| Photovoltaic (PV) arrays are increasingly common on rooftops of buildings with flat or low-slope roofs. While prescriptive building code provisions specify that nonstructural components be “positively fastened” to the structure, the solar industry is in need of a method for demonstrating the adequacy of unattached or “ballast-only” arrays to resist seismic shaking on nearly flat roofs. This web seminar will discuss guidelines, developed by the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) Photovoltaic Systems Committee in 2012 to address seismic design of such arrays and will summarize the guidelines, commonly referred to as SEAOC PV1, including key technical aspects that have been highlighted as the guidelines are coming into more widespread use. The first part of the web seminar will be presented by Karl Telleen, who will provide an overview of the guidelines developed by SEAOC. The guidelines include a prescriptive design approach, as well as the option for alternative approaches using analysis or testing. The second part of the seminar will be presented by Andreas Schellenberg, who will discuss the results of nonlinear response history analyses and shake table testing of solar arrays. |