Differences of South Layout and East-West Layout in Flat Roof Mounting Systems

In the installation systems used on flat roofs, there are significant differences between south oriented installations and east-west oriented installations. In these systems, the panels are usually placed with a slope between 8-13 degrees and fixed with ballast weights without drilling.

Features of South Oriented Layouts:

In south oriented layouts, the front part of the system is exposed to wind loads at an angle of 8-13 degrees, while a steeper angle of 60-65 degrees is formed at the rear where the windbreak is located. This causes the system to be under high loads against both shear and buoyancy forces. The ballast weights required to balance these loads and securely anchor the system are higher than in the East-West layout.

Advantages of East-West Oriented Layouts:

In east-west oriented layouts, wind loads are effective at 8-13 degree angles on both sides due to the positioning of the panels. This reduces the total wind load that the system is exposed to and therefore reduces the amount of weight required for stabilization compared to the south orientation.

Conclusion and Recommendations:

For large industrial buildings, east-west orientation should be preferred to minimize the total loads acting on the roof. On the other hand, for domestic or smaller scale rooftops, south oriented layouts would be more appropriate to maximize the energy generation capacity.

These differences guide the right choices in the design of roof systems, both increasing structural safety and optimizing costs.