Is your commercial rooftop ready to become a powerful asset? For many businesses and organizations, these expansive, flat surfaces overhead represent an untapped opportunity for solar energy generation. While rooftops can provide an ideal location for solar installations - offering unobstructed space and maximum sun exposure - facility managers often have one pressing question: What impact will a solar system have on their roof's integrity? Let's explore how these installations affect commercial rooftops and what you need to know before making the switch to solar.
When considering rooftop solar, the first question is often about weight. Solar installations do add what structural engineers call "dead load" - permanent, stationary weight - to your roof. A typical commercial solar array comprises hundreds of interconnected panels, with each panel weighing approximately 50 pounds. For a 200-panel system, this can mean an additional 10,000 pounds distributed across your rooftop.
While these numbers might sound significant, they rarely pose a problem for commercial buildings. Most modern commercial structures are engineered to handle substantial additional loads. However, verification is critical - that's why every Cherry Street rooftop project begins with a thorough structural analysis by qualified engineers to ensure your building can safely support the solar installation. Like the installation work itself, this structural analysis and verification is conducted and paid for by Cherry Street, and comes at no cost to you.
What about the impacts of construction? Many people assume solar panels must be mechanically fastened to a roof, but modern installation techniques often make this unnecessary. In fact, the majority of Cherry Street Energy's commercial installations are completed without any roof penetration, using advanced ballasted mounting systems that protect roof integrity.
Our comprehensive approach to roof protection includes:
Whether working with flat membrane roofs or pitched metal surfaces, we tailor our installation methods to each roof type, implementing specific protocols to prevent damage during construction. This careful attention to roof protection helps maintain both structural integrity and existing roof warranties.
A commercial solar array does more than generate clean energy - it creates a protective shield for your roof that can extend its lifespan and enhance building performance. Here's how rooftop solar delivers value beyond the electric meter:
Environmental Protection:
Infrastructure Enhancement :
By adding this protective layer to your building envelope, a solar installation can deliver multiple facility benefits:
These non-energy benefits make solar installations an even more compelling investment, protecting your building while generating clean power. The system essentially functions as a building improvement that pays for itself through both energy savings and infrastructure protection.
Today's commercial solar installations represent far more than just clean energy generation - they're a strategic infrastructure investment. With advanced mounting technologies and professional installation practices, these systems not only maintain roof integrity but can actually enhance it. The result? Your unused rooftop space becomes a dual-purpose asset: generating sustainable power while providing an additional layer of protection for your building.
Ready to transform your rooftop into a power-generating, building-protecting asset? Contact Cherry Street Energy to explore how solar can work for your facility.