Page 110 - 2018_IRC

BUILDING PLANNING

away during design flood conditions without caus- R324.2 Solar thermal systems. Solar thermal systems shall
ing damage to the building or structure, including be designed and installed in accordance with Chapter 23 and
foundation. the International Fire Code.
3. Be retractable, or able to be raised to or above the R324.3 Photovoltaic systems. Photovoltaic systems shall be
lowest floor elevation, provided that the ability to be designed and installed in accordance with Sections R324.3.1
retracted or raised prior to the onset of flooding is through R324.7.1, NFPA 70 and the manufacturer’s installa-
not contrary to the means of egress requirements of tion instructions.
the code. R324.3.1 Equipment listings. Photovoltaic panels and
4. Be designed and constructed to resist flood loads modules shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL
and minimize transfer of flood loads to the building 1703. Inverters shall be listed and labeled in accordance
or structure, including foundation. with UL 1741. Systems connected to the utility grid shall
use inverters listed for utility interaction.
Areas below stairways and ramps shall not be enclosed
with walls below the design flood elevation unless such R324.4 Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic systems. Rooftop-
walls are constructed in accordance with Section mounted photovoltaic panel systems installed on or above the
R322.3.5. roof covering shall be designed and installed in accordance
with this section.
R322.3.8 Decks and porches. Attached decks and
porches shall meet the elevation requirements of Section R324.4.1 Structural requirements. Rooftop-mounted
R322.3.2 and shall either meet the foundation require- photovoltaic panel systems shall be designed to structur-
ments of this section or shall be cantilevered from or knee ally support the system and withstand applicable gravity
braced to the building or structure. Self-supporting decks loads in accordance with Chapter 3. The roof on which
and porches that are below the elevation required in Sec- these systems are installed shall be designed and con-
tion R322.3.2 shall not be enclosed by solid, rigid walls, structed to support the loads imposed by such systems in
including walls designed to break away. Self-supporting accordance with Chapter 8.
decks and porches shall be designed and constructed to R324.4.1.1 Roof load. Portions of roof structures not
remain in place during base flood conditions or shall be covered with photovoltaic panel systems shall be
frangible and break away under base flood conditions. designed for dead loads and roof loads in accordance
with Sections R301.4 and R301.6. Portions of roof
R322.3.9 Construction documents. The construction
documents shall include documentation that is prepared structures covered with photovoltaic panel systems
shall be designed for the following load cases:
and sealed by a registered design professional that the
design and methods of construction to be used meet the 1. Dead load (including photovoltaic panel weight)
applicable criteria of this section. plus snow load in accordance with Table
R301.2(1).
R322.3.10 Tanks. Underground tanks shall be anchored
to prevent flotation, collapse and lateral movement under 2. Dead load (excluding photovoltaic panel weight)
conditions of the base flood. Above-ground tanks shall be plus roof live load or snow load, whichever is
installed at or above the elevation required in Section greater, in accordance with Section R301.6.
R322.3.2. Where elevated on platforms, the platforms R324.4.1.2 Wind load. Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic
shall be cantilevered from or knee braced to the building panel or module systems and their supports shall be
or shall be supported on foundations that conform to the designed and installed to resist the component and clad-
requirements of Section R322.3. ding loads specified in Table R301.2(2), adjusted for
height and exposure in accordance with Table
R301.2(3).
SECTION R323
STORM SHELTERS R324.4.2 Fire classification. Rooftop-mounted photovol-
taic panel systems shall have the same fire classification as
R323.1 General. This section applies to storm shelters where the roof assembly required in Section R902.
constructed as separate detached buildings or where con- R324.4.3 Roof penetrations. Roof penetrations shall be
structed as safe rooms within buildings for the purpose of flashed and sealed in accordance with Chapter 9.
providing refuge from storms that produce high winds, such
as tornados and hurricanes. In addition to other applicable R324.5 Building-integrated photovoltaic systems. Build-
requirements in this code, storm shelters shall be constructed ing-integrated photovoltaic systems that serve as roof cover-
in accordance with ICC/NSSA-500. ings shall be designed and installed in accordance with
Section R905.
R324.5.1 Photovoltaic shingles. Photovoltaic shingles
SECTION 324 shall comply with Section R905.16.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
R324.5.2 Fire classification. Building-integrated photo-
R324.1 General. Solar energy systems shall comply with the voltaic systems shall have a fire classification in accor-
provisions of this section. dance with Section R902.3.

2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE ® 85
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