Optimization of the Ballast Calculation for the iFIX East-West Substructure: A Step Towards More Efficiency and Safety

Optimization of the Ballast Calculation for the iFIX East-West Substructure: A Step Towards More Efficiency and Safety

 

At iFIX, we are committed to always providing our partners with the best possible product. As a company focused on quality and innovation, we continuously subject our products to further investigation. Our goal is to constantly identify potential areas for improvement. In recent months, we have intensively addressed an important area of our product development: the optimization of the ballast calculation for the iFIX East-West substructure.

The Importance of Ballast in PV System Planning

When planning photovoltaic systems on flat roofs, optimal ballast is a key factor in ensuring the safety and stability of the entire system. Inadequate ballast can lead to damage – whether from wind loads that are not adequately absorbed or from incorrect load distribution. Therefore, it is crucial to carry out the ballast calculation precisely and keep it up to date with the latest technology.

New Insights and Further Investigations

The calculations for the required ballast in PV systems are often based on wind tunnel results, which can be interpreted in various ways. For this reason, as part of our ongoing product optimization, we subjected the ballast calculation for our iFIX East-West substructure to an intensive review. In collaboration with experts and through further investigations, we gained new insights that led to improvements in our calculations.

For these detailed and precise studies, we approached the I.F.I Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics, a renowned institution specializing in the aerodynamic analysis of structures. Together with the experts at this institute, we thoroughly analyzed the wind effects on PV systems on flat roofs and had the corresponding values calculated.

Improved Ballast Calculation and Resource Conservation

Thanks to these further investigations and the integration of the new insights, we were able to optimize our ballast calculation. The results show that the required ballast can be significantly reduced in most projects. This brings several advantages:

  1. Ensuring Stability: Our optimized calculation guarantees that the solar system remains safe even under extreme wind conditions.
  2. Cost Savings: The reduced ballast requirement leads to lower material costs without compromising safety.
  3. Resource Conservation: Less ballast means a reduced material load, which in turn has a positive impact on sustainability.

Availability of the Optimized Ballast Calculation

The updated values derived from the new calculations have already been integrated into our iFIX tool. With the improved ballast values, you can implement your projects more efficiently and cost-effectively, while maintaining the highest safety standards.