DATA COLLECTION

Design

The data Collection Process should be a simple way for you to quickly qualify jobs and gather all the information needed to complete the design.

1 | GOAL OF DATA COLLECTION

OBJECTIVES

There are a few goals of data collection:

1. Using a good data collection process will enable you to quickly flag any items that will require preliminary review, upgrades, or disqualifications.

   • You will want to flag preliminary reviews, resurveys and disqualifications all at the same time within the first few minutes of working on the job to increase efficiency.

2. Using a good data collection process will allow you to quickly start to piece together the design before you plug it into the tool. 

3. Using a good data collection process should allow you to finish design deliverables without having to ever revisit the site survey or customer documents.

4. Using a good data collection process will allow you to review every document without missing anything that will hinder you later in the process.

Make sure to read over the Final Design SOP. Step III goes over the Data Collection process as a simplified step by step explanation.

BASIC GUIDELINES

Your data collection process will ultimately be up to you, but there are a few keys to success:

1. Be thorough. Scrub every relevant customer document, site survey photo, and site survey note.

2. Notate information as it comes to you. 

   • Do not use a template that makes you search for information as this will not be efficient.

3. Whatever system you use for your notation, ensure that it is the fastest and best option for you.

   • Pen and paper will be the preferred method for new designers.

   • You can take your notes in a digital format if you would like, but if this option is chosen, make sure to archive your notes somewhere where you could access it later if unavoidable rework is needed later.

   • Low performers may be put on a plan to complete data collection the preferred traditional way via pen and paper.

2 | AUDITING CUSTOMER DOCUMENTS

SELECT A PROJECT TO WORK ON

Once you have selected the project you will be working on, start notating the basic information right away.

OBJECTIVE

The objective with assessing these docs should be: 

1. To verify the basic info we already gathered

2. To build the profile of what was promised at sale.

CUSTOMER INSTALLATION AGREEMENT (CIA)

1. Open using File Browser.

2. 02-Contract Docs > Customer Installation Agreement.

   • Open in a new tab.

Remember, make it a two part process:

• verify info (customer name and address, system size, etc.)

• notate new info relevant to the design.

  • Look closely at the Incentives and Add-Ons for:

    • Critter Guard

    • Re-roofs

    • Electrical Upgrades

    • Any other ancillary item that may already be in the financials of the project will be listed here.

  • In this particular case, there are no add-ons or incentives that will require special design considerations.

PROPOSAL

1. Open using Proposalist

2. Use the most recent proposal design.

Remember, make it a two part process:

• verify info (customer name and address)

• notate new info relevant to the design.

UTILITY BILL

1. Open using File Browser.

2. 07-Utility - NEM > Utility Bill or Usage

   • Open in a new tab.

Remember, make it a two part process:

• verify info (customer name and address)

  • Always use the Service Address on the utility bill and not the Mailing address.

  • In this example, we found that the customer name with the utility does not match the name on the contract. We will simply use the utility name.

• notate new info relevant to the design.

  • This utility had a 12-month usage figure. This is the figure we should use for production offset calculations.

VERIFY AHJ AND UTILITY

1. The utility company has already been verified based on the utility bill.

2. We still need to verify the correct AHJ is selected. 

   • Use the AHJ registry.

When the AHJ or Utility is missing from the BASELINE.DT, make sure to follow the Final Design SOP: Step III.5-6.

CUSTOMER DESIGN PREFERENCES

1. Open the design tab

Remember, make it a two part process:

• verify info (usage and proposal production)

  • In this example, both were not accurate to what was listed on our official documents

• notate new info relevant to the design.

  • This customer does not have any special design preferences, they want max production.

2 | SITE SURVEY PHOTOS

OBJECTIVE

The objective with assessing these docs should be: 

1. To quickly flag any show stoppers before we get into the layout or design deliverables.

2. To gather all relevant info to complete your design deliverables.

3. Review every single photo and every single note from top to bottom as it comes to you.

To access site survey, go to the File Browser.

1. Click "Field Pro Images"

2. Click "View Summary"

   • If no images populate, go into the folder rather than using the summary view.

STRUCTURAL

Structural should be the first photos that populate in the site survey template. There are a couple keys to success when assessing site survey photos:

1. Notate information as it comes to you.

2. Look for red flags/damage and code violations at the same time.

3. Make sure to flag any items needing preliminary review or disqualification at the same time.

   • This means you need to look at every photo: structural, electrical, exterior/roof.

     • Only request resurveys and preliminary reviews once you have fully completed the data collection process.

Make sure to use all Structural training to help you make your judgement if you are unsure.

ELECTRICAL

Electrical should be the next photos that populate in the site survey template. There are a couple keys to success when assessing site survey photos:

1. Notate information as it comes to you.

2. Look for red flags/damage and code violations at the same time.

3. Start planning the electrical design and notate the following:

   • Meter Location

   • Electrical Service Type

   • Possible BOS locations.

4. Make sure to flag any items needing preliminary review or disqualification at the same time.

   • This means you need to look at every photo: structural, electrical, exterior/roof.

     • Only request resurveys and preliminary reviews once you have fully completed the data collection process.

Make sure to reference all Electrical training to help you make your judgements if you are unsure.

Looking through these photos, the designer has come to the conclusion that there are no code violations or damage that they should be worried about. They will want to game plan the interconnection at the same time.

Make quick decisions:

1. 1. the interior sticker showing the bus rating is not legible on this load center. The designer is using the Main breaker rating and assuming the bus is the same rating, though the door sticker says 225A.

      • Play it safe when needed.

   2. This designer knows this panel is back to back with the meter because the feeders come from a punch out in the back of the enclosure.

   3. The designer already knows that a 200/200 panel will have 40A of backfeed available for solar on the load side. 

      • You may need to do the math using the 120% rule manually at times if you are unsure.

   4. The designer already called out the make as CH (Cutler-Hammer).

   5. The designer also already knows there is plenty of open spaces on this bus to accept a breaker.

We also already know that the system will consist of 13 mods/microinverters:

• An experienced designer such as this might automatically know the amount of PV backfeed being produced.

  • If unsure, do a quick calculation: # of mods & x 1.21A continuous inverter output x 125%(1.25) mandatory backfeed figure from the NEC. 13 x 1.21 x 1.25 = 19.66 or round up to 20A

EXTERIOR/ROOF PHOTOS

Exterior and Roof photos should be the last photos that populate in the site survey template for most jobs. There are a couple keys to success when assessing site survey photos:

1. Notate information as it comes to you.

2. Look for red flags/damage and code violations at the same time.

3. Make sure to flag any items needing preliminary review or disqualification at the same time.

   • This means you need to look at every photo: structural, electrical, exterior/roof.

     • Only request resurveys and preliminary reviews once you have fully completed the data collection process.

Make sure to refer to all Roof & Layout training to help you make your judgement if you're unsure.