Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-04-17 Origin: Site
As the core supporting structure of photovoltaic power stations, the installation method of photovoltaic supports directly determines the stability, construction efficiency, investment cost, and long-term operation and maintenance convenience of the power station. The overall structural design of supports must integrate factors such as roof type, load-bearing capacity, regional climate, and project scale to select an appropriate installation scheme. This scheme should not only meet the structural requirements of component support, wind resistance, and earthquake resistance but also balance construction convenience and economic efficiency. Currently, the mainstream installation methods for supports in the industry are mainly divided into four categories: on-site pouring of cement piers on concrete roofs, precast cement brick counterweight, steel structure connection, and special installation for color steel tile roofs. This paper comprehensively analyzes the structural characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and applicable scenarios of each installation method, providing technical references for the selection of photovoltaic support installation schemes.
On-site pouring of cement piers on concrete roofs is currently the most prevalent and widely used method for photovoltaic support installation. It is primarily applicable to flat concrete roofs (e.g., industrial and commercial plant roofs, residential building roofs). Its core principle is to use on-site poured concrete piers as the load-bearing foundation for supports, firmly connecting support columns to the piers. The self-weight and structural strength of concrete ensure stable fixation of the supports, which complies with the core requirements for support foundation load-bearing specified in the "Code for Construction of Photovoltaic Power Stations".
The core advantage of this installation method lies in its strong structural stability. Concrete piers form a tight bond with the roof base, effectively resisting external loads such as strong winds and snow. Furthermore, no drilling through the roof waterproof layer is required throughout the process, which maximizes the protection of the original roof waterproof structure and eliminates potential water seepage risks in later stages, aligning with the general principle of "protecting the original structure and ensuring waterproof sealing" for roof photovoltaic installations. Additionally, cement piers feature readily available materials and relatively low costs, making them suitable for the load-bearing conditions of most concrete roofs and applicable to both small distributed photovoltaic power stations and large-scale industrial and commercial power stations.
However, its limitations are also notable: first, the construction period is prolonged. After pouring, cement piers require a curing period of more than one week, and supports can only be installed once the concrete strength reaches over 70% of the design strength, which significantly delays the overall construction progress. Second, labor and material costs are high. The pouring process demands substantial labor for formwork erection, concrete mixing, and pouring, along with a large number of prefabricated formworks. The transportation, erection, and dismantling of these formworks further increase construction workload. Third, it imposes high requirements on the construction site. The pouring process occupies a large area of the roof, potentially disrupting the normal operation of existing roof facilities.
The precast cement brick installation method is an optimized alternative to on-site cement pier pouring. Its core logic is consistent with that of poured cement piers—both achieve support fixation through counterweight. The key difference is that precast cement bricks can be mass-produced in factories in advance, transported to the site, and directly placed and positioned without on-site pouring. This method is suitable for concrete roof projects with strict construction period requirements and adequate roof load-bearing capacity.
Compared with on-site cement pier pouring, this method offers a significant advantage in construction efficiency. It eliminates the need for on-site formwork erection, concrete pouring, and curing; precast cement bricks can be quickly placed and fixed upon arrival at the site, greatly shortening the construction period. Meanwhile, counterweight specifications can be customized in advance according to project requirements, reducing the use of cement embedded parts and simplifying on-site construction complexity. Additionally, precast cement bricks exhibit higher quality controllability—standardized factory production ensures consistent strength and dimensional accuracy, avoiding potential quality defects associated with on-site pouring.
Its main disadvantages are concentrated in transportation: a single precast cement brick is relatively heavy, requiring specialized transportation equipment for batch transportation, which substantially increases transportation costs. This challenge is particularly prominent for projects in remote areas or those with limited roof access. Additionally, the placement of precast cement bricks requires precise positioning; excessive positioning deviation may affect support installation accuracy and stability, demanding high operational standards from construction personnel. Furthermore, its counterweight performance is slightly inferior to that of on-site poured cement piers. In extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, additional cement bricks are required to enhance stability, which may increase roof load pressure.
The steel structure connection method is mainly applicable to large-scale industrial and commercial photovoltaic power stations (500kW and above, even megawatt-level projects). Its core structural design involves installing a flange plate at the bottom of each support column, using galvanized section steel to splice multiple supports into a large array. The self-weight of the support array enhances wind resistance, and only a small number of cement piers are required at roof load-bearing points to fix the entire array. This design aligns with the core needs of large-scale power stations for "efficient installation and convenient operation and maintenance".
This method offers distinct advantages: first, installation is fast and straightforward. Supports adopt a modular design, enabling quick splicing via galvanized section steel and flange plates without complex on-site pouring, which significantly shortens the construction period and improves efficiency. Second, disassembly is convenient. The support array is bolt-connected, allowing for quick disassembly during later maintenance, expansion, or removal, providing high flexibility. Third, it occupies relatively little roof space—only a small number of cement piers are needed at load-bearing points, maximizing roof space utilization for photovoltaic component installation. Additionally, galvanized section steel boasts excellent corrosion resistance, extending the service life of supports and complying with the corrosion resistance requirements specified in the "Code for Acceptance of Construction Quality of Steel Structure Engineering".
Its primary limitation is high cost. Supports utilize high-quality steel such as galvanized section steel, along with supporting flanges, high-strength bolts, and other connecting components, resulting in an overall support cost of no less than 1 yuan/W, which significantly increases the initial project investment. Additionally, it requires high construction technology standards—the splicing accuracy of the support array and the fixing quality of flange plates directly affect support stability. Improper construction may lead to issues such as support loosening or deformation, necessitating professional construction teams. Furthermore, the large self-weight of the support array imposes high requirements on roof load-bearing capacity, requiring pre-inspection of roof load-bearing to prevent structural damage.
Color steel tile roofs are the mainstream type for industrial and commercial plants. The support installation method for such roofs must integrate the profile characteristics and structural properties of color steel tiles, adopting a specialized installation scheme. The core principle is to avoid damaging the structure and waterproof performance of color steel tiles while meeting support fixation requirements, aligning with the core construction requirements of "leakage prevention and wind resistance" for color steel tile roofs.
Common profiles of color steel tile roofs mainly include three types: standing seam type, angle lock type, and ladder type. Among these, standing seam and angle lock color steel tiles feature stable wave peak structures; specialized aluminum alloy fixtures can be used at the wave peaks to fix support guide rails without drilling through the tiles, eliminating potential water seepage risks from the source. For ladder type color steel tiles, appropriate fixtures or auxiliary fixing components must be adopted according to their profile characteristics to ensure a firm connection between supports and tiles. Due to the limited load-bearing capacity of color steel tiles (typically 15~30kg/m²), supports are mostly installed in a flat layout to reduce local load pressure and prevent tile deformation or damage.
The advantages of this method include simple installation and a short construction period. No complex foundation construction is required, and specialized fixtures enable quick support fixation, making it suitable for large-scale photovoltaic installation in industrial and commercial plants. Additionally, aluminum alloy fixtures are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, avoiding damage to the color steel tile surface and extending the service life of both tiles and supports.
Its limitations mainly stem from the inherent characteristics of color steel tiles: the service life of domestic color steel tiles is usually 10~15 years, significantly shorter than the 25-year-plus service life of photovoltaic components. This may require synchronous replacement of color steel tiles during later power station operation and maintenance, increasing costs and difficulty. Furthermore, photovoltaic component coverage on color steel tile roofs hinders later inspection and maintenance of the tiles, easily accumulating potential safety hazards. Additionally, color steel tiles have limited wind resistance; in strong wind areas, additional support fixation measures are necessary to prevent separation between supports and tiles.
The selection of support installation methods must be comprehensively considered based on factors such as project scale, roof type, load-bearing capacity, construction period, and investment budget. For small distributed photovoltaic power stations (e.g., residential buildings, small plants) with concrete roofs and no strict construction period requirements, on-site cement pier pouring is preferred for its balance of stability and economy. For projects with strict construction period requirements, the precast cement brick counterweight method can be selected to improve efficiency. For large-scale industrial and commercial photovoltaic power stations, the steel structure connection method is optimal, as it adapts to large-scale installation needs while balancing construction efficiency and later operation and maintenance flexibility. For color steel tile roofs, a specialized support installation method must be selected based on the tile profile, with a focus on waterproof and fixation measures, and pre-inspection of roof load-bearing to avoid potential safety hazards.
The installation method of photovoltaic supports is a core link in their overall structural design, directly affecting the long-term stable operation and investment benefits of photovoltaic power stations. Each of the four mainstream installation methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, adapting to different application scenarios and project needs. In practical engineering applications, it is essential to combine on-site conditions, strictly follow industry standards, optimize support structural design, select appropriate installation methods, and strengthen construction quality control to ensure the stability, safety, and economy of support installation, laying a solid foundation for efficient power station operation. In the future, with the continuous development of photovoltaic technology, support installation methods will evolve toward greater efficiency, economy, and environmental friendliness, further promoting the high-quality development of the photovoltaic industry.
