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Training Video for Inspection of Solar Water Heating Systems
Introduction
Welcome to a tutorial on how the International Codes apply to solar domestic water heating systems. This tutorial is produced by the Florida Solar Energy Center in cooperation with the Solar Rating Certification Corporation.
Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy through Sandia National Labs, and by SRCC. Also, thanks to Ron Richmond of the Hawaiian Electric Company for providing the HECO (HEE-KO) Solar Standards and Specifications as reference material.
The SRCC maintains a certification program for solar equipment, providing code authorities with an independent review of product design and installation procedures. FSEC operates a testing lab accredited by SRCC for testing solar equipment. FSEC also maintains a certification program for the State of Florida.
In the next several segments, we will walk through site inspection, whether rough-in or final, of solar water heating systems and point out issues to watch out for, with relevant citations from the Code. For purposes of this tutorial, the term ‘Code’ will refer to the relevant ICC Code document. Chapter 14 of the IMC governs the design, construction, installation, alteration and repair of systems, equipment, and appliances intended to utilize solar energy for space heating or cooling, domestic hot water heating, swimming pool heating or process heating. Other portions of Code will be referenced as appropriate.
A solar hot water system could be considered as any configuration of equipment and components to collect, convey, store and convert the sun’s energy for a purpose. It is basically site-assembled plumbing, so parts of the plumbing and mechanical Code apply. Some equipment is located on the roof and penetrates the roof membrane. Some equipment is in the occupied or conditioned space. Relevant portions of the code apply.
The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation certifies solar DHW systems. Most, if not all, of the issues addressed in the Code have been addressed at the design stage during the SRCC certification process.
It is important to verify that an SRCC certified system has been installed according to the design approved by SRCC. For purposes of this tutorial, the term “Certified System” will refer to a solar DHW system that has been SRCC certified. It is important to verify that the installation conforms with the manufacturer’s installation instructions which have been approved by the certifying body, as well as IMC Chapter 14. Certified systems will have an owner’s manual available at the site that provides information. Stamped drawings are generally not required.
Most solar systems require a rough-in inspection to check the pipe runs and chases, as well as a final inspection to check the collector mountings, roof penetrations, and plumbing work in the utility room. Few solar systems will require an underground inspection unless the solar collector array is located off of the building and not on the roof.” <107.1>
This tutorial is organized in segments of a few minutes each. Segment Two is an overview of SDHW, or solar domestic hot water, systems you are likely to see in the field. In Segment Three, we will look at solar heating equipment outside the residence, usually found on the roof. Finally, in Segment Four we will look at equipment inside the residence, usually found in the utility room, laundry room, garage, or basement.
This tutorial covers glazed liquid-based collectors commonly used to heat domestic hot water. It does not explicitly cover solar heaters of swimming pools, which commonly use unglazed polymer collectors to heat swimming pools to a few degrees warmer than the ambient air. This tutorial also does not explicitly cover air-based solar collectors, which commonly use air as a working fluid to meet space heating loads. Although these technologies are not explicitly covered here, many aspects of the Code that apply to glazed liquid-based collectors also apply to unglazed and to air-based collectors.
Thank you for your interest in how the ICC Code applies to solar water heating. Please view the next segment for some background information on how solar water heaters work.