Pre-Delivery/Install Checklist

14800 NE 65

Street | Vancouver, WA 98682

p: (360) 844-0048 | f: 863-3878

TopTile™ Mount Installation Guidelines

The TopTile™ Mount System gives the installer the option of mounting to the rafter, or

without locating the rafter mounting directly to deck. The foremost advantage to using

the TopTile™ Mounts is that well-constructed tile roofs are not deconstructed. No pulling

tiles, unseating battens and no leaving unsealed fasteners in the membrane. The TopTile

Mounts can be attached to any concrete, clay, stone, fiberglass, rubber, or stone tile

roofs per International Code Council (ICC) building codes.

The Tripod version of the TopTile™ Mount provides a departure from the classic

attachment of solar panels onto roof rafters. The Tripod mount provides for mounting

into the roof sheathing without the need to find a roof rafter. This has advantages in tile

roofs since the penetration into the tile can always occur on the peak of the tile ridge,

which offers better water ingress protection. It also limits the lifting of tiles and

associated cost and breakage.

There are obvious limitations when one considers the mounting of a rooftop solar system

to the roof sheathing rather than the rafters. The sheathing will flex so those that insist

that deflections are harmful in the mounting of rooftop solar may have problems with a mounting

system that will naturally flex as the sheathing flexes. The amount of flex will be greatest when the

mount is located centered between two rafters, and less as the mounts are placed closer to the rafters.

In general, the Tripod mounting system should not be considered for

high stress environments: high wind and high snow loads combined

with steep roof applications. The ideal installation for the Tripod

mounting system of the TopTile™ Mount is one where the nominal

spacing between mounts is 4-feet, using a 2 Rail PV racking design, in

an environment where the wind speeds are below 115 MPH LRFD,

snow loads no greater than 25 PSF and a roof pitch of 4/12 (19

degrees) or less. However, mixing the Rafter and Tripod mount

versions of the product may allow higher loads.

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4800 NE 65th Street | Vancouver, WA 98682 p: (360) 844-0048 | f: 863-3878 TopTile™ Mount Installation Guidelines The TopTile™ Mount System gives the installer the option of mounting to the rafter, or without locating the rafter mounting directly to deck. The foremost advantage to using the TopTile™ Mounts is that well-constructed tile roofs are not deconstructed. No pulling tiles, unseating battens and no leaving unsealed fasteners in the membrane.
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Present testing of the Tripod version of the mount in 1/2 inch plywood has shown a consistent tested pullout of 650 lbs. and a lateral value of 175 lbs. The lateral testing is a test to failure rather than a test to a deflection of 1/8 or 1/4 inch since the plywood will bend, producing a non-relevant value. Further, the deflection values and screw pullout values of plywood are well documented in the Wood Industries Handbook.