Special Cases / Additional requests

In the first course, we briefly went over survey "add-ons" or additional requests. These additional requests can vary but today we will cover the main which are usually the following:

Existing PV System Information
Metal Roof Measurements
Ground Mount
Shingle Pliability Test (Client-specific request)
Manufactured/Mobile Homes Data.

How to Identify these requests?

By looking at your Calendar Invite, you will be able to identify these requests under Site Information as shown below.

Whenever one of the above items is marked as Yes, extra instructions will be added to the Other Information section below underneath the Site Information. As shown in the example above, the Shingle Pliability Test is marked as Yes, so the following instructions were added:

Site Information Add-Ons (Google Calendar)

Above you can see how the Add Ons are marked in our invites. Whenever an Add On is selected as "Yes", it will add a description under "Booking Notes".

Site Information Add-Ons (Description)

Description of Add On selected.

Existing Photovoltaic (PV) Systems.

In our previous course, we went over the Battery Backups. However, one thing we didn't mention to go over in this slide is that, not often but sometimes, you will be scheduled for a Site visit that already has solar panels installed and the homeowner is looking to only add a Battery Backup to the Existing installation.

These surveys are known as the Drone + Battery Only Survey. For these surveys, we will require:

Drone Flight: A full drone flight over the existing system to confirm their placement for interconnection purposes.
Side House Photos
Electrical Data: As usual, we will need to collect all the electrical information of the home. From the utility meter to the main service panel, going through any other interior and exterior sub panels, again, due to interconnection purposes.
Battery Backup Locations: Remember to always capture 2 locations based on our priority-based list discussed in our previous course.

However, we will focus on the Existing PV System Information. The following items are required from these systems when present:

Paperwork

The homeowner should be prepared with any paperwork for the existing system they have installed, however, sometimes they don’t have the paperwork ready. Whether they have it ready or not, you are still required to collect the two additional items below.

2. Photovoltaic Service Disconnect

We need photos with the cover on and off. The solar system is self-healing, so it can be turned off, remove the cover, and then place everything back together and turn the system on. Nothing will be affected and the system and will continue to work normally. If you are unable to remove/open the cover, please ensure to collect photos of all the labels present in all sides of the panel.

3. Inverter

For the Inverter, we need contextual photos of it and the inverter labels, the latter mostly to confirm the model and make.

Metal Roof

Metal roofs are ideal for solar panel installations. In many cases, the solar racking system can be clamped directly to the metallic seams on your roof. There is no need to drill holes for penetrating mounts, which are necessary when you have a traditional roof with asphalt shingles or tiles.

For Metal Roofs, we will need to collect some additional measurements as long as the home is a 1-story.

When working with metal roofs, external photos and measurements of the roof profile will be required for a metal roof. Standard metal roof profiles and the measurements required for each are detailed in the figure on the left.

Take photos showing the measurements with your tape measure and the profile in general. Screw spacing should also be recorded and photographed. If the roof profile does not match one of the included profiles take as many measurements as you deem necessary.

Metal Roof Type

These are captured through drone flight. The metal roofs are always either corrugated or standing seam.

2. Profile photos and measurements.

For this, we will need you to capture what is outlined in the photo below. You will need to take photos showing the spacing between seams and the size of the seam. Ensure to capture photos showing the tape measure.

3. Thickness

For the thickness, you need to get the measurements between opposite sides. In the example below, the thickness is what is shown as "Net coverage":

Ground Mount Projects

From time to time, you will be scheduled for surveys that won't be installed on the roof, but on the ground.

What Are Ground Mount Projects?

Ground mount projects are what they sound like. It's a system of solar panels that instead of going on the home's roof, will be placed on the grounds of the property. They're placed in an area of the property that has sufficient open space and good sun exposure.

As with every survey, these projects do require a drone flight, side house photos, and electrical information about the house.

Additional items to capture are:

Trench Path Distance: Provide an estimated distance about the distance between the home and the location of the installation. This is needed as the client normally would need to perform a trenching path and knowing the distance beforehand, it's something they always appreciate. See the example below (white line).

Water Well: If there’s a Water Well present in the area where the system will be installed, please mark the location in your roof map sketch.

Electric/Gas Lines: You will need to ask the homeowner if he knows if there are any subterranean electrical or gas lines. If there are any underground, take contextual photos of the location and mark them in your roof map sketch too.

Septic/Propane Tank: Similarly, if there’s a septic tank present in the area where the system will be installed, please ensure to collect contextual photos and mark the location in your roof map sketch.

Important: The attic survey is usually not performed when there's a Ground Mount project. This information is not required, however, it’s always good to ask the homeowner permission to survey the attic as a backup option in case their proposed ground-mount location is not feasible.

Shingle Pliability Test

For some specific Clients, we will perform what we call a Shingle Pliability Test for every shingle roof that has been identified on a single-story home or single-story detached structure (E.g. Small detached garage), as long as it has the same roofing material as the proposed dwelling for installation.

The test is simple enough to be performed. Below are our guidelines:

If the shingle feels or appears brittle and/or aged to the touch please perform the brittleness test.
If the shingle is not already loose, use your putty knife to loosen it.
Lift the shingle up and gently bend it back to a 90° angle.
Let the shingle drop.
With your camera, document the shingle focusing on any cracks, tears, and/or granule loss.
Please ensure the shingle has been returned to its original position.

Below is a video outlining the steps to follow.

Brittle Test on Asphalt Shingle.mp4

Important: You do not need to go into the roof to perform this test. This test needs to be performed from a ladder AND only if it's a 1-story structure and safe to perform. (E.g. Home on a hill with an inclination won't be recommended to perform this test if it's unsafe to do so).

Mobile/Manufactured Homes

A mobile/manufactured home is a factory-built residence that can be placed on a piece of land. It costs much less than a traditional new build.

Every now and then, you could be scheduled for a site visit in a Manufactured/Mobile Home.

For these types of surveys, we require some extra information from the structure such as:

Data Plate Sticker

Usually located in the master bedroom's closet or under the kitchen sink cabinet. You can ask the homeowner.

Please capture a legible photo as shown above.

2. HUD Plate Sticker/Label:

Always located outside of the side of the house. The HUD Label looks like shown above.

3. Foundation Photos

Walk around the house, and snap some photos of the foundation.

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