Solar panels are designed to endure extreme weather conditions, such as hail, high winds, searing heat, and extreme winter conditions.
Hailstorms are common in the Black Hills region, with hailstones sometimes exceeding 4 inches in diameter. High-quality solar panels are designed with 3.2mm tempered glass and are tested and certified specifically for resistance to hail. In fact, solar panels are considerably more durable than asphalt shingles.
It is rare for hailstones to damage solar panels. However, extreme cases can be severe enough to damage any property including solar panels. In such cases, the damage to the solar panels may be covered by homeowner's insurance (check with your insurer).
Our region also experiences winds with speeds of up to 80 mph and gusts of up to 100 mph. A properly engineered solar structure or roof attachment is designed to withstand more than the worst-case scenario.
Snow load is 20 to 50 pounds per square foot in our region. High-quality solar panels are certified to withstand a minimum of 50 lbs/ft2 and are tested to over 100 lbs/ft2.
The number of attachment points to the roof will depend on the type of mounting system and pitch of the roof. A properly designed system is based on the mounting system's manufacturer engineering tools and should be designed by a qualified solar installer to ensure durability.
