This is the second or third iteration of this letter. Does Mike Holt actually agree with this?

Building departments, ours included, are usually anxious to embrace newer technologies. The problem here seems to be one of "I'm the contractor, I do this all the time, therefore I'm always right." The syllogism is wrong.

Building departments, by and large, are responsible for safety and code compliance. I agree that electrical inspectors need to be more informed and educated, not just on solar, but on most every aspect of the trade.

The problem, IMHO, is that there are too many contractors who believe their license automatically makes them code experts and too inspectors that have allowed their authority to go to their heads. There needs to be more education on both sides of the aisle as far as solar.

I understand the importance to this contractor and his livelihood; I also understand that that is rarely an incentive to give carte blanche approval.

Solar is not the future and is not in demand to the extent cited here. At this time the only advantage to solar is to the people hawking it. The hyperbole is used to create a scenario of complete professionalism on the one hand and total incompetence on the other. Both sides are wrong, but I don't see why this letter keeps reappearing? Politics?

Sorry you guys are having to put up with so much bs beaurocratic red tape. The good news is, with the current down-turn, many of the bad inspectors have been laid off or fired. The bad news is, with the current down-turn, some of the bad inspectors are still in place. Bulding departments should listen to contractors' complaints that would help everyone do a better job, including offering some education. I have been an inspector for over 20 years and my first inspector instructor told us to "never pass up the opportunity to shut up." In other words, if you aren't familiar with an installation, ask questions. Our local chapter of ICC invites experts from various fields to give a presentation at our monthly meetings and I have learned a lot from those. Ask if you can offer a presentation at a local Code Council meeting to help streamline the process.

I had a family that wanted to do a small room addition to their house and the city wanted an engineered soils report even though the existing house has been there for over 100 years with no problems. The new footings I planned to do were better than what was existing, but the city made me spend $3500 for someone else to tell me that the ground and footings were ok. I understand that on ocassion there can be soils problems, but why punish everyone for the few problems that arise. Thats the thing with building departments, and they do this kind of stuff all the time without any care about the consequences to others. They do this without having to answer to any higher authority, and we just have to take it or leave it. Thats why its such a blessing when you get someone at a building department that shows a real concern for safety and not just strutting their authority. They are out there, but there are a lot of the other types too.

It amazes me how quick most of you all are to point fingers at ALL Building Departments, Inspectors and Plans Examiners. I work in a large City in Florida and for a residential PV system under 10 Kw you can pull the permit on-line, no plan review, pay your $116.00 permit fee and you may start your job that day. The main problems are that Florida issues a CVC license to anyone who can pass a simple test and now magically they become a PV expert, an EC (tested or ER grandfathered into an EC) can do a complete PV system including roof attachments without any experience in the PV field. I inspected my first PV system about 5 years ago and at that time the Installer knew more about how the PV system worked and the NEC requirements associated with PV installations then I did. I made a vow to myself that this situation would not happen again. In the last 5 years I have attended numerous PV seminars by Dr. Roger Messenger, and Mark Ode (UL instructor), read every article published concerning PV systems in the IAEI magazine, emailed John Wiles, David Click (FSEC), John Minick (NEMA) and Mark Ode when I had questions. I am on the Solar ABC's Advisory Committee. I have created ECLB and BCAIB approved CE classes, and have taught these classes to a few hundred Contractors, Inspectors, Plans Examiners and Building Officals through-out the State of Florida, I have Mike Holts book on PV systems and have accually opened it and read it, I will say it is written in a way that everyone should be able to completely understand PV installations, I would recommend it to both Inspectors and installers. Another problem is that many Engineers and Installers do not understand the NEC and FBC requirements for these specialized systems. If an engineers can not draw a code compliant system and your installers can not follow manufactures instructions concerning the specific system they are installing, how can you expect plans examiners and inspectors to properly do their jobs. I would suggest that once you start your PV installation to call for an in progress inspection. The inspector can check roof attachments, the mounting system, grounding systems, and listings on the panels while a ladder is on the job and before the panels are attached. You or your installer would be on site to answer questions, proivide installation information, and maybe take a little time to explain how the system works (if the Inspector is unfamiliar with PV systems). Respectively point out any code issues that the Inspector may have overlooked or is not aware of so he will become better educated the more systems he inspects. I'm sure someone had to educate you on how to perform proper installations when you did your first few installations. Following these suggestions will prevent you a return trip to provide access to the roof, and maybe an educated Inspector will catch an incorrect installation before a mistake is made, again costing the contractor a return trip and possibly saving you money (wow that is a novel idea). Engineers and Installers need to offer help to the smaller Building Departments with Education for the staff that you will be working with more and more in the future. Solar is here to stay and many systems are being installed nation wide daily. Mr. Vogler, I would also suggest that instead of complaining on a Public Forum. asking for names, phone numbers, and belittling Inspection Departments, Plans Examiners and Inspectors become part of the solution. Building Departments have had to cut staff to a bear mimium due to lack of permits being issued, and most of the time it is the senior staff with the most experience and who make the most money that are the ones let go. The Combination Inspector can be a problem in some cases, but even our City is now requiring us to become 1 & 2 Family Inspectors just to maintain our jobs. As far as the comment on one post about the Inspectors not caring about the inspections due to no liabilty for their actions, I would suggest you read Florida State Statute 468.621. I see that the "Good Ole Boy Network" is still alive and well in Doral. By your bragging about getting a man fired just because he didnt issue a permit on your time schedule shows the mentality of some contractors that the Inspection Departments have to deal with on a daily basis. Everyone in the Building Department is trying to keep their families fed just like you are. With pressures from the Mayor, County and City Commissioners, the Public, Engineers and Contractors, I would hesitate to approve anything I did not completely understand either.

San Diego County is the best place I've ever been to get a permit for solar. They have a plan checker that knows his stuff and he cranks them out in no-time. He's helped with mistakes I've made on the plans and understands the codes and reasoning behind them. That's not something you find everyday. Most of the cities do not have anyone that really understands electrical or solar. For a roof top array I've gotten a permit in less than 1/2 hour after walking in the door. Ground systems take a little longer due to setbacks and septic tank concerns. The best part - no fees... Zero... as in a free permit.

There's more than one thing that can lead to an unpleasant experence at the building department. True, that if you get an unpleasant, unhelpful, or unqualified inspector or plan checker that it can lead to a bad experience. But its also the permitting process that can be the reason. For a person not familiar with the process and it can be a nightmare. In this day and age with so many regulations it really takes someone who knows what they are doing to get through the permit process for a lot of things. There are people that do this for a living called permit runners, that know the ropes and can do it with a lot less effort. Its just the way it is. You can work on your own car and it would be frustrating if you don't know what you are doing, or you can pay a mechanic to do it. Its the same thing. While some regulations are a bit much, most have a pretty good reasoning behind them thats not always apparent. I don't want a neighbor putting a wind-turbine right next to my window, and I'm glad there's regulations against it.

Here in Phoenix it is quite sweet. Grid tied systems are easy to get a permit for; a few hours of waiting at most, and $150 later you have a permit. Pool pump took longer since it was the first they had seen, and $0 later I had the permit (solar is promoted here in Arizona).

Mesa requires no permits for solar, this I think is a bit relaxed, and possibly will lead to issues later.

The interesting part here is that the inspectors are not liable for what they inspect (if wrong), so what are we paying for?

A few suggestions as to how to remove some of the barriers to solar investments (especially consumer owned installations). Streamline -make user friendly, the permitting process, standardizing permitting requirements among jurisdictions and, in some instances, lowering or waiving permit fees. Fast track these permits. Many states have already super streamlined their systems, follow and continue to improve on, the success of the process.

Ensure a well educated and trained city and county staff including building inspectors and permitting staff. Have the building department publish their requirements on-line and in a very user friendly manner.

Provide city and county residents and businesses with additional financial incentives such as zero or low interest loans. Consumer owned solar creates jobs and helps the long term economic picture for the consumer.

Educate and encourage local residents and businesses to invest in solar power.

Freeze property assessments through the ROI (Return on Investment) cycle on any solar improvements.

Force (by law) Utilities to permit a “real cost” feed in tariff (F.I.T.) and net metering. This will insure that citizens get the proper credit for excess electricity they feed back into the grid. When the utility company sits in on public meetings –note that they could possibly be promoting their own interest –not the public’s.

Mandate that all new homes and businesses be built with solar PV power by 2012 and 2015, respectively. These homes also need to have the capacity for electric vehicle charging.

Support and provide rebates for solar hot water systems in addition to solar electric PV systems.

Support and provide rebates for LED lighting. Utilities are now handing out CFL’s to help suppliers get rid of fluorescents on shelves. Incandescent lights will be illegal to sell soon. These cut power use tremendously.

Support maintaining and increasing any present federal rebates for building with renewable energies. Get statewide rebates going for consumer owned solar.

Support and provide subsidies from the BLM public land use for persons with low income, senior and disabilities.

Force the utility company to put an up to date, user friendly multimedia - simple diagrams showing how to correctly tie in renewable energy. Let a citizen’s panel enforce the user friendliness. Have the Building department do the same. Use the ‘Big Shot Camera’ building web site as an example. Make sure these sites are multi-lingual.

Welcome “Plug & Play” easy install solar rooftop manufacturers to our city and encourage their development in this immediate area.

Welcome solar canopy developers and manufacturers to our public and private parking lots. Let them combine their ideas with our own on how to increase our public solar infrastructure for the most benefit for citizens.

Educate manufacturers on the Ford Focus plant in Michigan. This plant uses solar assisted –battery backed electricity for power. Most of the power is used for robotics. This is the new manufacturing design template that Japan and others are rebuilding with.

Be aware that some of the delays are not caused by the system. Many people in industry and government have hidden motives. They may own utility or oil stocks. They may have a personal grudge against renewable energy in any form.A hidden agenda could be the problem.

I wonder how many "installers" have verified the overall strength of the structure for the additional weight of the solar panels, and changes in air flow (uplift) during storm conditions (and snow load)?

Undoubtedly there are some locations where the inspector creates problems (because they can), but certainly there are others that are interested in the well being of structure, and of the project as a whole.

Certainly, I would want a structural engineer to verify what the additional load would do to the engineered truss design. I, for one, am very sensitive to legal actions brought because something was installed/operated outside of it's design limitations, green or not! As an inspector (electrical), I have seen far too many installations where the contractor has not followed the design specifications, changed condutor loading/protection, etc., or was just plain cheap.

WLR

What weird chemicals are they feeding these municipal bureaucrats?

Something similar - we moved the company last year. The fire inspector insists on fire sprinklers for a small EMC chamber (steel on on 6 sides, no anechoic materials), and the electrical inspector disallowed a seperate breaker panel. Attempt to explain the extreme shock hazard. An engineer hurt last month when the sprinkler leaks.

I am talking to the local DA's office and am pushing for a criminal indictment for the fire marshal and electrical inspectors. An incompetent requirement that results in injury or damage to equipment must be prosecuted in NON-civil proceedings. We need to start tagging poor government employees with criminal records. If they are fired, they will re-surface elsewhere to cause more harm.

We have installed 10 grid tie systems from 10kw to 1 meg. We did this in 5 different inspection jurisdictions. Some took one day for permits while Raliegh N.C. took 5 weeks. None had a clue the 1st time of what we were doing. Some even required we violate the code to comply with their wishes. John Wiles is very helpfull and most respect his opinion. It is getting better at least in N.C.

The bureaucracy is just doing what comes naturally to it. Now you're complaining that the latest installation fad is being a pain and you want special consideration. I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for your plight. The zoning/building departments have been completely empowered by the likes of the NFPA to have such dictatorial power. You expect these indiviuals to be qualified skilled crafts people, when the typical public servant employment system does not usually promote that. If they were qualified and capable, they would be out doing, not sitting at a desk. Yes, they should be trained in any new technology that they are required to regulate, but as for special treatment because you're green? tough. I have similar stories from service cable replacements to fire alarms. fill out your form, stand in line, and take your rejections and wasted time like the rest of us. That is the nature of what this business has turned into.

But you know Really... Some places it has been a pleasure to install.. I have had the inspectors reserve confrence rooms, where I expected to get lambasted, and it ended up they wanted to make sure any other inspectors that had questions would have a places to sit..

Parkland, Florida wants to be sure you have it right Lighthouse Point, Florida wants to make sure you have it right.

Sunrise, Florida allowed some funny Stuff... hopefully they don't anymore.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida makes you jump through hoops but they are trying to revise their standards.

Marathon, Florida, Monroe County Building Department, kudos, not only did they do a good job of review but they made me add a disconnect on the critical load side for the first responders to kill the backed up circuits, the only way to kill all the AC power in a battery-back-up grid tie system. (not NEC required but should be in my opinion)

We've put them up on buildings with few impediments but it was made known that this was directed from the top, MT & the power company have a set of tax incentives and loans for such things as well, and homeowners and small businesses can get in to this at an attractive discount. If you had to pay "retail" for a solar panel setup, as you do for everything else related to power, solar panels wouldn't be as popular...

The sufferers of impedimizer personality disorder seem to gravitate to regulatory careers. What they stymie seems to be less important than satisfying their need to stymie something.

Solar Killers as well as overall power grab folks. Many, not all of these gov't employess get this power thing going on. It is ashame there is no checks and balances on these people! If they do get reprimanded or fired, by the time it happens, soooo many have had to put up with these power hungry demented people!

Its becuase the combo inspector has become the staple for all but the very large cities. So instead of having a specialty inspector for each trade, they try to make them a jack of all trades to save money. In addition, they are forced these days to put more enphasis on environmental stuff than they are on building codes. Stormwater run-off, grading, energy regulations, Handicap accessability, the list of what these guys have to enforce just goes on and on.

A person can only do so much, and inspectors that know much about any one topic are a dying breed. They have just dumped too on them for them to be very good at any one thing.

Check out Solar ABC Expedite Permit Process by Bill Brooks. Suggest to your building departments to accept this option for standard system submittals that meet the criteria.

Same problem in so.cal. It's not only solar they don't know about it's construction in general that 80% of the inspectors don't know about. Getting an inspector that knows about electrical installations would be a pleasure.