S-9 - Solar Collectors.

S-9.1   General.

Frames and braces exposed to the weather shall be constructed of materials for exterior locations, and protected from corrosion or deterioration, in accordance with the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.1.1   Construction.

Collectors shall be designed and constructed to prevent interior condensation, out-gassing, or other processes that will reduce the transmission properties of the glazing, reduce the efficiency of the insulation, or otherwise adversely affect the performance of the collector.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.1.2   Flat Plate Collector Glass.

Flat plate collector glass shall be tempered.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.1.3   Plastic.

Plastic used in collectors and other parts of the solar thermal system construction shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.1.4   Listing.

Collectors that are manufactured as a complete component shall be listed or labeled by an approved listing agency in accordance with SRCC 100, UL 1279, or equivalent standard.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.1.5   Air Collectors.

Materials exposed within air collectors shall be noncombustible or shall have a flame spread index not to exceed 25 and a smoke developed index not to exceed 50 where tested as a composite product in accordance with ASTM E 84 or UL 723.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.1.5.1   Testing.

Materials used within an air collector shall not smoke, smolder, glow, or flame where tested in accordance with ASTM C 411 at temperatures exposed to in service. In no case shall the test temperature be less than 250°F (121°C).

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2   Solar Collector Installation.

S-9.2.1   General.

Solar collectors shall be anchored to roof structures or other surfaces in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and the Title 26 - Building Code of the Los Angeles County Code. Collectors shall be mounted to minimize the accumulation of debris. Connecting pipes shall not be used to provide support for a solar collector.

(Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.2   Roof Installations.

Anchors secured to and through a roofing material shall be made to maintain the water integrity of the roof covering. Roof drainage shall not be impaired by the installation of collectors. Solar collectors that are not an integral part of the roofing system shall be installed to preserve the integrity of the roof surface.

(Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.3   Above Or On The Roof.

Collectors located above or on roofs, and functioning as building components, shall not reduce the required fire-resistance and fire-retardance classification of the roof covering materials.

Exceptions:

(1)

Collectors located on one- and two-family dwellings.

(2)

Collectors located on buildings not exceeding three stories in height or 9000 square feet (836.13 m ) total floor area, or both, provided:

(a)

The collectors are noncombustible;

(b)

Collectors with plastic covers have noncombustible sides and bottoms, and the total area covered and the collector shall not exceed the following:

i.

Plastic CC1 - 33 1?3 percent of the roof area,

ii.

Plastic CC2 - 25 percent of the roof area; and

(c)

Collectors with plastic film covers having a thickness of not more than 0.010 of an inch (0.25 mm) shall have noncombustible sides and bottoms, and the total area covered by the collector shall not exceed 33 1/3 percent of the roof area.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016.)

S-9.2.4   Ground Installations.

Solar collectors shall terminate above finished grade to avoid obstruction by vegetation, snow, or ice. The supporting columns shall extend below the frost line.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.5   Wall Mounted.

Solar collectors mounted on a wall shall be secured and fastened in accordance with Section 313.0 of this Code.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016.)

S-9.2.6   Access.

Access shall be provided to collectors and components in an approved manner. A work space adjacent to collectors for maintenance and repair shall be provided in accordance with requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.7   Stagnation Condition.

The collector and other parts of the solar thermal assembly shall be capable of withstanding stagnant conditions in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions where high solar flux and no flow occur.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.8   Waterproofing.

Joints between structural supports and buildings or dwellings, including penetrations made by bolts or other means of fastening, shall be made watertight with approved material.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.9   Fasteners.

Mountings and fasteners shall be made of corrosion-resistant materials. Carbon steel mountings and fasteners shall be classified as noncorrosive in accordance with ASME SA194.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.10   Combustible Materials.

Solar thermal systems constructed with combustible materials shall not be located on or adjacent to construction required to be of noncombustible materials or in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone as defined in Title 32 - Fire Code - of the Los Angeles County Code, unless approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.2.11   Orientation.

Collectors shall be located and oriented in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.

(Ord. 2016-0055 § 20, 2016: Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)

S-9.3   Fire Safety Requirements.

S-9.3.1   Building Components.

Collectors that function as building components shall be in compliance with Title 26 - Building Code of the Los Angeles County Code.

(Ord. 2013-0050 § 22, 2013.)