Zip tiles and installation of photovoltaic modules

This model of zipped tiles has few seams, is easy to install and has better performance against water infiltration through the roof.

4 minute(s) of reading

Large roofs, such as those in logistics and industrial centers, have cost, construction time and mechanical resistance requirements that differentiate them from the construction of a common roof.

One of the covering solutions that has grown among industrial warehouses is the zip tile. It differs from a common metal tile, mainly, in its installation method.

The metal that forms the tile comes rolled into sheets that are cut and folded during installation, giving the shape and length necessary for the roof.

Because of this property, tiles can be long, reaching up to 70 m long by 4 m wide. The closure between the sheets, or the union between them (seams), is the main feature that makes this solution different from others.

Compared to traditional metal tiles, which are available in much smaller pieces, the seam solution has fewer seams and is easier to install, which also leads to better performance against water infiltration through the roof.

Zip tiles also tend to have greater resistance to mechanical loads, typically starting at 50 kgf/m², while traditional metal tiles start at 20 kgf/m².

It is common for this type of tile to find 100% guarantees of watertightness as long as perforation does not occur.

Telhas_zipadas_são_montadas_no_próprio_local_da_instalação.jpg — Figure 1: Zipped tiles are assembled at the installation site

The shaped tiles have an elevation on their edges that will later be pressed and folded by a special machine for this finishing, known as a zipper. This folding process gives rise to the name “zipped”.

Figura x Elevação na extremidade de telha que precisa ser dobrada para a finalização da montagempng — Figure 2: Elevation at the end of the tile that needs to be bent to complete the assembly

Detalhe do fechamento das telhas zipadas — Figure 3: Detail of the closure of the zipped tiles

Zipadora elétrica equipamento que garante o fechamento entre telhas fazendo uma costura ao longo de todo o comprimento das telhas — Figure 4: Electric zipper equipment that ensures closure between tiles by creating a seam along the entire length of the tiles

The sheets that form the tiles are treated against corrosion, and can be made of galvalume, zincalume and galvanized steel, among others.

To maintain these protections and reduce possible water entry points, they cannot be punctured. The tiles are fixed to the shed structure using a metal support that is pressed between the zipped sheets, as shown in the figure below.

Suporte especial para telhas zipadas fixadas na estrutura pela compressão do parafuso com a porca — Figure 5: Installation of zipped tiles

Is it possible to install photovoltaic panels on roofs with zip tiles?

The installation of supports for a photovoltaic system on this type of roof differs mainly by the fact that it is not possible to drill holes in the tiles or directly fix them to the metal structure that supports them.

To install the panels, it is necessary to use a special clamp that works like a clamp, which is attached to the geometry of the tile (zipped part) through pressure given by the screw and nut mechanism. This type of assembly is illustrated in the figure below.

Suporte especial para telhas zipadas fixados pela compressão do parafuso com a porca — Figure 6: Special support for zipped tiles fixed by compressing the screw with the nut

The supports receive the clamps that will guarantee the fixation of the modules.

Os_grampos_são_fixados_no_suporte_e_nos_módulos.jpeg — Figure 7: Clamps are attached to the bracket and modules

This solution, in addition to being suitable for zipped tiles, has a reduced cost when compared to applications in conventional metal tiles.

This is due to the smaller quantity of parts and materials used, including reducing installation costs and transportation costs to the construction site.