When a photovoltaic system is installed on a roof with bitumen or membrane covering, protecting the roof membrane is particularly important. Its integrity ensures protection against moisture ingress as well as optimal thermal insulation. To ensure this, our substructure for flat roofs, TRITON, is installed completely penetration-free, solely through ballasting.
With the METIS PV mounting system from T.Werk, PV installation on pitched bitumen or membrane roofs is also penetration-free. Up to an inclination of 30 degrees, the substructure is weighted down with standard paving slabs to ensure stability. Between the rows of vertically mounted modules, a 13 mm gap ensures the lowest possible ballast requirement.
Anti-Slip Protection for PV Systems on Pitched Roofs
To protect the photovoltaic system on pitched roofs with bitumen or membrane against downslope movement, various types of anti-slip protection are possible with METIS. Depending on the type of roof and local conditions, our project engineers develop project-specific solutions:
The Ideal Case: Suspension Over the Ridge on Gable Roofs
When both roof sides of a gable roof are covered with photovoltaic panels, METIS can be secured over the ridge. The anti-slip protection follows the principle ACTION = REACTION. Depending on the condition of the ridge, special brackets, perforated aluminum strips, or similar are used. The image gallery shows various types of anti-slip protection through mutual suspension over the ridge:
The Alternative Solution: Attachment to the Parapet
When only one roof side is covered or on shed roofs, attaching the PV system to the parapet is a suitable option. The substructure is either simply hooked onto the parapet with a specially bent bracket. This solution requires no screwing, no penetration. Or the PV system is anchored beneath the parapet cladding using suitable anchors and screws. In this case, the parapet cladding conceals the screw connections—a visually very attractive solution.
The Individual Solution: Wall Mounting
If no parapet is present, it is possible to secure the PV system against sliding through wall mounting, for example by screwing the system using various brackets and profiles. If the facade is insulated, a special bracket construction, CHRONOS trapezoidal short rails, and screws suitable for external thermal insulation composite systems are used.
If none of these solutions is feasible, a PV system can still be installed on a pitched roof with membrane or bitumen. Anti-slip protection is then achieved by screwing to the roof, with special covers ensuring watertightness:
METIS: Penetration-Free PV Substructure for Pitched Roofs
Our experienced project engineers create the most suitable solution for anti-slip protection on a project-specific basis. Using a calculation tool developed by the I.F.I. Institute in Aachen, they produce project-specific wind suction and displacement calculations. METIS has been tested for stability in a WtG-approved boundary layer wind tunnel and aerodynamically optimized for reduced wind loads. It therefore represents an attractive alternative for covering pitched roofs with bitumen and membrane roofing.
