Fence Mounted and Portable Solar Racking, Explained
Not every solar mounting question has a large rooftop or ground mount answer. Some come…
When people search for building integrated solar structures, they are usually not asking about small residential setups. They are planning solar for a warehouse, a factory shed, a large office block, or another sizeable commercial building, where the roof area is big enough that the mounting structure decision has a real effect on cost and long term performance. This is the scale SMS Solutions works at most often, and it is worth walking through what actually matters.
What “Building Integrated” Really Means at This Scale
On a large building, the mounting structure is not an afterthought bolted on top of the roof. It needs to work with the building’s own structural capacity, its roof type, and its drainage. Industrial solar panel mounting on a factory shed with a metal sheet roof needs a different bracket system to a flat concrete roof on an office block. Getting this wrong early on leads to costly rework later, so the structure has to be planned alongside the building, not after it.
Module Mounting Structures for Solar on Big Roofs
For pitched metal roofs, we use standing seam, trapezoidal or kliplok brackets depending on the sheet profile, which avoids puncturing the roof in most cases. For flat concrete roofs, ballasted racking or an east-west tilt system usually makes more sense, since it spreads the load evenly without heavy penetrations. Whichever route fits, the module mounting structure has to be sized for the specific wind zone the building sits in, checked against IS 875 Part 3.
What to Check Before You Commit to a Structure
- Roof type and sheet profile, or slab condition for concrete roofs
- Existing structural load capacity of the building
- Wind zone and local weather exposure
- Drainage and water flow once panels and racking are in place
- Access for installation and future maintenance
SMS Solutions has supplied mounting structures for 350+ MW of industrial and commercial solar capacity, working with EPCs and developers on exactly these kinds of large building projects. If you are planning a large scale installation, our team can walk through the roof type and structural details with you before any structure is finalised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does building integrated solar work on industrial sheds as well as offices?
Yes. Large building solar mounting applies to both, though the bracket system and structural approach differ. Industrial sheds with metal roofing typically use profile specific brackets, while office buildings with concrete roofs often use ballasted or tilt frame systems.
Do module mounting structures need to be different for large roofs compared to small ones?
The core engineering principles are the same, but larger roofs mean more attention to load distribution, wind uplift across a bigger surface, and access routes for installation and maintenance across the full area.
What is the biggest mistake companies make with large building solar mounting?
Choosing the mounting structure after the solar design is finalised, rather than alongside it. Roof type, structural capacity and wind exposure should all be checked early, since they directly affect which structure will actually work.
