
Apricus Installation Manual
38
Collector Installation
Flush Mounting on
Pitched Roof
Installation Planning
Carefully plan the location of the collector
frame and plumbing pipes in order to align
with the roof framing members and develop
the shortest pipe run possible to the storage
tank. Any penetrations in the roof or
building shell must be water-tight and sealed
with standard roofing materials and/or
appropriate sealants to avoid leaks and
comply with local building regulations or
requirements.
Securing to Roof
The manifold and bottom support rail can
slide left and right in relation to the frame
side rails, so there is some flexibility when
selecting the location. The frame side rails
should be located so that they lay flat, are
parallel with one another and, if possible,
aligned with the roof rafters. If the frame
side rails cannot be aligned with the roof
rafters, a ‘noggin’ may need to be attached
between 2 rafters to provide an attachment
point. Ensure that any additions or
modifications to the roof structure meet
structural requirement and local building
regulations.
A Horizontal Brace is provided with the
standard frame kit. This gives a useful
indication of the typical spacing between
frame side rails. Additional holes may be
drilled in the horizontal brace to meet
different roofing rafter locations.
The Horizontal Brace component is NOT
structural and is simply to help with
alignment, so it can be removed if it is
incorrectly sized for the roof rafters or it is
not convenient.
Drain-Back System
If installing a drain-back system, the frame
must be rotated slightly to achieve a 2cm
drop per meter to ensure that the manifold
is sloped towards whichever header port will
be the collector outlet (hot), to promote
complete drainage.
Tiled and Slate Roof Installations
Roof Attachment Straps
Roof attachment straps are used for flush
mounting on tiled/slated roofs 2 per
standard side rail. One end of each strap
should be secured to the underside of the
Cool Tip
Ensure that the Assembled Frame is
square so that the tubes align with
the manifold header and the
bottom support track.