Overhead and vertical glazing

Please also read and observe all General instructions for module installation.

Rain tightness / water management

The Solarwatt modules of the Panel vision GM 3.0 series are not completely waterproof. The corners in particular are exposed to water to ensure reliable drainage of rain or melt water and good self-cleaning. To ensure rainproof roofing, a water drainage system, e.g. a gutter system underneath the module, must therefore be provided. Some suppliers of substructures for roofing integrate such channels into their solution, which can be connected to a drainage system. If necessary, a water management concept should be developed for the specific project in accordance with local requirements.

Dimensioning of approved loads

The mechanical loads acting on the PV module when used as overhead or vertical glazing are designed on the basis of the Eurocodes as standardized rules for design in the construction industry. The so-called semi-probabilistic partial safety concept is applied. This distinguishes between the action side (e.g. wind load, snow load, dead weight) and the resistance side (load-bearing capacity of the component, in this case the PV module).

The following parameters are determined and compared:

Ek = characteristic value of the action combination (stress due to the combination of dead weight, snow, wind, ...)

Ed = design value of the combination of actions (dead weight, snow, wind, ...) taking into account the partial safety factor

Rk = characteristic value of the resistance (load-bearing capacity of the component)

Rd = design value of the resistance, taking into account the partial safety factor

For the specific application, it must be demonstrated that the condition

Ed ≤ Rd

is always fulfilled, i.e. the design value of the action combination is always less than or equal to the design value of the resistance.

The design values of the action combination (dead weight, snow, wind, ...) are sometimes also referred to as the load combination or load case combination. They must be determined on site, e.g. by a structural engineer or qualified building planner. This requires a professional calculation taking into account the relevant partial safety factors. Depending on the location and application, this can be very complex.
It is NOT sufficient to add the snow and wind loads to be applied for the region!
The following pages show the design values of the resistance Rd, i.e. the load-bearing capacity of the PV module. The calculation of these values is subject to the nationally applicable standards and rules for structural glass construction and therefore differs from country to country.

Solarwatt currently provides rated values (design values) of the resistance, i.e. the load-bearing capacity of the PV module, for the following countries:

• Germany
• Austria

If you wish to use the PV module as overhead or vertical glazing in another country with its own applicable standards and rules for structural glass construction, please be sure to consult Solarwatt before planning or implementing the project.