Retrofitting a Roof Mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panel

Introduction

You’ve decided how many solar panels you need, you know the size of the panels and you know how you want them to be laid out. Now you’ve got to work out how to get them safely up to the roof, secure them and be certain that they will stay there.

This article describes some of the steps to take when carrying out a retrofit roof mounted solar PV installation. We don’t go into any classification of manufacturing processes detail about the electrical side, this article concentrates purely on the mechanical aspects of a typical retrofit PV installation.

We hope it will provide a useful background for clients and contractors who are considering the installation of a solar PV system.

Assessing the Roof and Identifying Risks

This part should be carried out on first inspection and referred to throughout the system design stage. A record should be kept of what you find (ideally with pictures). Some of the key aspects relevant to roof mounting solar panels and the potential dangers, include:

Fragile roofing materials, including insecure, inadequate, corroded or broken roof fittings, anything that the installer or materials could potentially fall through if weight was applied.

Any protection at the roof edges to stop the installer, tools and or materials falling i.e something to stop a person or equipment sliding down the roof and over the edge.

The presence of asbestos, lead and other contaminates that could cause problems if cut, damaged or disturbed. Remember to also look at flashings, guttering, pipes and pipe insulation.

Insecure, inadequate, rotten or broken roof supports and rafters that may not be strong enough or big enough to handle the increased weight loading or provide a secure connection for the mounting feet.

Existing waterproofing and flashings, any damp, staining or corroded areas may be an indication of underlying instability.

External influences such as the proximity of power lines that may cause difficulties or dangers during the installation.

Moss, lichen or anything else that may be slippy when walked on.

Once you have this information think about and record the ways in which the issues that you have identified could affect the installation including:

The suitability of the equipment that will be installed in relation to the mounting area.

The suitability of the equipment that will be used for the installation.

The safety of the installation team.

The safety of others who may be using the building or be close to the building whilst the installation is taking place.

The long term effect of the increased weight loading on the structure.

Any uncovered problems that could be made worse because of the PV installation or spread to affect the installation at a later date.

Once you have considered these factors you are then likely to have a good idea of the best way to overcome these issues and progress, whilst reducing risks and selecting the most suitable equipment for the PV system itself and the equipment needed to carry out the installation.

In many …

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Industrial Supplies – Knowing How to Select Power Tools

Choosing from such a vast selection of industrial supplies in the marketplace can render paralyzed at the best of times if you have no specific selection process to govern your decision-making. Let us say for argument you are looking for some new power tools for a specific job and you decide that a new power drill is in order.
It would be of relevance and importance to confirm what power supply you will be using for the job at hand. Assuming that all power supplies produce the same amount of current to operate machinery is a silly one at that. The food processing industry market share fact that the power supplied to the distribution board is never quite the same from workshop to home use would mean that the motor in the power tools would not provide its desired result or intended factory specifications.
Always ensure that the power tools selected are suitable to operate with the available power supply you have. Home use would mean that a lesser Amperage or determinants of supply Kilowatt hour would be sufficient, whereas an industrial workshop application may require a 3 phase electrical system to produce a heavier load of current.
Industrial supplies are designed with a variety of uses in mind and it is not always a case of buying tools that are superior in power. The industrial market is usually designed to supply the engineering and automotive environment with more reliability as the power tools that are used are subjected to longer periods of use as well as higher stresses and strains. Using a DIY power tool to cater for an industrial type use will soon burn the motor out due to the force placed on the internal components of the unit.
Speak with the supplier or sales representative about what you intend to use the power tool for before deciding to purchase. Using this simple method will ensure that your collection of tools is versatile enough to cater for most applications needed and ensure that your tools last.…

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Do You Operate Heavy Duty Vehicles? Ensure You Are Using a High Performance Alternator!

If you operate heavy duty vehicles then you need to ensure you are using a high performance alternator. You need to be sure you can rely on your vehicle day in and day out, in the toughest conditions which is why it is worth it to invest in a quality alternator. It really doesn’t matter the type of vehicle you are using, you need to ensure your vehicle will start when you need it, which is why a quality alternator is so critical.
EMS Vehicles
Your emergency medical services (EMS) crew need to get to their destination quickly, lives depend on it. So you absolutely can’t afford to mess around with anything but top notch parts for your EMS vehicles.
Fire Trucks
When you get a call that there is a fire, seconds can be the difference between life and death so you can’t take the chance that your brands of excavators vehicle could stall or not work due to a faulty alternator. To be safe, you should only equip your fire truck with quality parts.
Transit Buses, Highway Coaches contribution of manufacturing industry to gdp and Shuttle Buses
When you operate bus or coach lines you are providing an important service to the community, and your passengers rely on you to get them to their destination safely and on time. The success of your business depends on your vehicle operating smoothly. Equip your buses with quality parts to minimize repairs and breakdowns, which will interrupt the service you offer and make your passengers unhappy.
School Buses
When you are transporting children safety is absolutely the number one priority at all times. Equipping your school buses with quality parts is critical to providing safety and avoiding breakdowns which can cause delays and unnecessary worries.
Commercial, Refrigeration and Light Trucks
Whether you operate commercial, refrigeration or light trucks the success of your business requires you to make your deliveries on time, and delays and breakdowns will not only cost you a lot of money, they can also cost you the trust of your clients and possibly even their business. Equipping your trucks with quality parts will result in more reliable service, which will improve your business overall.
It is possible to find quality parts for your vehicles at affordable prices. Consider investigating prices of the parts you need in the automotive after market, which is a good place to go to find quality, brand name parts from reputable manufacturers at low prices. Your local distributor is also a good source to help you find quality, brand name parts at low prices. Distributors work in the after market with manufacturers and can also offer advice and expertise about product specifications, high performance alternators and other types of vehicle parts.…

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Attention Moms: You CAN Clean You House In Just 15 Minutes A Day

Over the years I have used many different cleaning methods. There are as many cleaning methods as there are people. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Here I will show you how we manage to clean our home in 15 minutes a day.
Step 1: Know the layout of your home
You know your home best. Which are the most used rooms? How does your lifestyle affect your cleaning routine? Most homes have 6 basic rooms – the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedrooms, the laundry area, the living area and the dining area.
Step 2: Prioritize
Which rooms get used most? These will be the rooms you will concentrate on first. Involve your children in cleaning their rooms that way if you have more than 1 bedroom to maintain you will be knocking off 3 rooms during one time slot instead of 1.
For our home the main rooms of interest to us is our living/dining area, the kitchen and the bathroom. Each of us takes care of our own bedroom so when it comes time for this job we all do our allotted time in our own bedrooms.
Step 3: Schedule
Schedules are key for this system to work properly. Of course in magic land we will all start out with a pristine home so no deep cleaning is necessary. Depending on how many rooms you will be cleaning this schedule will have to be altered.
For us we have 6 main cleaning areas. We clean 3 rooms a day on alternate days. For instance, Monday and Wednesday we will clean the horizontal mill parts bathroom, kitchen, and the dining area. On Tuesday and Thursday we clean the bedrooms, the laundry room, and the living area.
What do we do the remaining days of the week?
We spend those days ‘deep cleaning’. Friday and Saturday we spend 15 minutes on one room. Let us say the laundry room is super dirty from soccer practice. I would schedule forklift hydraulics explained a deeper cleaner on Friday to spend the entire 15 minute slot on that one room. Sundays we take off so for the most part not scheduled cleaning is done that day.
Step 4: Clean
Sounds simple enough right? How many times have you been in the bathroom cleaning and forgot the cleaner in the kitchen? I know too many to count. There are a number of ways you can tackle this problem.
First you could just put cleaning supplies in each room and solve the problem of not having what you need for that particular cleaning project. You could also just prepare a cleaning apron that you fill with that days cleaning supplies. Another way to tackle this problem is to have a carry-all. This way you will have a bucket with everything you need that can be carried with you to each room.
An added tool I keep around is a timer. This I set for the 5 minutes for each …

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Bathroom Safety Products

Bathroom is probably one of the most overlooked parts of the house if we’re going to talk about safety and hazards. For sure, it might appear harmless for most people especially if it’s ergonomically designed to suit our needs. However, research has consistently shown health hazards hidden within this structure and which highly deserve our full attention. In fact, studies have found out that in U.S. alone, an average of 640 people are estimated to get non-fatal to fatal bathroom-related injuries on a daily basis. And if you think this figure doesn’t encompass people of all ages, you might be missing some important health information because in reality, both children and the elderly are high-risk to get this injury. So how are we going to prevent this accident from taking place?
This is when the need for bathroom safety products, and bathroom safety equipment comes into the picture. From shower chairs to grab bars, these essential safety items can help anyone beat the three major hazards of bathroom use, namely wet floor, heat and hard surfaces.
Bathroom Safety Products: What are these?
Bathroom safety products are among the most important items that anyone can find within different health care settings ranging from senior homes and clinics to major city hospitals. Incidents of falls are ubiquitous especially in places where safety equipments both beside the bed and within the bathroom are not available. For this reason, prompt installment of bathroom safety products, and bathroom safety equipment has long been considered as a wise move among hospital authorities. Thanks to these products, life-saving equipments are now within reach of people who need them the most. There are different categories of bathroom safety products and here’s a rundown of some of the most indispensable items you can add either in a hospital or in your own home:
Bath Chairs and Shower Benches
Senior patients, people with disabilities, amputees and those who just came home after an operation will all benefit from bath chairs and shower benches. Providing both comfort and safety, these items are especially made for people who can’t stand for a shower or are too weak to submerge themselves in a bath tub. Bath chairs come in different shapes, colors and sizes ranging from Lumex round bath stool which has a durable and rust-resistant aluminium frame to Lumex Bariatric bath seat intended for people with up to 600 lbs. of weight. Lumex bath seats are available either with or without a back rest but all have a seat height adjustable in 1″, lifetime limited warranty, tool-free assembly and designed to meet the requirements of HCPCS code: E0245.
Grab Bars and Safety Rails
Balance is usually an issue among elderly and people who are currently taking medications but with the proper installment of grab bars and safety rails, the anxiety related to bathroom hazards can be safely put at bay. For example, you can choose to install Lumex Tub-Guard or Heavy-Duty safety rails in your bath tub (except for fiber glass tubs) …

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Contaminants Can Steal Your Machinery’s Efficiency

Contaminants can steal productivity from your machine’s hydraulic system without you knowing it. Even a skilled operator might not notice a drop in responsiveness until the system has lost 15-20% of its power. This translates into five working days with only the performance of four. Imagine the loss in an industry such as mining.

Contaminants – anything foreign in your system like particles, water and air – can drain the life out of hydraulic components operation of milling machine long before breakdown occurs. They accelerate wear while resulting in reduced efficiency and performance in various ways:

Abrasion: Abrasive products scrape metal from hydraulic components. This multiplies, travelling to other parts of the system to do more damage.

Fatigue: repeated high-pressures stress loads cause metal to chip or break and enter the system.

Silting: Very fine particles multiply as they build up on metal surfaces and clog fluid flow. The result is jamming or sticking between sliding valve components.

During Operation: On the work site, contaminants can find their way into the system and on of the most common place is at the rod wiper seal. Although, the main function of the rod wiper is to keep the rod and cylinder clean and free from foreign matter, it can’t totally prevent possible abrasive effects which may result if contaminates were to reach the sealing and rod bearing elements.

During service: Anytime the system is open for service, whether to change types of excavator attachments filters or make repairs, contaminants can enter the hydraulic system.

Simple maintenance procedures on your industrial equipment can prevent contamination and with proper control, some hydraulic system components can last up to ten times longer. Your equipment’s hydraulic system is routinely coated with abrasive materials and pounded by tremendous impact loads. This is especially true with construction equipment such as case tractor, brush cutter or bobcats or which are more inclined to receive important impacts or damages and require a constant service over the years. With repeated use and wear, contaminants have the opportunity to enter the system. Fix leaks and replace worn seals immediately, and control operating temperature by keeping the system full and maintaining the oil cooler and relief valves.

Keeping your industrial equipment or machinery working at the lowest operating cost is one the top concerns for any professionals in the industry. Preventing contamination of your equipment can significantly contribute to a better and longer performance of your equipment and hence increase your return on investment.…

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Roofing Safety and Procedures

When deciding whether to inspect your roof, do a repair, or walk on your roof for any other reason, there are several steps you can take to ensure your safety. These safety procedures are often overlooked, causing accidents that can affect a person and their family for years to come. However, if you invest just a small amount of time educating yourself of the potential dangers of your roof, you may avoid these incidents all together.

One of the most important things you should know is to avoid getting on a steep roof unless you have proper safety equipment. For example, a safety harness will prevent any falls from doing serious damage. If you do not have access to safety equipment, or if you are inexperienced on a roof, you may want to call a roofing company to inspect or repair your roof.

Even regular and low sloped roofs require precaution. Before climbing on your roof, ask yourself the following questions:

Could the roof be slippery from dew, ice, rain, snow, etc? If so, wait until your roof is dry.

Is there debris on the roof? Sawdust, wood, shingle particles and even leaves should be swept up frequently.

What type of shoes are you wearing? Rubber-soled boots will generally provide good traction, as opposed to leather-soled boots. Be sure your shoes are not badly worn.

Is the roof stable? If you suspect a leak or any other problem that could affect your roofs stability, be very careful when you walk – testing each area before putting your full weight on it.

If you encounter any issues that could pose a hazard, call a roofing company immediately. They should best wood for furniture frames be better trained to know the hazards and prevent any further damage to your roof or themselves.

There is a vast array of safety gear available to roofing employees. These devices would include harnesses, slings, ropes and cleats, among many other items. product management for dummies Each roofer should easily find the safety equipment that best suits their needs. However, as many as 80 percent of installers do not use these safety devices.

You may be wondering how the use of safety equipment would affect you and your property? Statistics show that the use of roofing safety gear increases productivity, meaning the job will be completed faster and with more efficiency. Also, roofing companies that show care in keeping their employees safe will be more likely to ensure that your property is kept safe and intact.

When faced with the task of picking a roofing company to work on your property, ask about the safety precautions they may or may not have in place.…

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Importance of Protective Gear in the Electrical Workplace

From basic wiring installation to industrial control panel upgrades, an electrician’s everyday duties require frequent exposure to hazardous conditions. While thorough training is necessary to prevent accidents industrial equipments suppliers from occurring on the job, electrical workers must also rely on the clothes on their back to keep them safe from injury. Below, learn the importance of wearing protective gear in the electrical workplace.
What is Arc Flash?:
Arc flash is an electrical explosion that can reach temperatures of 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This amount of intense heat that can cause severe injury through direct exposure. Electrical workers are constantly at risk of arc flash incidents, making it crucial that the proper protective gear is worn to reduce the risk of burns and injury.
NFPA 70E:
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) is responsible for developing NFPA 70E, a Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. NFPA 70E works to maintain electrical safety in the electrical workplace from the dangers of arc flash by providing suggested safety practices, methods and requirements for training and protective gear. Electrical protective clothing that complies with 70E standards ensures that workers receive the protection needed for certain levels of arc flash hazards.
Flame Resistant Gear:
Due to the increased risk of exposure to severe heat and intense explosions, electricians are required to wear the appropriate flame resistant (FR) clothing on the job. While the FR garment’s levels of arc flash protection are extremely important in reducing the risk of injury, safety features of FR gear also include comfort, moisture management and breathability. Workers must be able to move freely and comfortably in their clothes in order to do their job to the best of their ability. Light-weight, moisture-wicking materials eliminate distractions caused by sweat or discomfort, allowing electricians to focus on the task at hand.
High Visibility Clothing:
Electricians must do their job no matter what the lighting or weather conditions. High Visibility (Hi Vis) protective gear is often required in dark or rainy conditions, when vision might be blurred or weakened. By hankison dryer parts wearing safety clothing that complies with high visibility standards, such as vests or jackets made with a certain amount of fluorescent and reflective fabric, workers can be seen clearly and injury can be avoided.
Additional electrical protective gear includes insulated gloves, durable eyewear, hoods, sleeves and helmets. Electrical workers should be well-trained to understand the appropriate protective gear for specific situations, as well as the proper protocol to follow should an emergency take place.…

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Essential Industrial Supplies For Bridge and Road Construction Workers

While the economy may still be in recession, there are still many roadway and bridge construction projects being approved. In strong part due to stimulus money, firms are getting awarded many construction jobs through the federal and state governments. To ensure safe work sites for both the benefit of every worker and for compliance to safety guidelines and laws, specifically designed industrial equipment is the key to outfitting workers with the right PPE to do their jobs safely.
Along with general industrial workplace safety threats, road and bridge construction sites have their own set of hazards. Utilizing the right type of industrial supplies to address and mitigate each hazard will lead to safe work sites and compliance with industry best practices.
Let’s take a look at a number of industry hazards and identify what industrial supplies can be applied to reduce risks and the potential for injuries and lost time.
Hazard Identification And Prevention
Construction crews on roadways and bridges face a good number of unique and general hazards. Matching industrial equipment and personal protective equipment to every hazard will create a safe work environment.
Flame and fire risks are not typically associated with road and bridge work, but they are still present. Gasoline and diesel fuel are used in abundance to power construction vehicles, power tools, and generators. Solvents and resins are also highly combustible and widely used. With flammable materials in the presence of hot work, flash fires are a work site hazard. Industrial supplies, including industrial apparel made from flame resistant materials, can reduce intense heat hazards. These materials will not melt to a worker’s skin when exposed to intense heat and are also self-extinguishing.
High elevation work on bridges and even near utility and pipe trenches creates falling hazards. Fall arrest systems and lanyards are vital to preventing falling injuries and deaths. Tying off to a structural support with fall protection machine maintenance schedule industrial equipment can save lives on the job. In the same vein, falling tools or materials can cause problems for workers below. Industrial equipment such as hardhats and face shields are vital to preventing injury.
After many workers from our previous generation retired, they realized they had suffered significant hearing loss. Construction job sites can cause two types of hearing loss. Loud noises that cause actual pain will produce instant hearing loss and even elevated noise levels will cause long-term hearing loss over the course of a workday. Hearing protection is the best way to save one’s sense of hearing for each day and over an entire career. Whether it is earplugs or earmuffs, hearing protection is vital for occupational health.
Industrial Apparel
Construction work is a tough job, especially on work wear and uniforms. High quality industrial apparel is important for providing a layer of protection against cuts and abrasions, as well as the environment and weather. Clothing has to be durable with high thread count, reinforced seams, and heavy duty rivets that fit well enough to not present a hazard …

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Machinery Safety Labels

A great many centuries have passed since human society has evolved and transformed into its current form. Some could say that it’s gone the wrong way and should have chosen a more “natural” or even “spiritual” path. Perhaps, but it is still too early to tell. What we know for sure is that the very existence of our ancestors and the quality of our own life has always vastly depended on safety and efficiency of our tools. Regardless of what we would chose as an example (weapons, water pumps, grinding machines or coffee makers) one thing they always had in common – safety rules.
Our technologically advanced tools and sophisticated machinery that surrounds us and helps us to achieve our important goals seem to have reached its prime and evolved so far that all we need to do is to press a button or say a command to get results.
However, there is a downside to just about everything. It is said that “With a great power comes great responsibility”. And that responsibility is ours. It is up to us to control the use and performance of our tools. It is also our obligation to those who work next to us, those who wait for us to come home, to those who trust our judgment and skills.
As our instruments become more and more sophisticated the safety requirements and security procedures are bound to change accordingly. Safety of employees becomes one of the major priorities due to employers’ growing interest in maintaining smooth and uninterrupted work process (another reason for that is a natural attempt to avoid costly law-suits commonly associated with occupational injuries).
This is why the market of industrial safety signs hasn’t lost any of its enormous potential and on the contrary, keeps showing a constant tendency to grow despite an unstable economy.
Safety signs and labels have been around for quite some time. We use them to designate potentially hazardous areas and to warn each other about dangerous conditions and health risks produced by different types of industrial equipment. One of the numerous categories of safety labeling that we would like to discuss today is designed in a strict accordance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), ANSI, and ISO requirements and covers machinery-related aspect of individual safety. It consists of, but is certainly not limited to: Automatic Equipment Hazard, Burn Hazard, Conveyor Hazard, Crushing Safety, Electrical Hazard, Laser Safety, Moving Parts, Personal Protection, Pinch Point Hazard, Rotating Blade Hazards, Shear / Cut Hazards and Welding Hazard labels.
Each category of these machinery safety labels has its own purpose and implementation procedure.
For example:
– Stop Safety Decals – (normally printed on 4mil pressure sensitive vinyl) they serve as an ideal reminder in situations when immediate threat exists and an instant action is required.
– Arrow Safety Stickers – are created to designate the exact area where the hazard might be present helping to prevent incidents.
– Automatic Equipment Hazard labels are made to warn people ahead …

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Cardboard Recycling Ideas For You

It’s time to think green. To be a responsible citizen, you need to shift from the conventional consumerism method of throwing everything away and start recycling and reusing materials. You can start by cardboard recycling, which is one of the most used products, and it is also one of the most wasteful ones.
Think for a moment about the useful lifespan of a typical box. It exists only to contain the goods packaged in it, and once those have been removed, its design purpose expires. Cardboard is a type of paper, and paper is manufactured from trees. Almost all products you can buy are packaged in boxes.
Needless to say, a great number of trees and landfill space can be saved if recycling becomes the norm for all households and businesses. There are two main types of cardboard – flat/chipboard, and working of milling machine the corrugated kind. The flat kind is thin, and used for products like cereal boxes, shoe boxes and other small products. The corrugated type consists of a rumpled layer in between two flat sheets.
You can either reuse the materials, or recycle them. The difference is that when reusing it, you can keep it in box form and use it to store whatever household items you will not use day-to-day. This can be anything, books, magazines, toys, documents, and old clothes. If you are moving house in the near future, you can also keep the boxes, so that you don’t have to buy new ones on the day. Recycling involves using it for another purpose entirely, by changing its structure.
The first thing to do when recycling boxes is to disassemble and flatten them so that they can save space. Now, different types of cardboard can be recycled differently. If you have a recycling service or facility nearby, you can simply sort the two types and hand them in. Chipboard will be converted machine tools pdf to pulp and added to the production of recycled paper. This process involves flattening the pulp between two rollers and drying it out. Please note that used goods that are wet with chemicals should not be sent because some substances can become hazardous when stored for a long time.
If you do not have convenient facilities you can access who will do this for you, you can always let out your creative side! There is limit to the art that be created. If you have children, this could be a great chance to teach them how to become responsible recycling citizens, as well as nurture their creativity. Ensure that they are well supervised.
You can make puzzles for them by drawing a picture on corrugated cardboard, and using a craft knife to cut the pieces. If you are really ambitious, several boxes can be kept in their original shape, and joined to several other boxes with glue. Cut holes in each of the boxes to create a fun tunnel network, especially fun for toddlers.
Because they are thick, flattened …

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