Winnipeg Information Bulletin 2016-003-B/E/S/Z SOLAR PV INSTALLATIONS An Information Bulletin is currently being created for City of Winnipeg guidelines for Solar PV Installations and will be published shortly to replace this posting. On a temporary basis, the PowerPoint presented by Housing Inspector, Stan Yee, on August 24 th is attached as a reference document. Issued by: Shirley Jenken, CET, Electrical Technical Support Officer Development & Inspections Division, Planning Property & Development Department 30 Fort Street Winnipeg Manitoba R3C 4X7 August 31, 2016 sjenken@winnipeg.ca Page 1 of 1
Solar Photovoltaic Systems
The City of Winnipeg will require the licensed installer or homeowner to obtain a building permit for the installation of solar panels on an existing roof.
The most significant issue resulting from the addition of solar panels to an existing roof is the potential snow load combined with the weight of the actual solar panels. Residential roofs are designed for a load of 26 psf (pounds per square foot). When combined with the solar panel weight, total loads can increase by 20 percent. With a full snow load condition combined with the solar panel weight, there would be greater deflections causing ceiling finishes to crack. This would be problematic at best. Where more severe, collapse of the roof structure under the added weight could occur.
Based on the above, the City has concluded that since Winnipeg experiences more unfavorable winter weather resulting in a greater probability of roofs experiencing the full design snow loads, a building permit is required.
The information required for the building permit application is: Stamped engineer s report indicating the additional loads imposed on the existing roof and any modifications required to strengthen the existing support. The report must be completed by an Engineer registered in the Province of Manitoba. A site plan will be required if the solar array is being installed in the yard, not on the roof top.
All Photovoltaic Permit Applications Based on the CEC 2015/Winnipeg Electrical By-law 77/2015 and Sections 64 & 84 as well as any other code sections that may apply. A building permit will be required for installation of solar panels on a roof. Reviews to be completed by residential or commercial plan examination. An electrical permit is required for all solar installations. Reviews to be completed by commercial electrical plan examinations
For panels installed on the ground (stand alone systems), please speak to the City of Winnipeg Zoning department in regards to clearances, fencing and security. Housing inspectors will look at systems less than 600v and commercial inspectors will inspect systems greater than 600v. Homeowners will not be allowed to install solar photovoltaic systems
Electrical Data required at time of application An electrical single line diagram of the installation. All electrical equipment (new and existing) such as solar panels, combiners, optimizers, junction boxes, inverter, AC and DC rated disconnect switches, and fuse/breaker panel. Data to include manufacturer, model number, voltage and current ratings, and approval certifications.
Show all specific wiring and installation methods (i.e. copper/aluminum conductors, Teck, conduit, underground, indoor and outdoor locations) Indicate all AC and DC grounding and bonding (68-068 & Appendix B) The utility interactive point of connection (68-112) and the panel main fuse or breaker size and the buss rating of the panel.
Solar Array Details The maximum photovoltaic source circuit voltage (CEC 64-202) (N/A for micro inverters) The rated short circuit current (N/A for micro inverters) The rated operating current and voltage The type and number of PV modules connected in each series string The specific wiring methods for the solar array (64-2010)
Marking & Warning Lamacoids 64-072,64-074, 64-112,64-200,84-024,84-030 Lamacoids will be the only accepted labels Lamacoids must be permanently attached with screws, bolts or riveted Where multiple sources exist warning labels and or drawings shall indicate the presence and location of each source 64-074 requires a system diagram Notice of rapid shutdown location Warning notice is a storage device is installed
Lamacoid on Meter Box Warning Two Power Source Parallel System Red background with white Lettering. Permanently attached with screws, bolts or riveted. Basic line diagram Basic line diagram with disconnects, inverter, and array.(similar to High voltage diagram indicating direction of current flow)
Lamacoid on Utility Disconnect beside the meter Warning Two Power Source Parallel System DG System Disconnect Rated AC Output Current: amps Nominal AC Operating Voltage: volts
Lamacoid on the DC disconnect DG Source Disconnect Voc, max: VOLC Isc: AOLC Maximum PV source voltage Rated short circuit current Extreme voltage is Voc x 125% Voc max is the #of panels x the extreme voltage
Lamacoid on AC disconnect Photovoltaic System AC Disconnect Rated AC Output Current: amps Nominal AC Output Voltage: volts
Lamacoids on Inverter Warning Electric Shock Hazard Do Not Touch Terminals! Terminals on both Line and Load Sides may be energized in the open position Photovoltaic System Equipped with Rapid Shutdown Warning Ungrounded System
Lamacoids at the Main Electrical Panel Warning: Installed by Main Breaker Two Power Source Parallel System Warning Inverter Connection DO NOT RELOCATE OVERCURRENT Basic Line Diagram
Battery Disconnect Warning Renewable Energy System Contains An Electrical Energy Storage System
For Ungrounded System Warning: ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD Installed on the Inverter The Conductors of the Renewable Energy Power System Are Ungrounded and may become energized
Photo Requirements Photos of the mounting platform and connections to the roof structure The continuous grounding of the solar panels and support structure Photos of the rodent protection Photos of any equipment mounted on the roof (combiners, optimizers, junction boxes) with appropriate lamacoids (Internally & Externally) City of Winnipeg Housing inspectors will not be going on ladders or on the roof
Calculating the maximum size breaker allowed in the main service panel (The rated buss bar amperage x 125%) Main breaker amperage Eg: 200A panel buss x 125% = 250 amps less 200A Main so a 50 amp breaker is the maximum solar breaker would be allowed. Eg: 100A panel buss x 125% = 125 amps less 100A Main so only a 25 amp solar breaker would be allowed. Eg: 125A buss x 125% = 156 Amps less 100A Main so a 50 amp solar breaker
64-202 Voltage of solar PV systems Maximum PV source and output circuit voltage shall be the rated open circuit voltage of the PV source multiplied by 125%. Dwellings are limited to 600 Vdc PV source & output circuits between 750 & 1000 Vdc are exempt from Section 36 for HV protection and disconnecting rules A 1000 v rated inverter can be used on a dwelling if the PV source & outputs are limited to 600 Vdc
64-216 Arc-Fault Protection for DC circuits DC arc-fault or equivalent protection is required for all DC source or output circuits operating at 80 volts or greater
64-212 Conductor Colour Coding For 2 wire circuit RED for positive and BLACK for negative For 3 wire circuit (Bipolar circuit) WHITE, GREY, or WHITE with a coloured stripe for mid-wire (center tap), RED & BLACK
64-206 Current Rating Current rating of PV source circuits When determining the current rating of the PV circuit, the rating of the overcurrent device, or the ampacity of the conductors used (whichever is less), and neither can be less than the rated short circuit current of the PV x 125%
64-222,64-070 Bonding 64-064,64-068 Grounding Bonding refers to the provision of connections between metal non-current carrying parts, with the intention that they all be maintained at a common voltage (equipotential plane) Grounding refers to the provision of a metal or conducting path to a grounding electrode
Solar Panel Bonding 64-070 & 10-400 requires all non-current carrying metal parts to be bonded. The size of the conductor is dictated by 10-914 & Table 16 64-222 requires the bonding to be installed in such a manner that the removal of a module will not affect the bonding to other modules Continuous # 6 copper bond to the support structure and to the solar PV panels (approved bolting is considered bonded) #6 copper is required wherever exposed & will be allowed to terminate in the JB/combiner box to the bond conductor of the Teck cable or the separate bond conductor if in metal conduit
64-068 System Grounding 10-202 Grounding the DC negative should be done at one point only (the system supply). This is done inside the inverter s GFI 84-028 The service ground can be used as the system ground 10-810 The system ground for PV needs to be sized in accordance with 10-812 (AC ground is #6)
68-018 & 10-810 Solar PV System Ground DC systems are permitted to be UNGROUNDED provided: All conductors have overcurrent protection Conductors are in metal raceway or metal-sheathed cables Metal conduit must have a separate bond conductor Warning signs at all disconnects, devices and junction boxes Inverters & charge controllers shall be approved for ungrounded systems Both the positive & the negative conductors must be disconnected if the system is ungrounded Only the positive needs to be disconnected if the system is grounded
64-064(4) Ground Fault Protection Above 50 Vdc a GFP device is required
Utility power will always be on the line side of the utility disconnect DC power is always on the load side of the utility disconnect Breakers must be rated for bi-directional use DC roof disconnect will be required if there is fusing on the roof Integral current monitoring CT s in the main breaker panel will not be accepted All roof mounted systems must have rodent protection even with rapid shutdown and GFI & arc-fault protection
AC disconnect requires proper neutral bar Has neutral bar but joints made in the switch Pull-out type disconnect is not approved & 84-024(1) (b)
Optimizer
Utility Disconnect will be mounted as close as practicable to the hydro meter Pull out type disconnects will not be accepted
DC rated switch for the DG source disconnect DG Distributed Generation
Q & A