DATES

April 2024 to December 2024

PARTNERS

General contractor and installer: Gercolec
Mechanical engineering: Opsun Systems
Structural engineering: TR3E Experts-conseils

DESCRIPTION

Creating a canopy from solar panels over the employee terrace at the front of the building

A successful first phase

In parallel with our other projects with this customer, we were asked to find a way to create shade in the external employee section of the building, with the aim of improving their comfort while generating energy.

We introduced them to one of our qualified general contractor installation partners, Gercolec, whom we supported throughout the project to ensure that key structural challenges were overcome and building code standards met.

The main challenge was to ensure the solidity of the installation (steel structure, aluminum supports, solar panels) during the winter months, when the weight of the snow can represent a danger.  Indeed, calculations by our mechanical engineering partner, Opsun, showed that, as the installation rested on a wall with a very high clearance above the panels, snow accumulation could exceed the 5.4 kPa load limit specified by the manufacturer.

The double solution implemented

After reviewing several options, we decided to modify the plans and raise the structure by two feet, while accentuating the angle of the panels from 15 to 30 degrees. These modifications reduced potential loads to the limit specified by the panel manufacturer.

At Rematek Energy, we pay attention to projects of all sizes, and no detail is left to chance.

Our customer La Vie en Rose is very satisfied with our engineering services. It’s in a climate of trust that we continue to work with them on other projects leading to a cleaner future.