Solar installations are a fundamental part of the transition to a more sustainable future, which is why INDEX® – A PERFECT FIXING offers specific solutions for the fast safe assembly of both industrial and residential installations, with its coplanar and triangular systems, designed to withstand adverse weather conditions, as well as guarantee stability and durability.
INDEX® recommends its coplanar system for sloped roofs, where solar panels are to be installed parallel to the surface. In these installations, the panels follow the natural line of the roof, which simplifies their installation and thus reduces installation times, as well as labour and material costs. The coplanar system allows for an aesthetically pleasing finish while making the most of the space. For tiled roofs, users can opt to perforate the tiles or include a safety roof hook to avoid drilling.
Fixings included in the coplanar system for tiled roofs include safety roof hooks to fix the structure in place without the need to perforate the tiles; adjustable accessory kits, used with double threaded screws or threaded rods, sealing washers and other elements according to the type of structure; ‘L-shaped’ flanges, acting as a joining point between the double threaded screws and the aluminium profiles; as well as connectors to join the fixing structure to the aluminium profiles. Also included in the coplanar system are aluminium joints for joining INDEX®’s PSE-C aluminium profiles through a central cavity; fast fixing staples to fix the photovoltaic modules to the profile using pressure; as well as aluminium guides to be installed as a support for the staples at each end of the row of panels.
In addition, for applications with flat or slightly inclined roofs where the natural angle does not offer the optimum inclination to capture energy, INDEX® offers its triangular systems. These systems enable users to adjust the inclination of the panels, which maximises the solar exposure and increases the energy efficiency of the installation.
Key components of the triangular system include adjustable triangles made of steel and aluminium, which enable users to adjust the inclination of the solar panels; butylene watertight tape – to ensure the watertightness between the surface of the roof and the profile or guide; INDEXTRUT perforated guide made of steel with Atlantis® C4-M coating, as well as thin sheet screws recommended for the fixing of profiles, which are self-drilling and have anti-rust protection.Also available are adjustable accessories – including assembly plates and double threaded screws for installation with a chemical anchor; fast fixing screws to provide additional fixing points on INDEX®’s GP-XS steel guide; EMP-XS solar connectors to join the GP-XS guides through its central channel without interfering with their functions; as well as fast fixing staples that fix the solar panels to the profile by means of pressure.
App for solar panel installation
To further enhance its offering in the renewable energy sector, INDEX® has launched the INDEX® solar fixing App, designed to select products and provide information and calculations to the user for the necessary fixings needed for the installation of solar panels. Optimised for any type of surface or environment and available in several languages, the App can reliably provide calculations valid for any type of panel and orientation.
Becca is the latest member to join our team and is eager to get stuck into the world of fasteners. She brings an enthusiastic and fresh outlook on what we do editorially and will be leading our social media activity – including sourcing material, editing articles and posting online.
