Photo: Mounting Systems
As the solar market continues to evolve at a ground-breaking speed, companies must be quick and innovative to keep pace. With notable savings in labor and raw material shipping costs, solar racking is experiencing a notable transition from railed to rail-free systems in the residential sectors.
Mounting Systems joins this transition with the introduction of its new rail-free system, Element. Element is engineered to meet all UL2703, Edition 1 requirements and is currently patent pending. Engineered to withstand high seismic, snow, and wind loads, Element is compatible and durable for a wide range of markets.
The system is crafted to be a racking solution simplified down to its basic elements, allowing for a low part count with a feature-rich design. A single lag bolt anchors Element to roof rafters, and a combination of the standoff and the flashing with an elevated lag bolt platform shield the roof attachment from the environment. The stanchion provides intuitive North-South and vertical adjustment, making for an easy and efficient racking solution.
The modules are clamped to the shelf using Mounting Systems’ click technology. Secured using the same clamps for the modules, the skirt assembly reduces labor time and unnecessary extra components. The culmination of these features results to an innovative system that reduces material expenses and logistical headaches for distributors and installers.
For any system on the market, railed or rail-free, logistics and labor are the biggest factors in overall cost for solar installers. While rail-free systems are able to provide clear logistical benefits with less material, Element finds more ways to reduce these costs through preassembly and a lower tool count necessary for on-site installation.
Pre-assembled components allow installers to focus on the more demanding stages of installation rather than fiddling with small components on the roof. Furthermore, only one tool, a ½ inch (13 mm) hex socket, is required for a successful installation of Element, further reducing the complexity of racking and streamlining the entire process. These significant advantages are what make rail-free systems stand out against other systems and garner further support towards the rail-free transition.
Modern manufacturing methods open the possibilities for new designs. Practices that were once prohibitively expensive are becoming increasingly more economical and innovative. Designers no longer need to resort to a system crafted purely out of extrusions when alternatives such as casting, stamping, and metal forming can be just as—if not more—cost-effective. Even technologies such as metallic 3D printers will foster more elaborate, feature-rich shapes.
The next generation of racking solutions will optimize parts that are able to complete multiple job functions, further reducing material cost. It is with these features and benefits that propel the industry towards a new solar racking solution.
News item from Mounting Systems
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