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Prices for solar energy systems have declined in the last few years, making this technology more accessible to the average consumer. Manufacturers continue to develop new designs with different types of solar fasteners and mounting systems in an effort to further reduce prices. What types of designs are coming onto the market, and how do solar fasteners fit into these industry evolutions? New Technologies Traditional solar panels require mounting racks, fastened to the roof frame and supporting the framed PV cells. New designs do away with the mounting racks, cutting back on solar fasteners and total cost. Different materials are also being used in new solar panel systems, with plastic replacing metal or coating metal components. Mounting systems, including the ability to angle the solar panels in the proper direction, are incorporated directly into the frame with some products, while other innovations opt for a plastic frame, instead of metal. This type of material can be formed with a mounting system, distributing load and reducing the fasteners by nearly half. Both of these designs present problems in certain applications. Without mounting racks underneath airflow around the panels is reduced. This condition may shorten the lifespan of the frame and/or PV cells due to high heat and poor ventilation. Plastic also deteriorates quickly under the harsh UV rays, and could result in more storm damage due to a weaker structure. Angle limitations can severely reduce the amount of generation possible with a residential solar panel system; having your panels at the correct angle harvest more energy in the same weather conditions. How Solar Fasteners Are Changing Solar fasteners are used to mount the solar panels, control and hold the mechanisms and ground the system. Innovations in solar energy design have altered these roles and changed the way contractors use solar fasteners. Those systems that use plastic framing, as mentioned above, must be mounted to the roof with traditional style fasteners. With these product designs manufacturers will specify fasteners with little to no exposed metal, eliminating the need for grounding systems. Your fastener distributor can help to source out fasteners that suit this function and design. Specially designed hardware is used in systems with an integrated mounting/frame design. Fasteners are still required, both to attach the system components together and mount the panels to the roof. But manufacturers claim that by reducing the total amount of fasteners, they can successfully reduce maintenance issues, installation time and overall cost. The claims that fewer solar fasteners equals less installation time, and therefore a lower total price for consumers, is valid for the most part. Fewer parts to handle often makes the installation move faster, as long as those parts are manageable and durable. But if a new panel or mounting system design results in lower levels of durability or a shorter lifespan, the overall cost could actually be higher. Shipping may be an issue for larger panels with a larger mounting system. And contractors must be informed about the new installation procedures to ensure efficiency and stable mounting. New solar panel designs are making waves in the marketplace and shifting the role of solar fasteners. Talk to local suppliers and fastener distributors about the ideal set up for your application and realize the benefits of this eco friendly technology. Mike Moore is published on more than 300 websites. He writes about industrial fasteners and building, commercial building, and home building projects . He is published on various website including http://www.melfast.com
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