A Solid Foundation
One of the most important aspects of solar installation is the mounting and racking of the panels. After all, you want the solar panels to stay on the roof! The quality of your solar mounting system is paramount. Think of it similarly to the foundation for your house. The mounting must be strong enough to remain attached to the roof through blizzards and hurricanes and durable enough to last decades in the demanding conditions of Southeastern Massachusetts. That is why we use SnapNrack.
There are countless brands out there, many of which are great, but currently, Whaling City Solar is defaulting to mounting our solar modules with SnapNrack unless we see a technical reason otherwise. SnapNrack is a California-based company that produces high-quality racking and mounting systems that are proudly made in America and have a solar industry standard 25-year warranty – which aligns with your solar panels . Specifically, we use SnapNrack’s Ultra Rail or UR system. Here is a list of all the SnapNrack components that go into a 25-panel system, for example:
- 15 SnapNrack UR-45 Rails
- 10 SnapNrack UR-40 & UR45 Splices
- 10 SnapNrack UR-45 End Caps
- 10 SnapNrack Ultra Rail End Clamps
- 75 SnapNrack Umbrella L Feet
- 20 SnapNrack OmniLugs
The SnapNrack Ultra Rail System
The Ultra Rail system is a single rail design incorporating SnapNrack’s lightweight UR-45 rail. SnapNrack provides an assortment of versatile mounting options compatible with the UR-45, ensuring that it will mount factory-tight to any roofing style. Aesthetics are not sacrificed for build quality either; the rail is designed to incorporate the running of wires within it, and with its specialized end clamps and end caps, the mounting system is invisible beneath the array, resulting in a clean, low-profile presence on your roof.
The rail is made of 6000 series aluminum, and the accompanying hardware is stainless steel and aluminum flashings. The options for the finish are black anodization or mill finish on the rail, while the hardware can be coated clear or black. Wind loads are 110-190mph, and snow loads are 0-120psf. The SnapNrack system feels at home on any roof, working with a pitch range of 0-90 degrees.
As the chart below from the SnapNRack Master Engineering letter shows, the individual components can handle hundreds of pounds per square foot.
Quality & Certifications
SnapNrack is UL-certified and meets the State of California engineering standards. UL, or Underwriter Laboratories Certification, means that SnapNrack systems have been rigorously tested to meet high safety and reliability standards. This ensures your solar system performs optimally and is built to last—even in Massachusetts’ challenging weather conditions.
Hundreds of other installers also use SnapNrack alongside Whaling City Solar. Want to slash your utility bills by mounting solar panels to your roof using SnapNrack hardware? Contact Whaling City Solar today for a free system design, quote, and site visit.
