public works department) to determine compliance with the building code and sometimes for fit with existing infrastructure. Often, the municipal fire department will review the plans for compliance with fire-safety ordinances and regulations.

For More Information:

• Authority Having Jurisdiction on Wikipedia
• UL Code Authorities page

International Building Codes (IBC)

International Building Codes are published by the International Code Council. The IBC primarily covers nonresidential construction.

Relevant IBC codes can be viewed online at the Alliance for Healthy Homes or purchased at InternationalCodes.net.

• International Code Council Web Site

International Code Council (ICC)

ICC was established in 1994 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The founders of the ICC are Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). Since the early part of the last century, these nonprofit organizations developed the three separate sets of model codes used throughout the United States. Although regional code development has been effective and responsive to our country's needs, the time came for a single set of codes. The nation's three model code groups responded by creating the International Code Council and by developing codes without regional limitations the International Codes

• International Codes Council Web Site

International Residential Code (IRC)

The International Residential Code (IRC) is a comprehensive, stand-alone residential code that creates minimum regulations for one- and two-family dwellings of three stories or less. It brings together all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for one- and two-family residences. The IRC also provides a prescriptive approach (i.e., a set of measures) and a performance approach (i.e., energy modeling) for determining compliance.

2006 ICC International Residential Code (IRC) - One and Two-Family Dwellings is available for purchase from InternationalCodes.net.

• International Code Council Web Site

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

The mission of the international nonprofit NFPA, established in 1896, is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

Under the Flashings Section of Asphalt Shingles NFPA 5000, 2003 Edition-Page 4-11 states that All roof assemblies shall be installed according to the manufacturer's printed installation instructions and to ensure weather protection for the building. [Sec. 38.1.3.2] Flashing and counterflashing shall be provided at junctures of roofs and vertical surfaces, at valleys, and around all roof penetrations [Sec. 38.8]

The Flashings Section of Wood Shingles and Shakes NFPA 5000, 2003 Edition-Page 4-32 states All roof assemblies shall be installed according to the manufacturer's printed installation instructions and to ensure weather protection for the building. [Sec. 38.1.3.2] Flashing and counterflashing shall be provided at junctures of roofs and vertical surfaces, at valleys, and around all roof penetrations [Sec. 38.8]

• National Fire Protection Association Web Site

NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association)

The NRCA is one of the construction industry's most respected trade associations and the voice and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy.

The NRCA offers extensive roofing industry information for roofing professionals, including technical information, Special Reports, insurance and safety information, an industry calendar and the latest industry news.

• National Roofing Contractors Association Web Site

National Tile Roofing Manufacturers Association, Inc. (NTRMA)

The NTRMA consists of 30 companies which produce nearly all of the tile manufactured in North America. T he primary purpose of the NTRMA is to assist in the development of building code language for roof tiles on a national basis, respond to technical needs and questions along with establishing stricter installation standards to maximize tile's unique capabilities. In addition, the NTRMA sponsors tile testing to improve its inherent ability to add safety to homes and buildings. The result is that a tile roof resists fires, hurricanes and earthquakes better than any other roofing material. When you add this to tile's ability to enhance the beauty of any structure, it is easy to understand why, for centuries, tile has been the world's choice for a superior roofing material.

Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA)

SMACNA, the Sheet Metal and Air-conditioning Contractors National Association, is devoted to flashing details and exterior metals.

The voluntary technical standards and manuals developed by SMACNA Contractors have found worldwide acceptance by the construction community, as well as foreign government agencies. ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, has accredited SMACNA as a standards-setting organization. SMACNA does not seek to enforce its standards or provide accreditation for compliance.

SMACNA standards and manuals address all facets of the sheet metal industry, from duct construction and installation to air pollution control, from energy recovery to roofing. SMACNA's Technical Resources Department fields several thousand technical questions annually from architects, engineers, manufacturers and government personnel.

• SMACNA Web Site

Uniform Solar Energy Code 2006 (IAPMO)

From the International Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the 2006 Uniform Solar Energy Code applies to the building, installation, alteration, addition, repair, relocation, replacement, and use or maintenance of solar systems.

From the Foreword:
The advantages of a Uniform Solar Energy Code, acceptable in the various jurisdictions, have long been recognized. The increasing needs for such a code induced the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials to pass a resolution at its 46th Annual Business Conference, which directed the president to form a committee to develop a basic solar energy document.

• Uniform Solar Energy Code 2006 (IAPMO)