Solex Roofing Installation Manual 21
Solex Energy Ltd +44(0)1305 837223 www.solexenergy.co.uk
The spacing battens are stopped at the inside edge of the
EPDM covered channel, and continued on the far side either
horizontally or vertically (or thicker counterbattens used).
8. Absorber strips, supply
– these are supplied on 25m rolls.
For longer lengths joiner kits are supplied, consisting of short
pipe segments and O clips.
To find the length of absorber strip required, the length of the
course where the absorber will lay is measured, and the
loop
factor is added for every end of course The roof calculator
spreadsheet will output the length of absorber required.
Alternatively, it may be necessary to work it out manually – the
length of the course where the absorber will lay is measured,
and the
loop
factor is added for every end of course – Nu-lok
standard 310 gauge loop=200mm / Nu-lok narrow 210 gauge
loop=130mm. The usual measuring points are the outer
edges of the EPDM covered channels detailed above.
Where the roof is sufficiently large, it is necessary to divide it
into parallel absorber circuits, which should be as close to
equal lengths as possible. For example a roof of 15 courses
may be divided into three courses of 5, or a roof of 12 courses
may be divided into circuits of 6, 4, 3 or exceptionally 2
courses depending on the overall length of the roof and
therefore the length of absorber strip in each circuit.
The Roof Calculator will give some guidance, although
generally we recommend that each circuit does not exceed
40m in length, which equates to around 12.5m
2
of Nu-lok
standard roofing or 8.5m
2
of Nu-lok narrow gauge roofing.
There is no minimum length of circuits, although having many
smaller circuits will result in more manifolds and connections.
9. Absorber strips, installation
– when installing the rubber
absorber, it is advisable to start at the top of the roof, so that
there is less foot traffic on the installed rubber.
Starting at the end where the top manifold is required, the
absorber is unrolled along the spacing batten with the flange
at the top. The flange is positioned over the bottom edge of
the batten, and staple gunned to it at 300mm intervals.
Standard staples may be used, as the absorber will be held in
place later by the galvanised batten. Care must be taken that
the staples do not damage the top tube.
At the end of the course, in the channel where the EPDM has
been positioned, the absorber is folded back on itself, still
keeping the flange at the top. The individual tubes are then
split away from each other so that each tube follows a natural
curve down to the second course.
