It had to happen! Wind blows solar panels off School roof

[Andy_WSM]

A school in Norfolk was closed after severe winds blew solar panels off the roof, with one smashing through the glass ceiling of the boys' toilets.

Several of the 100 panels being fitted to the main building at Acle High School, near Great Yarmouth, were blown off by gusts overnight.

MORE HERE

[Automan]

Does sound like the install was not complete...

Automan.

[iantowil]

Was going to lift my panels along the top edge and lower at the bottom edge to get me another 5 degree better angle - 25 degrees instead of the roof angle of 20. My concern was the wind would get under them more easily and then get compressed as it travelled down the roof angle, possibly causing a fair bit of lift - glad I haven't bothered with this weather!

Anyone have any experience of fitting their panels other than parallel to the roof?

[wookey]

If a few panels coming off a half-finished install is the worst we have to show from this set of stormy weather that's good and suggests PV on roofs is safe enough. Especially as a few roofs have come off (and obviously would have taken any attached panels with them).

[Andy_WSM]

If a few panels coming off a half-finished install is the worst we have to show from this set of stormy weather that's good and suggests PV on roofs is safe enough. Especially as a few roofs have come off (and obviously would have taken any attached panels with them).

A very good point. Winds here (In the Sunny South West) have been stronger this last few days than they have for years and no damage here. I can't help but think too that having most of my roof covered in panels is protecting the tiles from lifting anyway!