Commercial rooftop solar is the dominant on-site renewable for UK B2B property. Roof-mounted PV uses unused space, requires no land acquisition, and pairs naturally with the building's electrical infrastructure. Every UK commercial roof type can be installed with full manufacturer warranty preservation.
Roof types covered
Profiled steel (Kingspan, Tata Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra, Corus Twin Therm, Ruukki RM): excellent — ballasted or mechanical fixing depending on roof age and warranty status. Single-ply membrane (Sika Sarnafil PVC, IKO Spectraplan, Firestone UltraPly TPO, Firestone RubberGard EPDM): excellent — ballasted only, preserves warranty. Modified bitumen (Bauder, IKO Hot-Melt): excellent — ballasted. Asphalt: ballasted with appropriate slip sheets. Asbestos cement: requires re-roof first (a combined project is coordinated by the installer).
Mounting systems
Ballasted (concrete or steel weight): preserves manufacturer warranty, no penetration, slightly higher dead load. Mechanical fixing (bolts through cladding): lower dead load but voids warranty on most modern systems. Hybrid (ballast + minimal anchors): preserves warranty with reduced dead load. We use the right system for your specific roof.
Common questions about commercial rooftop solar
Will commercial rooftop solar void our roof warranty?
Mechanical fixing typically does. Ballasted mounting preserves warranty for all major UK roof systems (Kingspan, Tata, Sika, IKO, Firestone, Bauder). Manufacturer pre-design review should be standard for every project.
How heavy is a commercial rooftop solar system?
Ballasted: 15-20 kg/sqm (concrete/steel ballast holding array). Mechanical: 5-10 kg/sqm (anchored to structural purlins). Most modern commercial roofs (post-2010) are sized for both. Older buildings sometimes need structural assessment.