City of Folsom

Community Development/Building Division

50 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630
Phone: (916) 351-3555 Fax: (916) 351-3363 www.folsom.ca.us

Intake by: _______

(Initials)

RESIDENTIAL PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) PACKET

Project Name and Address: _________________________________________ Plan Check # ________________

_________________________________________

YES

NO

The following must be submitted at time of permit application:

3 Complete sets of plans (18 x 24) (plot plan, structural roof framing, arrays layout, etc.)
Photovoltaic Checklist shall be submitted with plan submittal
Sample One-Line Diagram for PV System
Sample Site Diagram
Certified Letter from the California Registered Civil or Structural Engineer
Verification of Wire Size for PV System Calculation form (complete and submit with permit)
CEC Table 310.16 (included for reference)
City of Folsom Signage Requirements

Note on plans: When the valuation of an addition, alteration or repair to Group R

Occupancy exceeds $1000.00, approved smoke alarms shall be installed at the following
locations: (1) all bedrooms; (2) centrally located in corridor and hallways leading to bedrooms;
(3) above tops of stairs; (4) at least one at every level when the lower level contains a sleeping
area; (5) a story or basement is split into two or more levels, the smoke alarm shall be
installed on the upper level; (6) and in a dwelling unit where the ceiling height of a room open
to the hallway serving the bedrooms exceeds that of the hallway by 24 inches or more smoke
alarms shall be installed in the hallway and the adjacent room as per 2013 C.R.C. Section R314
and carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed per Section R315.
I understand an application missing any item will be deemed incomplete and the plan check will not be scheduled until
the Building Division receives all items that are marked above. This may affect applicable fees and codes since the
operative date of the application will be the date on which a complete application is received.
All the ite ms re quire d on this che cklis t a re pre s e nt a nd comple te on plans.
Print Name:________________________________________
Signature:_________________________________________
I am the:

Owne
Contractor
r

Date:_________________________

Age nt of the owne r/contra ctor

If you have any questions regarding your PV system, please call the City of Folsom Building Division
at (916) 351-3555. Thank you.
PPV Packet 11-05-13

Residential Photovoltaic - Required on plans

Based on the 2013 California Electrical Code (CEC) Article 690
Residential PV system shall be installed in accordance with the current adopted edition of the 2013 C.E.C.
Article 690 California State Fire Marshall Photovoltaic installation guidelines and any other applicable
articles or codes adopted by the jurisdiction.

Simple plot plan showing:

______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________

Main service panel location and existing ampere

PV module array configuration shown on a roof layout (or lot if ground mounted system)
Distance from ridge to array(s) - (minimum of 3 required by Fire)
Distance from valley/ hip to array(s) - (minimum of 1.5 by Fire)
Provide 3 wide access path on each slope
PV equipment locations

PV Equip. Manufacturers Specifications: Provide cut sheets on all components including but not limited to those
shown below; including make, model, listing, size, weight, etc. Highlight project specific information on the cut sheets
____ Inverter:
_______ Model number
_______ Integrated disconnect - Per 2013 CEC 690.15

Mounting System for Panel Installation: Highlight project specific information on the cut sheets

________ Indicate the style, diameter, length of embedment of bolts into framing members and
location of attachments
________ Indicate number of bolts per panel
________ Provide mounting details and certified engineering for listed mounting installation
Photovoltaic Modules:
________ Open-circuit voltage (Voc) from listed cut sheet Maximum system voltage from listed cut sheet
________ Short-circuit current (Isc) from listed cut sheet Maximum fuse rating from listed cut sheet
________ Maximum power- panel wattage from listed cut sheet
Electrical Schematic:
________ System inter-tie with utility company or stand alone
________ Indicate the system KW rating
________ Indicate if the system has battery backup
________ Single line drawing of electrical installation which includes:

Array

PV power source short circuit rating

Conductor size and type

Conductor locations and runs

Equipment bonding points and sizes Per 2013 CEC 250.122

Inverter location

AC & DC disconnect locations Per 2013 CEC 690.14 (C)

Batteries; number, size and locations (if applicable)

Point of connect to existing electrical service panel

Size and number of electrical service meters Per 2013 CEC 690.64 (705.12)

Location of required signage (per City of Folsom)

_____
_____

_______

Proper Signage and Labeling: Signage required per City of Folsom handout (see attached)
Indicate system type below and show location of each required sign on one line diagram (see attached examples):

SINGLE PV ARRAY SYSTEM

PV ARRAY SYSTEM W/ BATTERY BACKUP

MULTIPLE PV ARRAY SYSTEMS

_______

Structural Plan Check Comments PV Roof Layout:

______________ Structural calculations (stamped and wet signed by a California Registered Civil or Structural
___________
Engineer) are required to justify the existing roof system components.

PV Checklist

Revised 11-06-13

Page 2 of 8

 ______________ Structural calculations to justify the installation of PV railing or racking systems are adequate to
resist wind up-lift minimum 85 mph (based on 3 seconds gust formula) and exposure C).
______________ Show existing slope of roof, type of roof materials, and existing rafter/engineered truss size.
______________ Show number of arrays layout
______________ Show weight of arrays (in pounds per square)
______________ Ensure that lag screws have adequate pullout strength and sheer capacity as installed.
______________ PV layout shall include access pathway for Fire Department
a. _______ Residential Buildings with hip roof layouts: Modules should be located in a manner that provides
one (1) three-foot (3) wide clear access pathway from the eave to the ridge on each roof slope where
modules are located. The access pathway should be located at a structurally strong location on the
building (such as a bearing wall).
b. _______ Residential Buildings with a single ridge: Modules should be located in a manner that provides
two (2) three-foot (3) wide access pathways from the eave to the ridge on each roof slope where
modules are located.
c. _______ Hips and Valleys: Modules should be located no closer than one and one half (1.5) feet to a hip
or a valley if modules are to be placed on both sides of a hip or valley. If the modules are to be located
on only one side of a hip or valley that is of equal length then the modules may be placed directly
adjacent to the hip or valley.

_______

Plan Review Information:

______________ Review time should be no greater than 5 days (depending on backlog, staffing, and completeness
of submitted plans)

NOTE THESE STATEMENTS ON PLAN:

2013 CEC 690.17 - Switch or Circuit Breaker. The disconnecting means for ungrounded conductors shall consist
of a manually operable switch(es) or circuit breaker(s) complying with all of the following requirements:
1. __________ Located where readily accessible
2. __________ Externally operable without exposing the operator to contact with live parts
3. __________ Plainly indicating whether in the open or closed position
4. __________ Having an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is
available at the line terminals of the equipment.
2013 CEC 250.122 - Size of Equipment Grounding Conductors. Copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum
equipment grounding conductors of the wire type shall not be smaller than shown in Table 250.122 but shall not
be required to be larger than the circuit conductors supplying the equipment.
2013 CEC 690.14 (5) - Grouping. The photovoltaic system disconnecting means shall be grouped with other
disconnecting means for the system to comply with 690.14(C)(4). A Photovoltaic disconnecting means shall not
be required at the photovoltaic module or array location.
2013 CEC 690.64 (705.12) - Load Side. A photovoltaic power source shall be permitted to be connected to the
load side of the service disconnecting means of the other source(s) at any distribution equipment on the
premises, provided that (exception) the sum of the ampere ratings of the overcurrent devices shall not exceed
120% of the rating of the busbar or conductor.

This installation shall comply with the Solar Photovoltaic Installation Guideline developed by the Office of the
State Fire Marshal.

Location of Direct Current (DC) Conductors:

Conduit, wiring systems, and raceways for photovoltaic circuits should be located as close as possible to the ridge
or hip or valley.
Conduit, wiring systems, and raceways for photovoltaic circuits should be located from the hip or valley as directly
as possible to an outside wall to reduce trip hazards and maximize ventilation.
Conduit runs between sub arrays and to DC combiner boxes should minimize the total amount of conduit on the
roof by taking the shortest path from the array to the DC combiner box.
DC combiner boxes are to be located such that conduit runs are minimized in the pathways between arrays.
DC wiring should be run in metallic conduit or raceways.
DC wiring should be run along the bottom of load-bearing members.
PV Checklist
Revised 11-06-13
Page 3 of 8

PV Checklist

Revised 11-06-13

Page 4 of 8

PV Checklist

Revised 11-06-13

Page 5 of 8

CITY OF FOLSOM
EXAMPLE 3

PV Checklist

Revised 11-06-13

Page 6 of 8

CITY OF FOLSOM
EXAMPLE 4
PV Checklist

Revised 11-06-13

Page 7 of 8

CITY OF FOLSOM
EXAMPLE 5
PV Checklist

Revised 11-06-13

Page 8 of 8