A 25-year exposure problem
Solar panels are typically warranted for around 25 years, so the mounting structure needs to last at least that long in permanent outdoor exposure — this is precisely the scenario our climate guide covers, at a longer time horizon than most architectural work.
Why fastener choice matters especially here
Solar mounting involves many bolted connections, often mixing materials between panel frames (usually aluminium) and the mounting structure — a textbook galvanic corrosion risk if fasteners aren't correctly specified.
Wind load is the structural driver
Panels act as large flat surfaces catching wind — the structure and its roof anchoring need to be engineered for local wind loads, not just sized to hold static weight. This should come from an engineer's calculation, not a rule of thumb.
What we contribute
We fabricate mounting frames and structural steelwork to an engineer's or solar installer's specification. The panels, inverters and electrical work come from solar specialists — we're the steel side of the project, and we'd rather say that plainly than claim end-to-end solar capability we don't have.