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9
Installation Manual 801.1
SunFrame™ Code-Compliant Planning and Assembly
Footing and splicing requirements
The following criteria must be met to ensure code compli-
ance of SunFrame installations.
Some of these criteria involve short sections of rail. In practice,
these can usually be avoided (while maintaining code compli-
ance) by effective planning. See “Material planning for rails
and cap strips” (p. 11) for one example.
1. The installer is solely responsible for ensuring
that the roof and its rafters can support the array and
expected loads associated with the array.
2. Foot spacing along the rail (A in illustration be-
low) is to be no more than 48 inches. (See also “Plan-
ning code-compliant SunFrame intstallations,” pp. 5–7,
especially step 4, concerning maximum foot spacing.)
3. Overhang (B) must be no more than half the
length of the maximum footer spacing (A). For ex-
ample, if Span A is 32 inches, Overhang B should not
exceed 16 inches.
4. In a spliced length of rail, all end sections must be
supported by no less than two L-feet.
5. In a spliced length of rail, all interior rail sections
must be supported by no less than 1 L-foot.
6. Interior rail sections supported by only 1 L-foot
must be adjacent, on at least one side, to a rail section
supported by no less than two L-feet.
7. Rail sections longer than half the footer spacing
require no fewer than two L-feet.
8. Long rails require slip joints (for thermal expan-
sion) every 32 feet.
Before installing rails longer than
32 feet, contact UniRac.
9. Total design loads per footer (live load plus dead
load) shall not exceed 1,000 pounds.
B
A
End rail sections
Interior rail sections
Splice
L-foot
KEY
Position the L-feet with respect
to the lower edge of the roof as
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
Drill a 3/16-inch pilot hole
through roof into the center of
rafter at each L-foot lag screw
hole location. Squirt weather-
proof sealant into the hole and
onto shafts of the lag screws.
Seal the underside of the L-feet
with a suitable weatherproof
sealant.
Figure 6. L-Foot orientation.
Roof peak
Figure 7. L-foot separation.
See the note on module length in the
caption of Figure 4 (p. 8).
Fasten the L-feet to the roof with the lag screws.
If the double
slotted sides of the L-feet are against the roof, lag through
the slot nearest the bend in the L-foot (Figs. 5 and 6).
Cut the rails to your array width, being sure to keep rail slots
free of roofi ng grit or other debris. If your installation requires
splices, assemble them prior to attaching L-feet (see “Splicing
requirements,” below, and “Material planning for rails and cap
strips,” p. 11).
If more than one splice is used on a rail, slide L-
foot bolt(s) into the footing slot(s) of the interior rail segment(s)
before splicing.
Slide the 3/8-inch mounting bolts into the footing slots.
Loosely attach the rails to the L-feet with the fl ange nuts.
Ensure that rails are oriented with respect to the L-feet as
shown in Figure 6. Align the ends of the rail to the edge of the
installation area. Ensure that the rail is straight and parallel to
the edge of the roof. Securely tighten the lag screws.
3. Laying out and installing the next row of L-feet
Position the second row of L-feet in accordance with Figure 7.
Ensure that you measure between the lower bolt hole centers
of each row of L feet. Install the second row of L-feet in the
same manner and orientation as the fi rst row, but leave the lag
screws a half turn loose. Be aware of the set-up time of your
sealant; the L-feet will not be fully tightened until Step. 4.
Module 3/4
˝
(hole to hole)
