Solar panels and hail.
Solar panels hail protection.
Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye.
Any hail that is larger than an inch in diameter such as golf ball or baseball sized hail can threaten your solar panels.
In fact we sometimes need to remove and later re install an intact solar system so roofers can re shingle a roof that was destroyed by hail.
Fortunately you don t even need to worry about extra protection for your solar panels in the event of a hailstorm or other types of serious inclement weather conditions.
One minute the sun is shining bright across the lone star state then suddenly debris the size of golfballs rattles down and wreaks havoc that s often.
That includes many hail storms over the years we have had solar panels installed in alberta since 2001 many of them bringing golf ball sized hail or larger.
In most cases solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail of up to 25 mm one inch falling at 23 meters per second approximately 50 miles per hour.
Weatherproofing your solar panels.
With hail season in full swing protect your solar panels from hail damage to keep their energy supply in working condition.
Most solar panels have a high wind rating and have undergone testing to ensure that the solar panels can handle hail up to one inch in diameter.
There are several ways to protect your panels but the most effective method is by using a protective cover.
How much hail damage can a solar panel endure.
We take our high speed camera to the westpak testing facility where we fire balls of ice at different velocit.
Protective covers are usually made of a durable weatherproof material.
For solar electricity consider using thin film or amorphous photovoltaic panels.
Solar panel manufacturers test their products to ensure that they are capable of withstanding hail storms.
Vps is proud to introduce the ability to incorporate solar panels on many of our structural hail protection designs including a seamless and advanced integration that is the first of it s kind for this type of product.
Luckily this is covered by the insurance.
The substrate is a flexible plastic material and highly resistant to damage from rocks or hail.