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INSTRUCTOR: Michael O'Rourke, P.E., Ph.D.Course Length:1 Hour
Sponsored by ASCE'sStructural Engineering Institute and ASCE Continuing Education.
Purpose and Background
As the country moves towards greener and renewable energy sources, more and more roofs are now equipped with solar panels. One expects the presence of solar panels potentially to change the exposure of the roof, increase the potential for sliding loads and possibly to act as obstructions behind which snow drifts can form. Unfortunately ASCE 7 neither currently addresses any of these snow issues, nor provides overall guidance for the snow loads one expects on solar paneled roofs. This webinar provides recommended snow loads for such roofs, which are consistent with the snow load provisions in ASCE 7.
Primary Discussion Topics
- Solar panel type classification
- Exposure, thermal and sliding factors for balanced roof loads
- Non-uniform loads due to snow sliding off inclined panels
- Windward and leeward drift loads adjacent to panels
Learning Outcomes and Webinar Benefits
After completion of this webinar, structural engineers are expected to be able to determine snow loads for solar paneled roofs.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:- Avoid potential structural performance issues arising from the mistaken use of unrealistically low snow loads for solar paneled roofs
- Avoid un-necessarily high construction costs arising from the mistaken use of overly conservative snow loads for solar paneled roofs
- Increase expertize in the structural design of green facilities
- Increase knowledge base regarding snow loads in general and solar paneled roofs in particular
- Be in a position to cite authoritative guidelines if questions arise regarding snow loads on solar paneled roofs
Webinar Outline
- Disclaimer
- Solar panel types
- Recommended exposure factor for roofs with flush, tilted or elevated solar panels
- Recommended thermal factors for solar paneled roofs
- Recommended slope factors for solar paneled roofs
- Sliding loads on solar paneled roofs
- Drift loads for a single row of solar panels
- Multiple row drift loads for closely spaced panels
- Multiple row drift loads for widely spaced panels
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).
Intended Audience
Structural engineers with a specialization in buildings
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]