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14.4 Roof-mounted solar panel arrays of more than 40 square metres in size

AI-generated of solar panels mounted on the rooves of a house and attached garage

A building consent is not required for roof-mounted solar panel arrays exceeding 40 square metres, or where the wind speed is greater than high, if a Chartered Professional Engineer has carried out or reviewed the design of any structural fittings.

Legally required professional: Chartered Professional Engineer.

What the law says

Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004

Exemption 48A. Roof-mounted solar panel arrays of more than 40 square metres or where design wind speeds exceed 44 metres per second

Building work in connection with 1 or more solar panel arrays mounted on a roof if:

(a) the array is, or, if there is more than 1 array mounted on the roof, the arrays are each, supported by a frame or structure; and

(b) the frame or structure is attached to the roof with structural fixings; and

(c) either:

(i) the array exceeds, or, if there is more than 1 array mounted on the roof, the arrays in total area exceed, 40 square metres; or

(ii) the design wind speeds exceed 44 metres per second (calculated using Verification Method B1/VM1).

How it works

Before you begin, please read the Notes for solar panel arrays: 14.1. to 14.4. section.

If using this exemption, a building owner must either:

  • have a Chartered Professional Engineer carry out or review the design of the structural fixings and subsequently, the work must be carried out in accordance with that design, or
  • use pre-engineered kitsets with a unified signoff from a Chartered Professional Engineer.

What is exempt

  1. An owner of an office block intends to install a single array measuring 65 square metres on their building. The solar installer will engage a Chartered Professional Engineer to design the structural fixings and the subsequent building work will also be carried out in accordance with that design. A building consent is not required.
  2. A homeowner plans to install a roof-mounted solar panel array measuring 35 square metres on their house.  The wind zone of the property is greater than high (i.e. over 44 metres per second). The installer uses a pre-engineered kitset with a unified signoff from a Chartered Professional Engineer, so a building consent is not required.

What needs consent

  1. The owner intends to install multiple solar panel arrays on the roof of their warehouse, measuring 150 square metres in total.  The wind zone is greater than high.  The owner does not want to use pre-engineered fixings that have been signed off by a Chartered Professional Engineer, nor do they intend to engage an Engineer to design the fixings. A building consent is required.
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This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: