Hail Proof Solar Panels

The answer is yes.

Hail proof solar panels.

Solar panels are designed to withstand one inch hail flying at 51 miles per hour. For the most part no. Because a solar energy system is installed into your home s roof we recommend contacting your homeowner s insurance company to notify them about your installation. While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare.

Up until a couple weeks ago we would tell people we ve never seen a solar module panel being damaged from hail. The resistance of solar panels to hail is largely due to the high quality tempered glass which is around 3 4mm thick. Generally solar panels can endure hailstones up to one inch in size 25mm at a falling speed of 50 miles per hour. In fact manufacturers actually test their solar panels to ensure that hail storms won t be an issue.

Solar shingles are lightweight and easy to install and just like ordinary shingles they are designed to withstand rain wind and hail. Solar panels need to be able to withstand hailstones with 1in in diameter weighing 7 53 grams and traveling at a velocity of 23 meters per second 51 45 mph per international standards iec61215. A solar module or panel that is installed properly and tilted to face south should never break from hail. Many solar electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made.

Fortunately winaico has designed their solar panels to be hail resistant. This means that solar panels have outstanding durability when it comes to extreme weather patterns. One inch hail about the size of a quarter is considered severe by the nws so your panels should survive even severe hailstorms just fine. In fact a 2017 hailstorm in denver that caused severe damage across the city proved the durability of solar panels.

Ask your insurer if the panels would be covered by your existing policy for things like hail damage inclement weather and acts of god mother nature. The general consensus in the solar industry is that solar panels should be able to withstand golf ball sized hail. Each solar shingle will produce between 13 and 63 watts of energy depending on the brand of solar roof shingles. Here s a video of what that testing looks like.

This week they announced that their latest mx series has surpassed the iec test handling hail stones with 4 times the kinetic energy of the iec standard.