Solar Neighbourhoods

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Solar Hot Water Contractors and Installers

Please note: Current versions of building permit materials along with presentations and webinar recordings on building permit and roof assessment processes are also available at www.SolarPermits.ca

The Solar Neighbourhoods program has pre-qualified a number of systems and installers. Solar Neighbourhoods eligible systems are required to meet certain performance standards and installers are required to have CANSIA training. You must deal with a Solar Neighbourhoods eligible installer to receive the Solar Neighbourhoods rebate (see incentives page for more details). Solar Neighbourhoods eligible installers will apply for a building permit on your behalf and the cost will be included in the system package price. Click here For a full list of systems and installers.

Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Purchasing Guides
Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods has developed a number of guides to support professional solar contractors and to assist homeowners that are considering the purchase of a solar domestic hot water (SDHW) system in Toronto.

Document	Information
Homeowner Solar Site Evaluation	This guide provides homeowners with some basic guidelines for a self evaluation of your home’s potential for installing a solar hot water heating system.
How to Select a Solar Contractor	This guide provides helpful information when considering selecting a solar contractor for your installation.
Making your Home Solar Ready	This Toronto Building document provides advice on how you can prepare your home for a solar hot water system in the future.

Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Installation Guides
You must obtain a building permit to install a solar hot water system in the City of Toronto. Solar Neighbourhoods has worked with Toronto Building to create a solar-ready application process. If you are an installer or homeowner looking to install your own system, please review the documents listed below.

Document	Information
A Guide to Roof Assessment for SDHW Systems	This provides advice on how to assess your roof’s structure when considering installing a SDHW system.
Building Permit Application Submission Checklist	This is to be used when applying for a building permit for a SDHW system with a certified plan through the Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Initiative. It provides helpful information for projects throughout Toronto.
A Guide for Building Permit Submissions for Residential SDHW Systems	This provides information on the requirements for obtaining a building permit to install a residential SDHW system in Toronto. Use this guide when preparing your Building Permit Application with the forms listed below.
SDHW Inspection Report	This inspection report is a checklist to insure that the SDHW system is installed according to industry best practices.

Toronto Building’s SDHW Building Permit Forms
Toronto Building, with assistance from Solar Neighbourhoods, has developed building permit forms specifically for residential SDHW systems. Toronto Buildings’ standard forms can be downloaded directly from Toronto Building’s website at www.toronto.ca/building/forms.htm

Form	Information
Tree Declaration Form	This fillable form has been partially completed with typical information needed for a SDHW system installation.
Declaration of Time Frames	This fillable form has been partially completed with typical information needed for a SDHW system installation.
Building Permit Application – For SDHW Structural	This fillable form has been partially completed with typical information needed for a SDHW system installation.
Building Permit Application – For SDHW Mechanical (Plumbing)	This fillable form has been partially completed with typical information needed for a SDHW system installation.
SDHW Roof Structure Report	This is required to be submitted with you building permit application. It is used in conjunction with the structural drawing to confirm that the roof has adequate capacity to hold the solar collectors. Print on legal sized paper.
Backflow Prevention Device Test Report	Upon completion of the installation of the SDHW System the reduced pressure principle backflow preventer device (RP BFP) must be tested by a Certified Backflow Prevention Tester in accordance with the CSA B 64 standard requirements. The test report must be submitted to the inspector.
SDHW System Inspection Report	This report is required to be completed by a certified solar installer or a certified engineer upon completion of the installation and faxed into Toronto Building or provided to the building inspector at the Toronto Building site inspection.

Guides to Get Your SDHW System Approved by Toronto Building
The Ontario Building Codes deals with both the structural and mechanical elements of installing a SDHW system. The SDHW system you install must both be in conformance with CSA F379: Standard Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems and have a rack design that complies with the Ontario Building Code. Contractors who install SDHW systems in Toronto may wish to have a Certified Plan issued by Toronto Building for their product.

Form

Information

Documentation for Development of Standard Drawings

This form by Solar Neighbourhoods provides guidelines for Professional Engineers to develop stamped drawings and a letter of conformance for SDHW systems that are not certified to CSA F379.

Documentation for SDHW Certified Plan Review

This fillable form (along with support documentation) is required to be submitted to Toronto Building for review and then issuance of a certified plan or when submitting with a building permit application for a product that has not been certified for installation by Toronto Building.

Suppliers may submit this form to the Energy Efficiency Office for a review prior to submitting documentation to Toronto Building. A listing of the SDHW systems which have certified products can be found below. Contact Solar Neighbourhoods at solar@toronto.ca or 416-392-6795 to obtain further information.

Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems with Certified Plans
The following SDHW Systems have had certified plans approved by Toronto Building. These systems have been pre-reviewed by Toronto Building officials and go through a reduced review process when building permits applications are submitted. This list is current as of 20-Nov-09. Contact information for the suppliers can be found at www.solarneighbourhoods.ca/suppliers.php

Product Name	Certified Plan No.	Supplier or Manufacturer	Roof Types Allowed	Restrictions
VP-G	09-148268	Boss Solar	Sloped or flat roofs.
EWRA2-TEC/TEM	09-148269	Enerworks Inc	Sloped roofs.
CC47-15	09-148270	CC Solar Inc	Sloped or flat roofs.
GSE IP-195	09-148271-1	Greensaver	Sloped, over peak or flat roofs.	Seasonal use only
Solar Boiler	09-186399	ThermoDynamics	Sloped or flat roofs.
EWRA2-TEC/TEM	09-186400	Enerworks Inc. flat roof rack by Skyline	Flat roofs.
EWRA2- TEC/TEM	09-186400	Enerworks Inc. flat roof rack by Skyline	Flat roofs.
Sunnyback 10	09-190093	Solsmart	Sloped roofs (flat roofs pending)

Standard Sloped Roof Rack for Flat Plate Collectors
The following drawings and support documents have been developed by the Energy Efficiency Office for sloped roof installations of flat plate solar collectors. The standard roof rack design shown in these drawings can be used in a certified plan submission or for a single building permit application for sloped roofs for flat plate solar collectors that fall within the parameters defined in the drawings.

Standard Sloped Roof Rack – Structural Drawings

Standard Sloped Roof Rack – Engineering Letter

System Commissioning Report

System Commissioning Report to be filed by contractor for TSNI incentive payment

Solar Neighbourhoods Program Guide

The Solar Neighbourhoods program is now closed. This guide is provided for information purposes only.

System manuals

Enerworks system manual

EnerWorks system controller manual

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