Yes, it is possible to mount solar panels on the roof of your storage building. Storage buildingsare often an excellent place to install solar panels. The roof of a storage building provides ample space and is often conveniently located, with few obstacles blocking the sun. In almost all cases, solar panels can be attached to the roof of a storage building without any issues. However, there are some things you should consider. In this blog, you will read more about these considerations.

Pay attention to the maximum load of the storage building roof

Solar panels impose a load on the roof. On average, standard solar panels, with an aluminum frame, weigh between 10 and 25 kg per square meter. Since panels generally range from 1.6 to 1.7 square meters in size, this translates to a weight of at least 16 kg to a maximum of 42.5 kg per solar panel. This varies by brand and model. Kroftman storage buildings are constructed based on a maximum snow load. Keep this in mind when installing solar panels on the roof. The roof may then be able to bear less snow load due to the solar panels. Therefore, to calculate the maximum remaining snow load, subtract the weight of the solar panels from the maximum snow load specified for your region. There must still be enough snow load remaining for the roof to withstand a snowfall. If this is not the case, it poses a safety hazard first and foremost. Secondly, the warranty on the storage building is also void if the prescribed maximum snow load is exceeded. Below is an example of how to calculate the maximum snow load for installing solar panels. Keep in mind that, in addition to the solar panels, the roof may also be subject to additional load because you have weight hanging from the roof in the storage building, such as heavy lamps. You should also take this into account when calculating the maximum roof load of your storage building.

Example calculation of maximum snow load with solar panels on the storage building roof

There are special indicators to represent the snow load. We use the designation kN/m² for this. This stands for kilonewton per square meter. In this case, it indicates how much weight of snow the storage building can bear per square meter. To convert a kilonewton to kilograms, multiply the number indicated for kN by 100. For example, 1.3 kN/m² means that the roof (1.3 x 100) can bear 130 kilograms of snow per m². Suppose the snow load for a certain storage building is 1.2 kN/m², then 120 kg of snow per square meter can be on the roof. If, for example, 1 square meter of solar panels weighs 40 kg, then only 80 kg remains for snow. In a region where the specified snow load is less than 0.8 kN/m² (80 kg per square meter), it is safe to install these solar panels on the storage building. In a region where the snow load is higher than 0.8 kN/m², it is not safe to install these solar panels, given their weight, on the roof.

Increasing the snow load of the storage building

If, after installing solar panels, you would have insufficient remaining snow load for your region, you can consider increasing the snow load. We have made this possible for our H6, H7, and H8 series storage buildings. You can install extra tie rods in the roof of these storage buildings. This makes the truss stronger and increases the permissible snow load of these storage buildings by 0.2 kN/m² (20 kg per m²). The costs for this amount to approximately 60 euros per tie rod. Depending on the size of the storage building, you need 3 to a maximum of 10 (one for each truss). If you want to know more about this, it's best to contact us.

Mounting solar panels on the roof of your storage building

Solar panels and their installation are not part of our activities. If you have solar panels mounted on the roof of your storage building, screws will likely be used. Make sure the roof remains watertight. Using screws with a rubber ring could be a solution to prevent leaks. We advise you to discuss this thoroughly with the supplier of your solar panels beforehand. Mounting solar panels on the roof can affect the warranty if not done properly. Consider, for example, the expiration of the rust warranty on the frame if the screw holes are not made in such a way as to prevent leaks.

We hope the above information helps you make an informed decision. If you want to know exactly what the storage building of your choice will cost, feel free to fill out our quotation tool. This will result in a quotation that we will send to you by email, showing you at a glance what the costs and transport costs are for your shed. You can create multiple quotations and check different options. This way, you can compare them effectively.

If you still have questions, we are happy to assist you further.