N.Y.C. Admin. Code § MC 1402: Section MC 1402: Installation

1402.1 Access.

Access shall be provided to solar energy equipment and appliances for maintenance. Solar systems and appurtenances shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 5 of the New York City Fire Code regarding rooftop access and obstructions, and shall not obstruct or interfere with fire-fighting operations or the operation of any doors, windows, fire escapes, or other means of egress or other building components requiring operation or access.

1402.2 Protection of equipment.

Solar equipment exposed to vehicular traffic shall be installed not less than 6 feet (1828.8 mm) above the finished floor.

Exception: This section shall not apply where the equipment is protected from motor vehicle impact.

1402.3 Controlling condensation.

Where attics or structural spaces are part of a passive solar system, ventilation of such spaces, as required by Section 406, is not required where other approved means of controlling condensation are provided.

1402.4 Roof-mounted collectors.

Roof-mounted solar collectors that also serve as a roof covering shall conform to the requirements for roof coverings in accordance with the New York City Building Code.

Exception: The use of plastic solar collector covers shall be limited to those approved plastics meeting the requirements for plastic roof panels in the New York City Building Code.

1402.4.1 Collectors mounted above the roof.

Where mounted on or above the roof covering, the collector array and supporting construction shall be constructed of noncombustible materials or fire-retardant-treated wood conforming to the New York City Building Code to the extent required for the type of roof construction of the building to which the collectors are accessory.

Exception: The use of plastic solar collector covers shall be limited to those approved plastics meeting the requirements for plastic roof panels in the New York City Building Code.

1402.5 Equipment.

The solar energy system shall be equipped in accordance with the requirements of Sections 1402.5.1 through 1402.5.4.

1402.5.1 Pressure and temperature.

Solar energy system components containing pressurized fluids shall be protected against pressures and temperatures exceeding design limitations with a pressure and temperature relief valve. Each section of the system in which excessive pressures are capable of developing shall have a relief device located so that a section cannot be valved off or otherwise isolated from a relief device. Relief valves shall comply with the requirements of Section 1006.4 and discharge in accordance with Section 1006.6.

1402.5.2 Vacuum.

The solar energy system components that are subjected to a vacuum while in operation or during shutdown shall be designed to withstand such vacuum or shall be protected with vacuum relief valves.

1402.5.3 Protection from freezing.

System components shall be protected from damage by freezing of heat transfer liquids at the lowest ambient temperatures that will be encountered during the operation of the system.

1402.5.4 Expansion tanks.

Liquid single-phase solar energy systems shall be equipped with expansion tanks sized in accordance with Section 1009.

1402.6 Penetrations.

Roof and wall penetrations shall be flashed and sealed to prevent entry of water, rodents and insects.

1402.7 Filtering.

Air transported to occupied spaces through rock or dust-producing materials by means other than natural convection shall be filtered at the outlet from the heat storage system.