The best commercial solar companies tell you the real work starts before drilling a single bolt. Preparing your building properly (structurally, electrically, and strategically) is what turns a solar project from a good idea into a great investment.
Our MAG Solar team have seen too many projects get delayed (or downsized) because the building wasn’t ready. We’ve helped retrofit everything from warehouses to office towers and learned that the best solar outcomes start with proper groundwork.
We’ll walk you through the steps that smart building owners take to avoid costly delays and design do-overs.
Key Takeaways:
- Structural, electrical, and energy efficiency upgrades must be done before solar installation to avoid delays and optimize system size and performance.
- New constructions or major renovations should incorporate solar-ready elements (e.g., roof design, conduit paths, panel space) to reduce future costs by up to 25%.
- Solar isn’t “set and forget.” A well-maintained system with proper monitoring, cleaning, and safe access guarantees 25+ years of reliable performance.
Start with Energy Efficiency and Reduce the Building Load First
Optimizing your building’s energy consumption is essential before sizing or designing a solar system. A smaller energy load means a smaller solar system, which saves on installation costs while improving performance and slashing electricity bills.
What you need to do:
- Upgrade lighting to LED
- Install high-efficiency HVAC systems
- Seal the building envelope (insulation, windows, roofing)
- Use building automation systems to control energy use
Once efficiency upgrades are complete, your building’s energy profile becomes much more predictable to allow for more accurate solar system sizing. This step also reduces reliance on fossil fuels and supports broader sustainable future goals.
Conduct a Detailed Feasibility Assessment for Hiring Commercial Solar Companies
A feasibility study, or assessment, determines whether a proposed project is practical and likely to succeed. In the context of commercial solar installation, it involves evaluating whether your building is suitable for solar energy. The study examines factors such as cost, timeline, legal requirements, operational needs, and technical feasibility.
Solar Resource Evaluation
Use tools like PVWatts, NREL’s NSRDB, or Helioscope to evaluate solar irradiance, shading impact (daily/yearly), roof pitch and orientation, and surface obstructions. Even minor shading (vents, parapets, HVAC units) can reduce output due to string-based losses. Advanced designs using microinverters or optimizers may help, but eliminating shading remains a priority.
Structural and Roof Integrity
Determine if your roof can handle the additional static and dynamic loads (typically 3–6 lbs/ft² for PV). Structural engineers must assess the roof’s age and remaining life, load-bearing capacity, wind uplift potential, and drainage changes from added racking. Flat roofs with thermoplastic membranes (like TPO) are preferred for ballasted systems, while standing seam metal roofs are ideal for clamp-on systems with no penetrations.
The best time to prepare for solar was during the blueprint phase. The second-best time is now. Our MAG Solar team is here to help assess your building’s readiness.
Solar-Ready Roof Design for New Construction
If you’re building a new facility or undergoing a major renovation, you have a prime opportunity to make it “solar ready” even if the system isn’t installed right away. Designing solar readiness during construction can reduce future solar install costs by up to 25%, while enabling a much faster permitting and interconnection process.
Solar-Ready Design Elements
- Unshaded, south-facing roof area with minimal obstructions
- Pre-installed electrical conduit from the roof to the main service panel
- Mechanical equipment clustered on the north side of the roof
- Roof structure designed to carry solar loads
- Accessible pathways for future O&M
- Integration of inverter and BOS (Balance of System) locations into your electrical room layout
Interconnection and Electrical Prep
Adding solar panels without first updating your electrical system is like putting a high-performance engine in a car with faulty brakes.
Solar systems aren’t just mounted on your roof; they connect directly to your electrical panel, grounding system, and the utility grid. If your existing electrical setup isn’t capable of handling the energy load or doesn’t meet current codes, you could face multiple issues.
What to do?
Panel & Breaker Configuration
- Secure space in your main electrical panel for a backfed PV breaker
- NEC 705.12(B) limits combined busbar loads to 120% of panel rating
- Panels should be sized and labelled for solar interconnection during construction or upgrades
Conduit and Wiring
- Install conduit runs from the roof to your electrical room ahead of time
- Specify oversized conduit if future expansion is planned
- Use proper labelling for solar circuits to comply with code and utility inspections
Metering
- Use bi-directional utility meters to account for solar exports
- Install revenue-grade solar production meters for performance tracking
- Consider utility requirements for net metering and interconnection (some provinces have limits)
Choose the Right Procurement Path
Commercial solar installations can be owner-financed (capex investment, full tax benefits), third-party financed via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), or leased systems with fixed monthly payments.
Each model has trade-offs around tax credits, operational costs, and long-term value. For example, PPAs may offer low-to-no upfront cost but come with longer contractual obligations. The right procurement model can bring you closer to energy independence while keeping financial flexibility and reducing your carbon footprint.
Plan for Long-Term Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
Solar systems require far less maintenance than traditional infrastructure, but are not “set and forget.” Your solar system will run for 25+ years, but only if it is maintained well. That means you must plan for O&M access and monitoring from the design stage.
Safe Access to Solar PV Systems
Install roof tie-off points, railings, or parapets to comply with Working at Height safety laws. Guarantee permanent ladders or hatches are code-compliant & safe, and allow clear walkways between panel rows for inspections and cleaning.
Monitoring Infrastructure
Include module-level or string-level monitoring systems. Install production meters that can be remotely tracked and use environmental sensors (irradiance, temperature) to correlate performance.
Cleaning & Inspection
Dirty or degraded panels can lose up to 15% efficiency, so ongoing inspections are not optional but a core performance requirement. Develop a cleaning schedule, and integrate:
- Annual visual inspections
- Periodic IV curve tracing
- Testing of earthing, junction boxes, & inverter health.
Design roof access and water points to support safe cleaning and schedule inspections for:
- Cracked modules or delamination
- Wiring degradation or rodent damage
- Inverter faults or hot spots (using thermal imaging)
Document your Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP) and align it with the warranty conditions provided by the module and inverter manufacturers.
Coordinate with All Stakeholders When Installing Solar Panels
Role | Responsibility |
Building Owner | Provides access, signs off on the financial model |
Electrical Engineer | Panel upgrades, interconnection |
Structural Engineer | Roof integrity certification |
Installer/Contractor | System design, permitting, and installation |
O&M Provider | Post-install support, performance checks |
Financier | PPA/lease terms, credit checks |
Utility | Grid integration, net metering setup |
Having a specific solar contractor is highly recommended to keep timelines aligned and communication clear. Coordination is essential for timely, cost-effective implementation, be it a retrofit or a new solar project in Vancouver.
Customized Solar Solutions Begin with Building Preparation
We at MAG Solar don’t just bolt panels to rooftops; we engineer long-term clean energy solutions. A commercial solar system is a 25+ year asset, and like any good investment, the value is built in the prep. So, if you’re retrofitting a warehouse in Vancouver or designing a new distribution center in Calgary, be sure to include solar readiness in your construction plans.
Need expert advice? Reach out, and we can help you make smart, solar-powered decisions from blueprint to commissioning and beyond.
