The mounting structure is one of the key components of a good, solid solar panel installation. The racking system can have a significant impact on the design and construction process and can account for as much as 15% of the total cost of the photovoltaic system, depending on technology.

Unistrut Energy Solutions (UES) has the expertise to plan, design and build efficient, effective, low-cost mounting structures, which will compliment the solar panel’s performance, optimize the design and reduce material and labor costs.

Unistrut International Corporation is part of Tyco and provides engineered foundations for solar projects. The company's stated three goals are:

- Achieve the lowest cost-per-watt installed solution
- Simplify installation to reduce labor costs
- Provide the highest quality components

Beginning early in the process of planning a solar system, experienced UES representatives assist with design and assistance services, jobsite visits and site data analysis. UES does this to ensure that the customer’s requirements and jobsite conditions allow the company’s designers and installers to provide the most cost-effective solar mounting product possible, which comes as a result of common components with decreased design time.

Documentation for each project includes signed and stamped calculations from qualified professional engineers, which help meet project and local code requirements. Fabrication capabilities including laser cutting, swaging, welding, haven cutting, cold saw cutting, etc. help UES deliver ready-to-install parts directly to the job site.

Racking Systems for Solar Installations

UES combines best-in-class galvanized and commercial quality steel tubing products with an experienced service solution to offer pre-engineered racking systems. These systems include rooftop, ground and ballast-mounted installations, which allow photovoltaic panels to be mounted in a portrait or landscape format.

The Company offers a diverse product line, with the primary components from both Allied Tube & Conduit and Unistrut. Specific products used in their mounting structures include galvanized steel tubing, strut, and angle and channel.

The galvanized steel tube is either Gatorshield, which is derived from Allied Tube & Conduit’s original Flo-Coat process and produced in round, square, rectangle and oval shapes, or Square-Fit telescopic square tubing. The strut is from Unistrut, which is supported by a nationwide distribution network. The galvanized angle is Allied Tube & Conduit’s Flo-Form, which has a 50 ksi yield strength, and the channel is Allied Tube & Conduit’s roll form (available in cee, u and hat).

These pre-engineered offerings allow for accurate cost generation within a matter of days. According to the company, costs are 30-35% less than fully custom racking systems. UES has also reduced the number of pieces, which allows simple connections. Similarly, they have lengthened spans to minimize roof or ground penetrations, simplifying labor and installation costs.

Also, four of the company’s design offerings meet 75-80% of all wind load, snow load, dead load and seismic requirements for commercial projects. If necessary, these systems can be modified to meet more specific requirements.

 

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