On-Site Structural Surveys for Commercial Solar PV

A structural survey for commercial solar PV is an on-site assessment by a qualified structural engineer confirming a building’s load-bearing structure can safely support the weight and dynamic loads of a proposed PV array. The engineer measures purlin spacing, assesses steel truss integrity and load paths, and produces Eurocode-verified calculations covering dead loads, wind uplift, snow and imposed loads. The signed report issues a pass, conditional pass or remediation determination.

Yes. UK Building Regulations require any building modification, including solar PV mounting, to demonstrate structural adequacy. For commercial solar PV this means a Eurocode-verified structural appraisal by a qualified engineer covering dead loads, wind uplift and snow loading. Institutional lenders and DNOs processing G99/G98 connection applications also require engineer-signed structural documentation before approving drawdown or connection. For solar PV systems within MCS scope (sub-50kWp DC output), the appraisal must additionally satisfy MIS 3002 V6.0 Section 5.9 and be retained in the MCS-licensed installer’s job file.

Solar Surveys delivers engineer-signed structural reports within 48 hours of the site visit. Our engineers are based throughout the UK, allowing us to minimise travel time and mobilise quickly across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Desktop Structural Roof Loading Reports, where a remote assessment is sufficient, are delivered within 48 hours of instruction, without a site visit.

Yes. For solar PV systems within MCS scope (sub-50kWp DC output), the on-site structural survey is signed by a qualified structural engineer and aligned to MIS 3002 V6.0 Section 5.9, providing the evidence the MCS-licensed installer needs for their MCS submission. For systems above 50kWp the same survey supports Building Regulations sign-off, lender Technical Advisor packs and DNO documentation.

A Solar Surveys structural report includes Eurocode-verified load calculations covering dead loads, wind uplift, snow and imposed loads; site photography and verified on-site measurements; purlin spacing, truss condition and load path assessment; a pass, conditional pass or remediation determination; Building Regulations compliance confirmation; and engineer signature with professional indemnity backing. Reports are produced to the format accepted by lenders, DNOs and planning authorities. For sub-50kWp systems within MCS scope, reports also confirm MIS 3002 V6.0 Section 5.9 alignment.

If the survey reveals a structural deficiency, we issue a conditional pass or remediation determination with a specific recommendation. This may include purlin strengthening, additional fixings, racking configuration changes or a load-limiting array reduction. The report specifies exactly what is required, enabling your structural engineer of record or installer to proceed with a defined scope of remediation work rather than an open-ended investigation.

On-site structural surveys start from £600 per building. Drone roof condition surveys start from £750 per building. Combined survey + drone instructions reflect shared mobilisation and are typically the most efficient package for pre-installation feasibility. Pricing varies with roof count, location, building access and roof complexity. Portfolio programmes from 10 sites attract structured discounts. Contact us with the site address and proposed array specification for a scoped quotation.

Purlins are the horizontal structural members that span between roof rafters or portal frame columns, forming the secondary structure to which roof sheeting is fixed. For solar PV, purlin spacing determines where fixings can land. Where spacing is too wide for the proposed racking system, fixings may bear on unsupported sheet spans, generating local bending stresses the sheet was not designed to carry. Our engineers measure purlin spacing on-site and confirm whether the proposed racking layout is compatible with the existing secondary structure.

Yes. Our structural engineers and BDF and BMFA-accredited drone pilots attend simultaneously. Structural assessment of the primary and secondary frame and drone capture of the roof surface are completed in a single site mobilisation, reducing your programme time and avoiding a second access coordination. The two outputs form the complete pre-construction evidence package accepted by lenders, DNOs and planning authorities (and where applicable MIS 3002 V6.0 Section 5.9 for sub-50kWp systems).

Solar Surveys aims to mobilise a qualified structural engineer to site within 24 hours of instruction for priority assessments. Our engineers are based throughout the UK, allowing us to minimise travel time to any site. The 24-hour mobilisation target applies to priority instructions and is maintained across the majority of commissions. For programme planning purposes, survey dates are typically confirmed within one working day of instruction.

UK structural load calculations for commercial solar PV are governed by: BS EN 1990 (load combination basis), BS EN 1991-1-4 with UK National Annex (wind actions, replacing the withdrawn BS 6399-2:1997), BS EN 1991-1-3 with UK National Annex (snow loads), and BRE Digest 489 (2014) for wind pressure coefficients specific to solar PV arrays. All Solar Surveys structural reports apply this Eurocode suite. Reports citing BS 6399-2:1997 are rejected by MCS certification reviewers and lender Technical Advisors.

BS EN 1991-1-4 provides wind load methodology for structures generally, but does not provide wind pressure coefficients specific to solar PV arrays mounted on rooftops. BRE Digest 489 (2014) fills this gap, providing the UK’s authoritative reference for PV-specific wind loads including edge zone uplifts, array geometry effects and the interaction between the PV array and the roof surface. These effects can significantly increase net wind uplift forces on individual panels compared to a simple application of BS EN 1991-1-4 alone. BRE Digest 489 is cited in MIS 3002 V6.0 as the applicable reference.

The Solar Surveys on-site structural survey includes a simultaneous drone roof condition assessment conducted by BDF and BMFA accredited pilots on the same site visit. Both the structural engineer’s report and the drone condition assessment report are delivered within 48 hours of the site visit, under the same instruction. This eliminates the coordination delay and additional mobilisation cost of commissioning separate structural and drone surveying suppliers. For industrial and large-span structures requiring detailed facade data, a Drone Technical Survey is conducted alongside the structural survey in the same visit. See Drone Surveys for full scope.