Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:41:04 +0000 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100426#Comment_100426 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100426#Comment_100426 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:14:37 +0000 david
The first would drill holes through the slates, fix brackets to the rafters and fit rails to the brackets. The holes in the slates would be covered with a small piece of lead. The fixings would leak, the slates would be cracked or broken, it would be impossible to fix the brackets securely without breaking slates and the array would rattle in a wind. The second is more conscious of the fact that a roof is designed to keep water out but both had no method to use to decide how many fixings were necessary. The site is very exposed.
When the panels are fittted the fixings are invisible and difficult to repair.

I searched the net for an approved system for use on slate roofs but found none.
I spoke to Building Control, pointing out that PV panels could blow off and be very dangerous, that the integrity of slate roofs was damaged by drilling holes in slates. I asked if there was a BBA accredited system. While they understood the problem they could not advise me.

Fitting PV panels to a slated roof could be a disaster, the roof could be ruined, the panels could come off and injure someone. It could cost more than the system was worth to repair the roof.
Is there a BBA accredited system for mounting to slates?

I have designed a bracket and flashings which will not leak but how many fixings per area of panel are required and how strong do they have to be? Could I use my brackets without BBA? Who knows?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100432#Comment_100432 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100432#Comment_100432 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:56:08 +0000 jamesingram
I'd imagine you take the slate out where the anchor need to go , fix the anchor to the rafter, or nogging
then replace the slate using a lead tingle .

cheers Jim]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100433#Comment_100433 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100433#Comment_100433 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:57:18 +0000 betterroof
There are a number of brackets which sit on top of the slate and bolt through it, which I think is just asking for trouble - much higher stresses on the fixings, increased load on the slate, which will break. Guaranteed to fail and leak in my opinion.

Stripping back, firm fixing, reslate and flash is longer and therefore more expensive and requires a higher level of skill. But it's the right way, which as far as I'm concerned is the only way. I'd be interested in seeing your idea tho..]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100434#Comment_100434 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100434#Comment_100434 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:58:15 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100435#Comment_100435 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100435#Comment_100435 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:04:09 +0000 jamesingram https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100457#Comment_100457 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100457#Comment_100457 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:36:07 +0000 Rosco_82
see attached (hopefully) image of a recent installation carried out on our home roof. Tiles removed, brackets fixed into rafters, frame mounted on brackets and then the tiles replaced with lead flashing or tingles (if that is what they are called) system water proof and framing appropriately fixed into the structure for wind loadings.

Important as I am sure you dont need me to tell you that you use a good contractor. Ask to see an installation they have done that is similar int he past.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100459#Comment_100459 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100459#Comment_100459 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:53:07 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100460#Comment_100460 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100460#Comment_100460 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:01:12 +0000 evan
You want an angle bracket to fix to the rafter (reinforced if necessary), lined up with your neatly drilled hole (use a tile bit and the slate will not crack or break). On the inside you put a nut and large washer, run it up to the back of the sarking - mastic in the hole. On the outside you put a square of lead sealed to the slate with roofing mastic, then a large washer and nut, tighten it down snugly but do not crack the slate.

Then put additional nuts and washers on the stud to support your unistrut or whatever framework.

That's just from memory but there's a publication which goes into very close detail, your installer will have this. Installations done like that have never had a problem to my knowledge and they're going back 10 years now.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100462#Comment_100462 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100462#Comment_100462 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:14:47 +0000 owlman Drilling through the slate works perfectly well.

It sounds straightforward enough evan and in careful hands possibly OK. My concern would be the odd less than carful fitter who overtightened and then wind loading could easily stress and crack the slate. I guess the square of lead you mention would have to be the same size as the slate underneath.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100463#Comment_100463 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100463#Comment_100463 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:26:19 +0000 evan
You may have bigger risks if you use an un-tried or non standard way of doing it to be honest.

Anyway just my tuppence worth and I haven't done an installation for a couple of years.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100468#Comment_100468 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100468#Comment_100468 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:54:19 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100470#Comment_100470 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100470#Comment_100470 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:03:49 +0000 evan https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100472#Comment_100472 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100472#Comment_100472 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:26:30 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100489#Comment_100489 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100489#Comment_100489 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:54:42 +0000 SteamyTea PV panels weight quite a bit but then so does air. Add the height to drop and being hit by a solar panel is probably a one way journey. Got to have happened, but not heard of an incident yet.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100491#Comment_100491 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100491#Comment_100491 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:05:44 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100493#Comment_100493 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100493#Comment_100493 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:19:37 +0000 SteamyTea https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100495#Comment_100495 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100495#Comment_100495 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:24:51 +0000 betterroof
Jolly good.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100496#Comment_100496 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100496#Comment_100496 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:25:47 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100498#Comment_100498 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100498#Comment_100498 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:49:39 +0000 NiallMac
So far insurers do cover the panels as a standard risk.

However, I heard that there had been an increase in theft of panels on low roof installations in Germany and that installations there now have anti theft devices as standard. Schletter, a company like Shuco who manufacture roof mounting frames, do such an item.

Fitting frames to a slate roof is probably easier with the batten mounted fixings, especially those that have several screw holes and can therefore be sited correctly.

Roof hooks can let water in if they are too thick and cause the tile to lift, from below when there is heavy wind and rain. Is Rosco 82's tile lifting in the photo?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100528#Comment_100528 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100528#Comment_100528 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:05:47 +0000 Nick Parsons
Yes, but isn't that a 'lead slate'?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100531#Comment_100531 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100531#Comment_100531 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:22:28 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100559#Comment_100559 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100559#Comment_100559 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:37:46 +0000 squowse https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100564#Comment_100564 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100564#Comment_100564 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:45:27 +0000 SteamyTea Posted By: squowsethey'll still get their money
And if they have any business sense they will have two companies, one installing and one collecting the revenue. Bet I know which one will go bankrupt and dump the liability, can't be long with the undercutting that the PV installers are doing to each other that the birds will come home to roost, well to a wet home anyway.
Anyone know of any installers that have gone under already?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100568#Comment_100568 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100568#Comment_100568 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:48:10 +0000 betterroof https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100600#Comment_100600 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100600#Comment_100600 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:29:21 +0000 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100627#Comment_100627 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=100627#Comment_100627 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:43:48 +0000 evan https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143932#Comment_143932 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143932#Comment_143932 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:51 +0100 Hallclip https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143934#Comment_143934 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143934#Comment_143934 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:05:23 +0100 JSHarris http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=8984&page=1#Item_21 and this thread: http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=8657&page=1 (towards the bottom) start................

(plus, the thread you've replied to is over a year old)]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143935#Comment_143935 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143935#Comment_143935 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:20:46 +0100 Hallclip
Rgds, Jimmy]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143948#Comment_143948 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6877&Focus=143948#Comment_143948 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:02:27 +0100 RobinB