Solar Energy

Design Considerations

Although some solar energy farms are ground based systems, rooftop mounted solar panels pose the most significant dangers to worker safety.  To maximize efficiency, the footprint of a typical rooftop solar energy installation tends to be quite large, leaving little space between the end of each panel and the leading edge of the roof.  The support structure of the solar panel must be assessed to determine if the framing members are adequate to accommodate the installation of a fall protection system.  In instances where a fall protection system cannot be attached to the solar panel support structure, care must be taken to consider rooftop construction materials (e.g., standing seam metal, rubber membrane).

After the structural integrity of your rooftop mounted solar energy system is assessed, a horizontal lifeline is either attached to the system’s supporting members or tip-over posts are used to create a perimeter based lifeline system.  Tip-over systems must be specified and installed to match the physical characteristics of your roof.  Whether your roof is constructed from concrete, sheet metal, standing seam metal, or rubber membrane, our field engineers and installation specialists can recommend and install a tip-over, perimeter style horizontal lifeline system that will keep personnel safe as they service your solar energy panels.  Some fall protection systems for solar installations may also utilize rigid track systems.  Although this is a relatively new market, Diversified Fall Protection has years of experience installing OSHA compliant fall protection systems for the solar energy market including:

Horizontal Lifelines
Rescue and Descent
Rigid Systems
Single Point Anchors