Ensuring your solar energy system will weather the storm
Last updated: November 20, 2025
Ensuring your solar energy system will weather the storm
Anyone who lives in Florida knows the dates on the calendar when our collective anxiety level rises: June 1 – Nov. 30. Hurricane season. We check weather forecasts frequently, double-check our insurance policies, and make sure we have enough canned food in the pantry. However, one thing you don’t need to worry about is your rooftop solar energy system. Good design and the use of quality materials, with building codes and permitting to confirm the installation meets certain standards, will ensure your solar array will weather the storm.
The Engineering Behind Hurricane-Resistant Solar Panels
Today’s solar panels are designed and tested to withstand high-velocity hurricane winds. Wind force resistance in solar panels is usually measured in Pascals, a unit of pressure. Panels used in our area are typically rated at or above 4000 Pascals (83.5 pounds per square foot). That’s more than 1,500 pounds of force on a panel before it is destroyed!
Accounting for Local Wind Loads and Roof Zones
Most buildings in Sarasota County fall within a 150–160 mph basic wind speed zone, but each building still brings its own variables—height, distance from the water, roof layout, and more—that shape the structural design of your solar PV system.
Wind behaves unpredictably around buildings. Roof edges face higher wind speeds and turbulence, and the corners experience even greater pressure. We design your attachment layout to match the specific wind loads of each roof zone. Although you install a solar PV system as a single project, every component must meet the required wind-load ratings for its assigned roof zone.
A Strong Racking System for a Secure Installation
All of the loads on the panels move through the support structure (the racking system) and into the roof itself. Your roof type determines how we attach the solar array. For example, on shingle roofs, we attach the array to the rafters rather than the decking. On standing-seam metal roofs, we can clip attachments directly to the seams, which eliminates roof penetrations. At every step, we verify that each component and method has the strength to meet the required standards.
Can Solar Panels Actually Strengthen Your Roof?
A well-installed solar PV system can actually strengthen your roof. Each rail in the racking system acts like a 2×4. It runs perpendicular to the trusses and adds support. These rails help distribute turbulent and vortex loads. They move force from the roof’s edges toward the center. Every home is different, so results can vary. A properly engineered solar array can still increase roof strength. In many storms, shingles around the array fail first. Sometimes entire roofs fail while panels stay attached. Panels rarely come loose on a well-built system.
Built to Withstand the Elements
In addition to being extremely durable, solar panels and all of the wiring systems have the added benefit of being totally waterproof: they can withstand wind-driven rain for many years. The panels are also hail resistant and must pass a test of a 1” hail stone hitting the panel at 60 miles per hour.
Basically, your solar panel array is strong enough that anything that is going to damage a panel (or the array) is going to damage the roof and/or rest of the house even more.
Insurance and Continuous Improvement
With each passing year, engineering and materials improve, rendering solar panels and other components of the array even better able to withstand extreme weather. If disaster strikes, your solar array is considered a permanent structural attachment to your residence and should be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy (but it’s always good to double-check).
Peace of Mind with Professional Installation
At Brilliant Harvest, we develop a custom design for every project we install and submit that design to the building department for their approval and inspection, ensuring your system is stronger than the requirements for that building and location. If you are considering installing solar but are concerned about storm risks, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always happy to talk solar!
