Throughout a concrete tile roof’s lifespan, a homeowner may decide to have a roof accessory installed, such as solar panels, that requires the installer to modify the roof system in order to properly fasten the accessory onto the roof deck. Doing so should not affect the long-term performance of the tile roof system as long as proper flashings are used. In order to help provide greater clarity to contractors and installers on this practice, the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA), a non-profit association of producers and associates of concrete and clay tile, has provided the following recommendations:
In instances in which roofing contractors, or third-party vendors, must modify roof tiles in a manner that is inconsistent with the roofing industry-based installation recommendations, it shall be noted that all penetrations require an approved deck/underlayment flashing and tile flashing.
A penetration, for this purpose, shall be defined as:
When an object is fastened to or through the roof sheathing and protrudes through or alters the underlayment and/or roof tile, that object is a penetration through the roof system and requires flashings.
This tile flashing recommendation is consistent with good roofing and flashing practices and roofing standard methods prescribed in the TRI/WSRCA Concrete and Clay Roof Tile Installation Manual on page 18, Detail MC-02, Note 2, which states: “All penetrations require a deck and tile flashing.” The tile roofing industry also covers penetration-flashing recommendations in our Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual on Drawing FHW-08.
In addition to the aforementioned recommendations made by the TRIA, local building codes should be reviewed as the job site area’s building officials will be the final authority.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the addition of roof accessories, such as solar panels, to a concrete tile roof, please contact your local Eagle Account Representative.
