Is Your Roof Ready for Rooftop Solar Panels?
Data shows a significant rise in rooftop solar panel installations on commercial properties across the United States.
In 2024 alone, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that more than 50 gigawatts of power were installed on about 5 million homes and commercial buildings.1 And the benefits are clear: Rooftop solar panel installations can help property owners reduce their energy bills, achieve greater energy independence, reduce their carbon footprint, increase property value, and more.
But seizing those benefits can be more complex than it seems. Your property—and your roof system—must be prepared.
The right approach and a high-performance roof system can help you get the most from your investment. Let’s explore:
Mitigating Fire Safety Risk
One of the most important considerations to be made is the fire risk that a solar PV system introduces to your structure. Unexpected shorts, sparks and electrical problems can lead to an ignition event—and in such an instance, your roof must be able to withstand the potential consequences.
Through hundreds of safety audits for rooftop PV installations, Clean Energy Associates (CEA) found that 97% of systems had safety concerns related to ignition hazards.2 And according to the U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative, reputable PV installers should design their systems in accordance with recognized fire codes and established best practices for rooftop PV systems.3
It’s also worth going above and beyond established fire codes to ensure your roof system is best able to withstand increased fire risks that come with PV systems. Gypsum coverboards, for instance, can help mitigate the spread of fire following an ignition event. The coverboard also improves roof system durability from increased foot traffic resulting from panel installation and regular maintenance (more on this later).
Consider also that certain materials are more susceptible to flame spread than others. For example, FiberTite® roof systems have self-extinguishing properties which can help to reduce fire risk, stopping flame spread before it has the chance to further damage your property. Comparatively, testing has shown that TPO membranes can potentially contribute to significant flame spread, increasing the risks and consequences related to a rooftop fire.
Enhanced Roof Integrity and Durability
PV systems come with a flurry of activity on your roof, and that means you need to have confidence in the integrity of your roof system. Installation and regular maintenance mean various trades are regularly walking across your roof, often carrying heavy tools and equipment. Puncture and wear resistance are key, here. A technician absentmindedly dropping a hammer, for example, may sound like a benign problem—but it has real potential to cause significant damage.
In addition, consider how the system will be secured to your roof. Two primary mounting methods are typically selected for PV systems. Mounting anchors are welded into the roof membrane itself, creating direct attachment from the panels to the roof system. Alternatively, ballasted racking involves heavy concrete blocks to hold the system onto the flat roof. These are simple to install and can minimize the number of penetrations required in the roof deck.
There are tradeoffs to each method, but the use of mounting anchors can be advantageous for a few reasons. First, ballasted systems may allow for slight movement of solar PV system components across your roof under high wind loads. When this happens, your roof system bears the brunt of the wear. This kind of movement can also stress electrical connections, increasing the likelihood of damage or a short, introducing a fire risk. Second, ballasted systems also take up a larger surface area and may have greater potential to trap debris and other organic matter, such as leaves, near the panels themselves, presenting yet another fire risk. Finally, ballasted systems come with an additional weight load that your roof must be able to withstand.
Mounting anchors eliminate these considerations. However, their use does involve penetrating the roofing deck, which introduces new potential leak points. For this reason, anchors should be outfitted with skirts that are welded to the roofing membrane to ensure a permanent, watertight seal.
A Roof That Lasts the Life of Your System
A step before installing PV panels is to conduct a thorough assessment of your existing roofing system. This should involve evaluating its performance properties—including fire performance, puncture resistance and durability, as discussed so far in this article—as well as determining its remaining service life. The U.S. DOE estimates the operational lifespan of a PV module is about 30-35 years.4 This means your choice of roof system should demonstrate an equal or higher anticipated service life.
Not all roof systems deliver the same expected service life. For example, a recent report from a leading asset management consulting firm, Mantis Innovation, found that single-ply TPO roofs—one of the most common materials used in commercial and industrial roofing—have a service life rating of only 20 years.5 PVC and EPDM roofs were found to have similar service lives.
By contrast, the study found that the service life for FiberTite single-ply roof membranes are rated in excess of 40 years, roughly twice the length of other systems that were evaluated. Further, FiberTite recently received an industry-leading 40-year reference service life (RSL) through a cradle-to-grave environmental product declaration (EPD), offering commercial property owners and operators further proof of the roof system’s ability to deliver long-lasting performance.
Your assessment may determine that your roof will require replacement long before the PV system reaches its full potential. If so, choosing a roof system that demonstrates a broad range of high-performance characteristics can help you make the most of your investment in solar panels.
Interested in learning more? Find out why FiberTite Roof Systems are one of the best options to help you capitalize on an investment in rooftop solar panels and enhance your operational security.
Learn more about high-performance roof systems.
References:
1 “Benefits of Rooftop Solar Energy,” U.S. Department of Energy, retrieved 2025.
2 “Fire Safety Guideline for Building Applied Photovoltaic Systems on Flat Roofs,” ZAG, FRISSBE, May 2024.
3“Frequently Asked Questions: Commercial Rooftop Solar,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2015.
4 End-of-Life Management for Solar Photovoltaics,” U.S. Department of Energy, retrieved 2025.
5 “Total Cost of Ownership Report – 36- & 45-mil FiberTite®,” Mantis Innovation, 2024.
