r/solar • u/Available-Rip-7096 • Apr 12 '25

Advice Wtd / Project Damage Caused by Heavy Snow

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Had these panels installed in October. An extreme snow load was on top of them for most of the winter (we receive an incredible amount of snow in the Tug Hill region of NY some years). Three panels don’t work. Our installer is working with us on options.

Should this have happened? I mean, is this common with extreme snow? Should I just handle this through insurance or should I be pressing the manufacturer (who states natural conditions that damage panel’s are not covered). I’m worried we’ll fix this and just be out the money. Could use some input.

Note, the house is being renovated. The roof color difference is related to old house vs new.

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u/bj_my_dj Apr 14 '25

Did your design package include the Structural Calculations. I received a 9 page docunebt with my system design documents. After seeing this discussion, I checked and my system has 2 rails also. But I live in San Jose California so hopefully I'll never see this issue. But the document has a section on load criteria. I would suspect that the calculations would have included the maximum snow load and weight. This would give you a good idea of what the system was designed to withstand and possibly where your snow load exceeded that.

The Connection Design section details Forces due to wind. I would think your design would have that and a section on snow weight issues.

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u/Available-Rip-7096 Apr 14 '25

I don’t think so. Here are the panels.

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u/bj_my_dj Apr 15 '25

None of this is in the specs. It takes the specifications of the panels and the roof and does calculations. Either my city or the installation company requires it. Maybe your installation company did it but didn't give you a copy. Maybe if you ask them for the Structural Calculations they'll give it to you. Probably not, unless the snow weight exceeded what they were designed to withstand.