Case Study: Canadian Equestrian Multi-Purpose Barn

S-5-PVKIT® 2.0 and S-5! X-Gard™ 2.0 provided solutions for solar module attachment and snow retention on this barn.

The project

Bruce Goode, a retired cattle-ranch owner and airline pilot, recently downsized and purchased a small eight-acre equestrian estate with spectacular mountain and lake views of the Okanagan Valley area of British Columbia, Canada. The property features a new 3,500-square-foot, multi-purpose barn with a 24-gauge Cascadia Metals Black SMP Standing Seam Metal Roof.

The spacious main floor will be used as a workshop area with a tack room and riders’ lounge. The upper floor open loft area will be used as a “hunting lodge/cowboy shack” themed retreat and entertainment area complete with taxidermy mounts, in addition to a hobby/work area for gunsmithing and another area for exercising.

The challenge  

The owner’s goal was to construct a multi-purpose building that would also serve as a mounting platform for a 28.35 kilowatt PV solar system, which would provide 100% of the electricity needs for the entire equestrian ranch property. He also needed a roof that would meet the expected 25-30+ year service life of the PV system. Because the barn is located in the northern hemisphere, he needed to orient the roof and the solar panels for maximum solar gain.

Additionally, the property is located within a forest interface area, so a building constructed of fire-resistant materials was preferable. Furthermore, he wanted to reduce the risk of sudden and unexpected release of snow on his new slick metal roof, potentially posing a serious threat to property and visiting guests below.

The solution

The owner specified a standing seam metal roof for its sustainability and durability, since it is the only roof type with a service life that actually exceeds the service life of a solar PV system. This enables him to avoid potential costly disassembly of the PV array, re-roofing and re-assembly further down the road.

The ridge line of the barn roof was oriented exactly due east/west, to afford maximum solar gain for the 90 solar panel system mounted on the south-facing upper roof and lower roof surfaces. 

The S-5-PVKIT® 2.0 solar solution (in black to match the black anodized PV frames) enabled solar installers to direct-attach PV modules to the standing seams, eliminating the need for a traditional rail mounting system and provided a simple, secure, economical and penetration-free method for attaching the solar modules.

Additionally, in the event of a nearby wildfire, a metal roof was chosen for its non-flammable, non-combustible properties, since it will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike, which also helps the owner save on insurance premiums.

S-5!’s X-Gard™ 2.0 snow retention pipe system was selected for its compatibility with the project's standing seam metal roof. It is mechanically attached with round-point setscrews, gripping the seam securely without penetration and without damage to the panels’ protective finishes.

Project Data:

Industry: Residential   

Location: Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Owner: Bruce Goode 

Architect: Timber frame engineering and design by Marcus Weiss and Daniel Kilchenmann of European Timberframe Corporation

General contractor: Woodstyle Homes

Roofing contractor: Artisan Roofing Ltd.

Roof profile: 24-gauge Cascadia Metals Black SMP Standing Seam Metal Roof, 20" On Center, 1-1/2" high rib, from New Tech Machinery SSH, SS150

Solar installer: Roost Solar, Inc.

Module manufacturer: Canadian Solar 315W mono-crystalline modules (CS3K-315MS)

Inverter manufacturer: 3 SolarEdge HD Wave inverters 7600W each (SE7600H-US) and P340 (340W) optimizers under each panel

Solar attachment manufacturer: S-5!

Project stats:

• Project Size: 28.35 kilowatts

• Roof Measured: 6,000 square feet

• Roof Pitch: 8/12 upper roof

S-5! products supplied:

• X-Gard 2.0 (64 feet)

• X-Gard 2.0 bracket (37) with X-Clip II (36)

• S-5-S clamp (80)

• S-5-PVKIT 2.0 in black (265 MidGrabs and EdgeGrabs)

“We’ve been using S-5! zero-penetration clamps on our solar projects successfully for years, and the release of the PVKIT 2.0 adds another S-5! product to our arsenal for standing seam metal roofs. Beyond the quality and ease of use we have come to expect from S-5!, the PVKIT’s rail-less design is what makes it a no-brainer for us. Not only do we avoid the shipping, and on-site handling and leveling of rails, but we are able to reduce our overall cost per watt through lower material cost and installation time as compared to a rail-based solution.” 

—Stephen Russell, Owner, Roost Solar, Canada

Learn more about S-5! in their directory or visit s-5.com.

 About S-5!

Since 1992, S-5! has been the leading authority on metal roof attachment solutions. S-5!’s zero-penetration clamps attach ancillary items to standing seam and conceal-fix metal roofs, while maintaining roof integrity and warranties. S-5! solutions are engineered for a variety of applications: snow retention, fall protection and wind performance systems, satellite dishes, solar arrays, signs/banners, light fixtures, stack/flue bracing, walkways, air conditioning, lightning protection, equipment screens, conduit, condensate lines and more. Made in the U.S.A., S-5!’s products have revolutionized the metal roofing industry and are now installed on more than 2 million metal roofs worldwide, including 2 GW of PV, providing strength and longevity never before seen. For more information, visit www.S-5.com.