<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>        <rss version="2.0"
             xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
             xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
             xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
             xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/"
             xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
             xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
        <channel>
            <title>
									Spacing for roof fixing bolts ? - Solar Photovoltaic (PV)				            </title>
            <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/</link>
            <description>Questions and discussions about renewable heating and heat pumps</description>
            <language>en-GB</language>
            <lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:02:37 +0000</lastBuildDate>
            <generator>wpForo</generator>
            <ttl>60</ttl>
							                    <item>
                        <title>RE: Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30844</link>
                        <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 12:25:11 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[There is another consideration...but alas this doesn&#039;t feature in the installers&#039; guidance/training by MCS.
This diagram shows a generic roof construction with the lower rail for mounting P...]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is another consideration...<br />but alas this doesn't feature in the installers' guidance/training by MCS.</p>
<p>This diagram shows a generic roof construction with the lower rail for mounting PV panels in purple:</p>
7345
<p>MCS specify the ways in which the rail support brackets must be fixed, which is usually with two M8 x 80mm stainless steel coach screws (or similar).</p>
<p>Those brackets are screwed to the underlying rafters through the vapour barrier (roofing felt).</p>
<p>In turn, the rafter is fixed to the <strong>wall plate</strong>.<br />That's a 50x100mm piece of treated timber, bedded onto a run of mortar above the inner leaf of the cavity wall.</p>
<p>At intervals specified in the Building Regs, straps (in <strong><span style="color: #ff0000">red</span></strong>) are fixed to the wall plate and bolted into the blocks of the inner wall.<br />Note the <strong><span style="color: #0000ff">blue</span></strong> fixings. This is what holds the roof onto the house and prevents it being lifted off in a gale.</p>
<p>Wall plate straps are plastered over, and few people outside the building trade realise they're there.</p>
<p>It is all too common for wall plate straps to be inadequately fitted.<br />Indeed I've seen new-build houses where they are completely absent.<br />The wall-plate is simply held onto the top row of concrete blocks with a 4-inch nail. &#x1f632; </p>
<p>Adding a row of solar panels to the roof will significantly increase the wind-lift factor.</p>
<p>In strong winds, the weak point is likely to be how the wall plate is fixed to the wall below it.</p>
<p>If you hear timbers creaking shortly after solar panels have been fitted, I suggest you don't just ignore it !</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The adjacent photo shows a wall-plate strap being added to a renovation property.</p>
<p>In this case the original ceiling joists had to be completely removed. The ends above the wall plate had deteriorated.<br />The new (more substantial) ceiling joists are now held by proper joist brackets, bolted to the wall, and lapped over the top of the wall plate.<br />Sheradised nails hold the joist bracket to the timber wall plate.</p>
<p>The wall plate strap has been fixed close to the joist bracket to add further strength.<br />Although not shown in the photo, that wall plate strap is actually 1200mm long and held to the wall blocks using 8 fixing points.</p>]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>Transparent</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30844</guid>
                    </item>
				                    <item>
                        <title>RE: Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30810</link>
                        <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 22:06:41 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[@heat-pump-newbie I don’t see why they shouldn’t show and share these calculations with you, especially if you’re proceeding with the job. You need to be sure that the installers have done b...]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[@heat-pump-newbie I don’t see why they shouldn’t show and share these calculations with you, especially if you’re proceeding with the job. You need to be sure that the installers have done background work.]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>Mars</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30810</guid>
                    </item>
				                    <item>
                        <title>RE: Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30798</link>
                        <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 17:06:57 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[@heat-pump-newbie
It’s not a requirement in the handover pack but it should definitely be available if requested]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>@heat-pump-newbie</p>
<p><br />It’s not a requirement in the handover pack but it should definitely be available if requested  </p>
<hr />]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>SAEnergy</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30798</guid>
                    </item>
				                    <item>
                        <title>RE: Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30783</link>
                        <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 07:51:40 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[Thanks @saenergy - I don&#039;t suppose the customer would be shown these calculations.
I should change my name to PV-newbie &#x1f600;]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks @saenergy - I don't suppose the customer would be shown these calculations.</p>
<p>I should change my name to PV-newbie &#x1f600; </p>]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>heat-pump-newbie</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30783</guid>
                    </item>
				                    <item>
                        <title>RE: Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30780</link>
                        <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 05:17:47 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[This is determined by a wind load calculation.   
the calculation will tell you the total uplift in Nm.  The manufacturer will have a specification for the hook selected, you take the load ...]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is determined by a wind load calculation.   <br /><br /></p>
<p>the calculation will tell you the total uplift in Nm.  The manufacturer will have a specification for the hook selected, you take the load for the array and divide that by the hook capacity.  That tells you how many hooks are required   <br /><br />You then space accordingly.</p>
<p>general rule of thumb:</p>
<p>each and of array should not exceed a hook by more than 150mm</p>
<p>The end hooks on each rail will generally be the closest, in your case 600mm apart  </p>
<p>Hooks through the centre of the array will likely be at 1200mm</p>
<p>Your installer should carry out this calculation post survey.  Note that structure and location are very important here. </p>]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>SAEnergy</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30780</guid>
                    </item>
				                    <item>
                        <title>RE: Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30778</link>
                        <pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2024 21:29:16 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[I think @saenergy will have the definitive answer for this one.]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think @saenergy will have the definitive answer for this one.</p>]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>Mars</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30778</guid>
                    </item>
				                    <item>
                        <title>Spacing for roof fixing bolts ?</title>
                        <link>https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30775</link>
                        <pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2024 18:56:39 +0000</pubDate>
                        <description><![CDATA[What spacing should the fixing bolts be for Solar Panel roof bars ? I&#039;ve seen 0.6 to 0.8 m apart, but elsewhere I&#039;ve seen 1.2 to 1.8 m apart.
Proposed panels are 1762 mm x 1134 mm and 20.6 ...]]></description>
                        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What spacing should the fixing bolts be for Solar Panel roof bars ? I've seen 0.6 to 0.8 m apart, but elsewhere I've seen 1.2 to 1.8 m apart.</p>
<p>Proposed panels are 1762 mm x 1134 mm and 20.6 kg. Rafters are 600 mm apart approx.</p>]]></content:encoded>
						                            <category domain="https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/">Solar Photovoltaic (PV)</category>                        <dc:creator>heat-pump-newbie</dc:creator>
                        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/solar-photovoltaic-pv/spacing-for-roof-fixing-bolts/#post-30775</guid>
                    </item>
							        </channel>
        </rss>
		
<!--
Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https://www.boldgrid.com/w3-total-cache/?utm_source=w3tc&utm_medium=footer_comment&utm_campaign=free_plugin

Object Caching 56/64 objects using Redis
Page Caching using Disk: Enhanced (Requested URI contains query) 
Lazy Loading

Served from: renewableheatinghub.co.uk @ 2026-07-17 13:02:37 by W3 Total Cache
-->