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Bringing Butyl Back

Bringing Butyl Back

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Bringing Butyl Back: The Future is Here with Unirac, Again!

At Unirac, we’ve always prided ourselves on being at the forefront of solar mounting technology.  In 2010 we were so far ahead of the innovation curve that we were the first to introduce adhesive flashing that opened the market and enabled a more efficient installation experience. Today, we want to dive deep into that innovation and its significant impact on rooftop solar installations: butyl roof attachments for every pitched roof application. Unirac now offers a butyl solution on a full suite of attachments and conduit mount.

What are Butyl Roof Attachments?

Butyl, a synthetic rubber, has been traditionally used in various industries for its remarkable waterproofing and adhesive properties. When it comes to solar installations, butyl roof attachments refer to mounting systems that use butyl-based sealants or tapes to ensure a watertight seal between the roof and the solar racking system.

Stronghold

Why Butyl is a Game-Changer

Superior Waterproofing: Butyl stands out for its incredible water resistance. By using butyl roof attachments, installers can be confident that the point of attachment is well-sealed against potential leaks.

Extended Lifespan: Butyl maintains its adhesive properties over an extended period, reducing the need for frequent checks and maintenance.

Compatibility: Whether it’s a metal, composite, or asphalt shingle roof, butyl attachments provide a versatile solution suitable for various roofing materials.

Temperature Resistance: Solar installations are exposed to varying temperature ranges. Butyl’s ability to maintain its integrity in both high and low temperatures ensures the longevity of the seal.

Ease of Installation: With the adhesive properties of butyl, there’s no need for additional, complex sealing procedures. This translates to quicker and more efficient installations.

Unirac’s Approach to Butyl Roof Attachments

At Unirac, our approach is to integrate the benefits of butyl into our industry-leading mounting solutions. Here’s how:​

Engineered Excellence: We have combined our engineering expertise with the unique properties of butyl to create roof attachments that not only ensure a strong hold but also protect against the elements.​

Training and Support: To get the most out of butyl attachments, it’s essential to install them correctly. We offer comprehensive training and support to our partners, ensuring every installation is up to the mark.​

Commitment to Innovation: Our R&D team is continually working to push the boundaries of what’s possible with butyl in the solar industry. Expect more cutting-edge solutions as we move forward.​

Optimization: We kit all our attachments and that is no different for our butyl products. Each butyl attachment and accessory are kitted with the hardware needed to complete rafter installations. That is one SKU for ease of ordering, stocking, and installation. Direct to deck applications require extra screws and are sold separately as needed.​

The Road Ahead

As the solar industry continues to grow and evolve, the demand for reliable, efficient, and innovative mounting solutions will increase. At Unirac, we see butyl roof attachments as a key piece of this future puzzle.​

In conclusion, butyl roof attachments represent a merger of traditional material science with modern solar needs. By adopting these solutions, solar installers can ensure that their installations are not only efficient and reliable but also resilient to the elements. With Unirac leading the charge, the future of rooftop solar looks brighter than ever!​

Ask your distributor to stock Unirac attachments with butyl today.

Download our Attachments poster here

Stronghold™ Butyl-

    • Dark: SBUTYLD1​
    • Mill: SBUTYLM1​
    • Extra deck screws: 003251W​

SFM Butyl- SFMBTLM1​

​Conduit Mount Butyl- EB-CM-01M​

SolarMount® Butyl- ​

    • Dark: 004BUTYLD​
    • Mill: 004BUTYLM​
    • Extra deck screws: 003251W​
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Unirac Leads The Industry With The Largest Number of Racking & Inverter Combinations Under UL 3741

Unirac Leads The Industry With The Largest Number of Racking & Inverter Combinations Under UL 3741

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Be rapid shutdown compliant with or without MLPEs. Unirac has the solution that fits your needs.

Unirac has recently achieved UL 3741 compliance for its entire portfolio of racking systems. This is a major achievement, as Unirac now offers the largest number of racking (7 systems) and inverter (38 models) combinations that are UL 3741 compliant in the industry. This means that solar installers can have confidence in using Unirac’s racking systems for their projects, knowing that they are safe, reliable, and meet industry standards. Download the Unirac 3741 Application Guide.

Download the UL 3741 Application Guide

Unirac has been at the forefront of innovation for over 25 years, and they go beyond basic requirements as dictated by code. The Unirac Product Development team is constantly seeking ways to improve the efficiency of projects, maintain safety standards, improve ROI, and provide the best value to their partners.

UL 3741 compliance is an important step forward in solar safety, as it provides a new level of PV hazard control that meets NEC rapid shutdown requirements. The NEC requires rapid shutdown of solar systems in case of an emergency or maintenance situation, to prevent electrical shock or fire hazards. Previously, the only way to meet this requirement was by using module-level power electronics (MLPE), which can be costly and complex to install.

“UL 3741 is a critical safety standard that specifically addresses Photovoltaic (PV) hazard control. In alignment with the National Electrical Code, it sets forth rigorous requirements for the design, construction, and performance of PV mounting systems. This helps ensure a high level of safety and reliability for both installers and system owners. As a Product Manager, I can attest to the impact of adhering to UL 3741, as it ultimately enhances the overall quality and dependability of solar installations.” 
– Tristen Foley, Flat Roof Product Manager

To comply with UL 3741, solar systems must meet several requirements. First, the racking system and inverter models must be certified and listed together, ensuring that the system is designed to work safely and efficiently. Second, the PV array layout must be designed according to one of the four use cases outlined in Unirac’s UL 3741 Application Guide, which provides guidance on how to design a safe and effective solar system that meets NEC requirements including inverter placement. Finally, wires must be handled according to the racking-specific installation manual, ensuring that the system is installed correctly and safely.

Unirac’s UL 3741-compliant racking systems offer several benefits to solar installers and project owners. First, they provide a simplified and cost-effective solution for meeting NEC rapid shutdown requirements, without the need for complex and expensive MLPEs. Second, they offer flexibility and compatibility with a wide range of inverter manufacturers, allowing installers to choose the best option for their specific project needs. Finally, they are designed to meet the highest safety standards, ensuring that solar installations are safe, reliable, and compliant with industry regulations.

“As the largest provider of UL 3741-compliant racking systems in the industry, Unirac continues to lead the way. Solar installers can trust Unirac’s racking systems to meet industry standards and deliver safe and dependable performance. With a wide range of racking and inverter combinations, Unirac offers a simplified and cost-effective solution for meeting NEC rapid shutdown requirements, making solar installations more accessible and affordable for all.” – Ted Bleeker, Director of Business Development.

Download the UL 3741 Application Guide
All Technical Documentation & UL 3741 Installation Manuals
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Solar Spotlight: Supporting the structural side of commercial solar.

Solar Spotlight: Supporting the structural side of commercial solar.

  • By Billy Ludt | March 3, 2023

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A few years on, there is still uncertainty surrounding the solar supply chain. There are likely still modules tied up at shipping ports, and despite Inflation Reduction Act incentives to develop a larger domestic market for solar panels, it will still be some time before we experience it. That is not necessarily the case for solar racking and mounts.  Unirac, a manufacturer with more than 20 years in the solar structures space, is geared and ready to tackle commercial solar projects in 2023. We’re joined by Unirac’s commercial business development director, Ted Bleecker, and director of customer solutions, Brandon Carrasco, to discuss what’s ahead for the company in the coming year.

Below is a portion of Unirac’s Solar Spotlight podcast with Solar Power World, but be sure to listen to the full episode here or on your favorite podcast app.

Contractor’s Corner by Solar Power World · Solar Spotlight: Supporting the structural side of commercial solar

With the passage of the inflation Reduction Act, what changes does Unirac See in the market with materials and how are you supporting the industry?

Brandon Carrasco
Brandon Carrasco

BC: I think, as we as we’ve seen this IRA legislation, we’re excited about it. First of all, there is a lot of tailwinds for the industry. That means nothing but good things for us across the board, as well as our partners, our customers and just the environment in general. But what we’re doing is we have a diverse supply chain. So as our customers continue to look for the options to how can they be compliant, the big question for us as a manufacturer is, can we meet the U.S. material requirements? So that doesn’t necessarily apply to everybody in every project. However, with our diverse supply chain, we do have a broad base of U.S. supply and material and manufacturing. And that allows us to meet in basically every segment –– residential, flat roof and ground –– that we work in. It allows us to provide materials and to provide projects or products for projects that meet those requirements of being U.S. manufactured.

What structural changes do you see in the C&I market?

TB: I think the developers are more active in the engineering, procurement and construction of their portfolios. So, we’re seeing a much more active role in the market with development partners. EPCs are getting smarter. I think back 10 years ago, it was a little “cowboy” how projects were installed on rooftops. Today, we’re very granular in our approach, with point loads with dead loads with applied loads. There’s a whole number of factors that affect the building envelope, and particularly the roof structure. So, it’s exciting to be part of a great company like Unirac, that has an engineering team that has a back office in India that supports us. We’re a 24/7 operation now.

How have large format modules affected racking engineering and designs?

BC: I think the first thing is as modules have continued to increase, it requires racking manufacturers to adapt. We and others in the industry have had to make modifications to some of the long goods in let’s say a ballast system where wind deflectors and ballast trays just have to grow to meet the new size ranges of some of the modules that are out there. It also has implications on wind tunnel testing, where the model that may have been tested six, seven, eight years ago is no longer valid for the size of models. They’ve just outgrew the range of that valid model. So, for Unirac what that’s meant is some new SKUs, some new components to ensure that we can handle those larger format modules, additional testing, as well as a refresh of some of the wind tunnel testing that we’ve done.

How does Unirac differentiate itself from other racking companies?

Ted Bleeker

TB: Unirac’s investment in human capital is unequaled in the industry. We’re constantly looking to create the best employee base to provide the best customer experience. That’s our goal. We are not thin on human representation and support for our customer base, from engineering to product support to install support, we’re there throughout. And then secondly, our product development. If you look at all our competitors, nobody is innovating at the pace that Unirac is and that goes from our residential attachments, like our butyl attachments for shingle roofs to metal roofs to multiple flat roof solutions. We’re looking at bifacial gains currently with our RM10 system and RM10 Evo and we’re innovating with UL 3741 testing across every rack that we have on the market.

What piece of advice would you offer to companies looking to break into the C&I, EPC or developer market?

TB: Right, it’s easy, partner with Unirac. We’ve got the best team on the market to support you, and I say that slightly in jest, but with all seriousness, we have the ability to support you from early-stage production reports up to very intense, permit design-ready documentation. We have the full spectrum of product offering to provide support for your installs wherever it is, we’ve got the onsite support for you to install in any market across the country.

BC: That partnership is so important, especially if somebody’s stepping into the C&I space.