IEC 61215 solar tiles

L Luke Product Manager, GreenMore · Photovoltaic building materials GreenMore's tiled type photovoltaic tiles are rated for a maximum static mechanical load of 5,400 Pa on the front side and 2,400 Pa on the back side. For context, the IEC 61215-2 standard (the international qualification test for terrestrial PV modules) sets the MQT 16 static load test at a minimum of 2,400 Pa, which corresponds to a minimum design load of 1,600 Pa once the standard safety factor is applied. GreenMore's front-side rating is tested at more than twice that minimum. These numbers matter because a BIPV roof tile doesn't sit on top of a roof — it is the roof. Unlike rack-mounted panels where a separate structure absorbs wind and snow loads, the tile itself must carry the full mechanical stress and transfer it to the building structure through its mounting points. What 5,400 Pa Actually Means in Real-World Terms Pressure in Pascals can feel abstract. Here's what it translates to on the ground: Load Scenario Approximate Pressure Context Category 2 hurricane (154–177 km/h winds) 2,500–3,500 Pa Front-side load on roof surface Heavy wet snow accumulation (60 cm depth) 2,400–3,000 Pa Downward load on tilted roof IEC 61215-2 minimum test load 2,400 Pa Uniform static load qualification (MQT 16) GreenMore front-side rating 5,400 Pa More than 2× the minimum IEC test load GreenMore back-side rating 2,400 Pa Uplift resistance In high-wind regions, the ASCE 7-22 building standard (used across the United States) defines ultimate wind speeds (Vult) that vary dramatically by location. Coastal Florida faces Vult values up to 170 mph (76 m/s), while inland cities like Chicago sit around 105 mph (47 m/s). The wind pressure on a roof surface scales with the square of wind speed — which means a roof in Miami faces roughly 2.7× the wind pressure of the same roof in Chicago. The 5,400 Pa front-side rating covers most extreme wind scenarios encountered in residential and commercial rooftop installations. The 2,400 Pa back-side rating addresses negative pressure (uplift) during severe storms, where wind flowing over the roof ridge creates suction forces that try to pull the covering off the deck. Mechanical load parameters of solar tiles and schematic diagram of double-glass structure The Double-Glass Advantage for Structural Rigidity Conventional solar modules use an aluminum frame that provides structural rigidity around the perimeter. Remove the frame — as in GreenMore's frameless design — and the glass itself has to do all the work. This sounds like a liability. It's actually an advantage, once you understand the mechanics. A framed module distributes load to its four edges, where the frame transfers stress to the mounting clamps. If the frame deforms — from corrosion, thermal expansion mismatch, or impact damage — the load distribution changes and cells become vulnerable to microcracking. The frame becomes a single point of failure. A double-glass frameless tile spreads the load across the entire surface area. The symmetrical glass-glass sandwich creates a monolithic structural panel that resists bending in both directions. Under frontal load (wind pushing down, snow pressing from above), the two glass layers share the stress through the encapsulant bonding layer. Under back-side load (wind uplift suction), the same monolithic structure resists deflection uniformly. The IEC 61215-2:2021 standard's mechanical load test (MQT 16) applies uniform static pressure to the module surface for one hour. The 2021 edition also added a cyclic dynamic mechanical load test (MQT 20) that subjects modules to 1,000 cycles of positive and negative pressure — simulating the repeated gusting and lulling of real wind events. GreenMore's tiles are designed to pass both test protocols at their rated load levels. Snow Load: The Non-Uniform Problem Snow doesn't pile up evenly on a roof. In real-world conditions, snow slides down the panel surface and accumulates at the lower edge, creating a non-uniform load that puts concentrated stress on the bottom portion of the module. This is a well-documented failure mode in mountain installations. In 2020, the IEC published IEC 62938, a dedicated standard for testing PV module resistance to non-uniform snow loads. The standard simulates the real failure type: modules bending and cracking at the lower edge of sloped installations where snow accumulates unevenly. GreenMore's 5,400 Pa front-side rating addresses this scenario. The large tile format (1,378 mm × 564.8 mm) means fewer horizontal joints where snow can dam up, and the double-glass structure distributes concentrated edge loads across the full panel area rather than letting them concentrate at a single frame corner. For regions with heavy snowfall — Northern Europe, Canada, the northeastern United States, and high-altitude zones in Asia — the non-uniform snow load rating is often the governing design constraint, not wind speed. GreenMore solar tiles for cold, high-snow-loaded log cabin applications Impact Resistance: Hail, Debris, and Foot Traffic Mechanical load testing typically focuses on static pressure. But roofs also face impact events — hail, falling branches, construction debris, and occasionally maintenance foot traffic. The double-glass tempered structure provides inherent impact resistance. Tempered glass is 4–5 times stronger than annealed glass of the same thickness. When it does break (under extreme impact beyond design limits), it fractures into small, relatively blunt pieces rather than sharp shards — reducing injury risk. For BIPV tiles specifically, the impact resistance matters in another way. Because the tile is the roof covering, any impact damage that compromises the glass surface also compromises the waterproofing layer. This is different from a rack-mounted panel, where a cracked front glass surface affects power output but doesn't let water into the building. The double-glass design — with cells protected on both faces — provides a more robust impact buffer than a single-glass module with a soft polymer back. The 17.2 mm total thickness — two layers of tempered glass plus encapsulant and cells — provides the structural depth needed to achieve these load ratings without an aluminum frame. Designing for Extreme Weather Regions The mechanical load rating is just one input to the system design. Installers working in high-wind or high-snow regions need to consider the full load path — from the tile surface through the mounting system to the roof structure and finally to the building frame. GreenMore's hook-and-screw mounting system transfers loads from each tile through mechanical fasteners directly into the roof purlins or decking. The large tile format means each mounting point carries load from a larger area, but the total number of mounting points is lower than with smaller-format tiles. For engineering verification, GreenMore provides structural calculations and load tables to support permitting in different climate zones. For specific project inquiries — including load calculations for high-wind coastal sites or heavy-snow mountain installations — GreenMore's engineering team provides technical support through the contact page. The 5,400 Pa / 2,400 Pa mechanical load rating puts GreenMore's tiled type photovoltaic tiles well above the IEC 61215 qualification baseline. The double-glass frameless structure distributes stress uniformly, eliminates frame-related failure points, and provides the structural rigidity needed for a tile that serves as both the weather barrier and the power generator. For buildings in regions where extreme weather is not a theoretical risk but an annual reality, that structural margin is what keeps the roof intact and the power on. L Luke Product Manager, GreenMore Luke works with distributors, installers and EPC contractors to match GreenMore photovoltaic tiles with the wind, snow and seismic requirements of each market. Before a project is quoted, he reviews the load path, mounting layout and structural calculations so the roof performs as designed from day one. Send him your site's climate zone and roof structure for a load assessment.

L Luke Product Manager, GreenMore · Photovoltaic building materials GreenMore's tiled type photovoltaic tiles carry a Class C fire rating, tested in accordance with UL 790 (standard for fire tests of roof coverings) and classified under EN 13501-5 (European fire classification for external roof exposure). The Class C rating means the tile assembly has passed tests for light fire exposure — it resists flame spread across the roof surface, prevents fire penetration through the roof deck, and does not produce flying brands that could carry fire to adjacent structures. For building owners, architects, and code officials, this rating is more than a specification line item. It's the difference between a solar roof that meets building code requirements and one that creates liability exposure. GreenMore Solar Tiles Class A/B/C Fire Rating Specifications Fire Classification Levels: Where Class C Fits Roof fire ratings follow a tiered system. Under UL 790, the three classes are defined by the severity of fire exposure the roof assembly can withstand: Class Test Severity Typical Application Class A Severe fire exposure High wildfire risk zones, steep-slope commercial roofs Class B Moderate fire exposure General commercial and multi-family construction Class C Light fire exposure Residential roofing, low-to-moderate risk areas Each class requires the roof assembly to pass three evaluations: Spread of flame — how far flames travel across the surface. Burning brand resistance — whether the roof prevents ignition from burning embers. Intermittent flame — resistance to repeated flame exposure. Class C doesn't mean "low quality." It means the product has been tested and verified to perform under light external fire exposure conditions. Most residential building codes in Europe and North America require at minimum a Class C or equivalent rating for roof coverings, and many jurisdictions accept Class C for single-family homes and low-rise commercial buildings. Why Solar Roof Tiles Need Fire Certification Specifically Rooftop solar panels mounted above an existing roof inherit the fire rating of the roof assembly below them. BIPV tiles are different — they are the roof covering. This dual role as both photovoltaic generator and building envelope component means the tiles themselves must carry an independent fire classification. According to UL's BIPV testing program, BIPV roofing systems are evaluated against UL 7103, which consolidates electrical safety, fire performance, wind resistance, weather protection, and impact resistance into a single certification framework. The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) editions require BIPV roofing systems to be listed and labelled to UL 7103. In the European framework, EN 13501-5 classifies roof coverings based on external fire exposure tests defined in CEN/TS 1187. The standard uses four test methods (T1–T4), each simulating different hazard scenarios involving burning brands, wind, and radiant heat. For BIPV tiles installed as roof coverings, this classification is essential for obtaining building permits across EU member states. How Double-Glass Frameless Construction Achieves Class C The fire performance of a roof tile comes down to what it's made of and how it's put together. GreenMore's tiled type photovoltaic tiles use two layers of tempered glass — front and back — with solar cells encapsulated between them. No polymer backsheet, no aluminium frame. Glass is non-combustible. It does not ignite, does not contribute fuel to a fire, and does not produce flaming droplets. This is fundamentally different from polymer-backsheet modules, where the rear surface contains EVA, Tedlar, or other organic materials that can burn or melt under direct flame exposure. The frameless design eliminates another potential fire pathway. Aluminium frames, while not combustible themselves, create gaps between the module edge and the roof surface where embers can lodge and smoulder. A flush-mounted, frameless glass tile presents a continuous, non-combustible surface with no gaps for ember accumulation. Fireproof principle and system safety of double-glass solar roof tiles What This Means for Building Compliance Fire safety requirements for roof coverings vary by jurisdiction, but the underlying principle is consistent: the roof assembly must resist external fire spread. Here's how the Class C rating maps to common compliance scenarios: Jurisdiction Standard Requirement GreenMore Compliance European Union EN 13501-5 Roof covering fire classification required Class C (T1–T4 applicable) United States UL 790 / IBC §1505 PV panels must match roof fire classification Class C rated United Kingdom BS EN 13501-5 B_Roof(t4) typically required for high-risk areas Class C for residential/low-risk For residential roofing projects in most markets, Class C satisfies the minimum code requirement. Projects in high wildfire risk zones (such as California's WUI zones or Australian bushfire-prone areas) may require Class A — a different product category altogether. The fire rating also affects insurance. Many property insurance policies reference roof covering fire classifications when determining premiums. A certified Class C rated BIPV roof demonstrates compliance and may help avoid premium surcharges that uninspected or uncertified solar roofing installations can trigger. The Statistics Behind Roof Fire Risk The urgency of roof fire classification becomes clear when you look at the numbers. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), structure fires in the United States caused an estimated $15.3 billion in direct property damage in 2024. Nonresidential building fires alone accounted for approximately $3.16 billion in property loss in 2023, per the U.S. Fire Administration. Roof-related fires — whether originating from external embers, electrical faults, or construction activities — represent a significant portion of these losses. The NFPA reports that where sprinklers are present, fire stays confined to the room of origin 94% of the time, compared with just 70% without sprinklers. For roofs without suppression systems, the fire rating of the roof covering itself becomes the primary defence against external fire spread. Fire Safety as Part of the Full Certification Package GreenMore's approach to fire safety sits within a broader certification framework. The company's tiled type products carry EN 14782 (profiled sheeting for roofing), EN 1090-1 (structural steel/aluminium components), ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and CE marking. The Class C fire rating is one component of a comprehensive compliance package that addresses structural integrity, environmental performance, and manufacturing quality. For contractors and building owners navigating the permitting process, having all certifications in order from the start avoids delays and keeps inspections on track. GreenMore has been manufacturing BIPV products since 2017, building a portfolio of 20+ patents and production capacity exceeding 1 MW to support projects of varying scale. Class C fire rating isn't the highest possible classification — but for the majority of residential and commercial roofing applications, it's the right one. It confirms that the double-glass frameless structure performs as a non-combustible roof covering under standardised test conditions, meeting the regulatory requirements that building inspectors and insurance assessors need to see. Work With GreenMore GreenMore is a photovoltaic tile manufacturer. Our three-curve solar tiles, photovoltaic bricks, and photovoltaic curtain walls are produced in-house, in CIGS thin-film and back-contact technologies, with the inverter and battery supplied as supporting components of the complete system. If you have questions about fire certification or need compliance documentation for your project, reach us through our contact page or email export@gmsolarkit.com. L Luke · Product Manager, GreenMore Luke manages GreenMore's photovoltaic building-material range, from the CIGS thin-film triple-arch tile to the newer back-contact line. In the solar industry since 2017, he focuses on designs that are genuinely buildable, with honest specs and warranty terms that match the products actually shipped.