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All CollectionsOperationsKnow Before Installing: Eligible Sites
Eligible Sites
Eligible Sites
Andrew - LR Product Ops avatar
Written by Andrew - LR Product Ops
Updated over 3 weeks ago

A) Eligibility Overview

LightReach reviews eligible residential homes through the lens of three key construction parameters. Certified Installers are responsible for working within these eligibility parameters.

  1. Roofing - Type & Quality/Lifespan

  2. Home type - Home type/style & mounting structure

  3. Structural

It is the responsibility of the Certified Installer to ensure all site eligibility requirements are met prior to installing.

B) Eligible Roof Types

Below are eligible roof types. If a type is not present on this list, it is not eligible for LightReach Energy Plans. Disqualified roof types, such as wood shake, tin metal, clay, etc are not eligible due to the long term maintenance and leakage risk to the customer.

Style

Approved Material

Pitched Roof

  • Asphalt shingle

  • Corrugated metal

  • Standing seam metal

  • Concrete / Cement Tile

  • Comp-out/composition insert of a clay tile (re-roofing with comp shingles)

    • "Comp-out" refers to the technique of removing the tiles, laying down shingles underneath, installing the solar on the roof, then placing the tile back on the roof around the array. This is due to the clay tile on a roof being too fragile, so LightReach asks that comp ins are performed to use the surfaces

Click for visual samples

Flat Roof

  • EPDM

  • modified bitumen (aka bitmod)

  • Rolled asphalt / comp

Ground Mount

  • Stationary or tracking (Site must still follow all other eligibility requirements)

Eligible Roof Quality

Regardless of roof type, each roof must be in viable shape for solar install. It is the responsibility of the Certified Installer to ensure diligence on roof quality.

Golden Guideline: Roof should have at minimum ten (10) years remaining lifespan, and pass the below quality checks.

When reviewing M1s, LightReach will err on the side of flexibility when reasonably possible. Certified Installers should err on the side of caution when dealing with questionable roofs.

Quality Item

Details

No Obvious Damage or Wear & Tear

  • Material is clear of algae and moss, metal is not rusted or deteriorated, tiles aren't broken or excessively damaged.

  • Roof is clear of obvious signs of heavy age or wear and tear

  • Incorrectly installed roofing/roof type

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No Missing Coverage

  • Composite shingles are not heavily worn with major granule loss, missing tabs, or hip and ridge coverings, and exposed fiberglass.

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Uncompromised Decking

  • Decking material should not be compromised, missing, or otherwise damaged. There should be no signs of current water penetration or pooling.

  • Flat roof material does not show heavy water retention or pooling, aged patches or obstruction flashing, and surface is not wavy or showing signs of bubbling.

  • Underlayment paper for tile roofs should not be brittle, torn, or missing.

  • Roofing material should be installed directly to decking, and not installed over another roof type. Shingles should be no more than 2 layers.

Click for visual sample

C) Eligible Home Types/Mounting Structures

Below are eligible mounting structures (or, eligible home types). If a structure is not present on this list, it is not eligible for LightReach Energy Plans. Disqualified mounting structures, such as carports, condos, or other irregular/custom structures, such as reverse tilt arrays, are not eligible due to the long term maintenance and safety risk to the customer. All structures must be residential.

Approved Type

Details

Residential, Single Family Homes

  • IE traditional detached houses

Detached Garage / Guest Suite

  • Generally approved, assuming full code compliance, structural stability, etc

Multi-Family Homes / Duplexes and Triplexes
​

  • The customer must own the entire property.

Mounting Structure

Requirement

Azimuth Angle

  • Requirement:

    • The azimuth angle of arrays should be within ±5 degrees of the specified orientation on the plan set & proposal design.

  • Why:

    • To ensure production & plan set accuracy with respect to installation on the project site.

Tilt Angle (Pitched Roof)

  • Requirement:

    • Minimum of 5 degrees (absolute)

    • Maximum up to 45 degrees, with a flexibility margin of ±5 degrees

  • Why:

    • To attain optimal drainage and prevention of water pooling/snow accumulation on the arrays that would negatively impact production.

    • To maximize energy harvest & compensate for variations in initial design precision.

Tilt (Flat Roof)

  • Requirement:

    • Minimum of 5 degrees (absolute).

  • Why:

    • To attain optimal drainage and prevention of water pooling/snow accumulation on the arrays that would negatively impact production.

Ground Mount

  • Requirement:

    • Minimum of 5 degrees (absolute).

    • Maximum up-to 45 degrees, with a flexibility margin of ±5 degrees

  • Why:

    • To attain optimal drainage and prevention of water pooling/snow accumulation on the arrays that would negatively impact production.

    • To maximize energy harvest & compensate for variations in initial design precision.

D) Structural Material:

  • Roof framing should be adequate material to support solar load and uplift in regional zones

  • No structural damage: Rafters, trusses, or beams should not be severely cracked or damaged

  • No ridge sagging

  • No pest/element damage: Framing material should not show insect, thermal, or water damage

Click for visual samples

(Maximum 3 projects per customer)

Any time a customer has more than one solar system, they will fall into one of the following categories:

Add-on - Not acceptable and will not be funded regardless of circumstance. Additional panels tied into the same inverter/pre-existing system.

Separate Systems - Always acceptable, up to 3 per customer. Simply a new system, on separate utility account, with no connection to other system(s) owned by the applicant. For example, we permit customers who may have multiple properties and want solar on each, up to 3 systems per customer.

Second System - Only acceptable under certain circumstances*. New system, separate from any pre-existing solar on site, but on the same utility account.

*Second Systems are acceptable in some cases, however, installers should proceed with extreme caution to ensure the following criteria are met:

  • Located outside of California

  • Approved by Utility

  • Does not interfere or impact pre-existing system NEM or value proposition for the customer in any way

  • Any code violations or installation irregularities associated with the 1st system are fully addressed by the Certified Installer, at the installer's own risk

  • Certified Installers are responsible for confirming utility policies for second systems. Our policy is generally geared toward enabling customers to go solar for homes with multiple distinct meters/utility accounts (IE guest houses, ADUs, detached garages, etc). Certified Installers should proceed with extreme caution outside of these more common scenarios.

A

Golf course homes

  • Golf course homes are acceptable, but, damage caused by golf balls does not qualify for (no cost) panel replacement or production guarantee.

  • This means that if a panel is damaged by a golf ball, LightReach can fix the damage/replace the panel at cost. Any lost production is not covered by the production guarantee.

C

Active Utilities

Link to "Active Utilities" to cross reference open utilities.

D

Ground Mounts

Ground mounts installations are acceptable however, must meet all other site eligibility requirements.

  • Customer must own the whole property

  • Home cannot be manufactued/mobile

  • Must use AVL listed manufacturer's racking solution.

  • etc

Stamped engineering letter is required. Should include wind/snow structural load calculations, embedment depths and/or footing dimensions and match installed racking structure.

E

Manufactured Homes? Mobile Homes?

Manufactured homes, mobile homes, double wides or other non-traditional standalone single family houses are not permitted and will not be funded, regardless of PV installation type.

Characteristics of manufactured/mobile homes include but are not limited to:

  • Single & double wides

  • Have HUD plates

  • Has a metal and/or non-permanent support structure/foundation.

Stamped engineering letter is required. Should include wind/snow structural load calculations.

F

Townhomes?

Townhomes are not permitted and will not be funded, regardless of townhome site specifics.

G

Pergolas? Carports? Custom structures? Condos?

Disqualified mounting structures, such as carports, condos, or other irregular/custom structures (includes add on porches that are not part of the original structure), are not eligible due to the long term maintenance and safety risk to the customer.

H

Commercial?

Agricultural? Businesses?

LightReach approves only residential structures. It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure site eligibility.

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