Installing solar panels? Your roof may contain asbestos.
Many older roofs, particularly corrugated cement sheets on industrial, agricultural, and commercial buildings, contain asbestos. You cannot install solar panels on an asbestos cement roof without first addressing the asbestos.
Drilling, cutting, or applying loads to asbestos cement roofing releases dangerous fibres. Most solar installers will refuse to work on a roof that hasn't been cleared, and doing so without proper assessment is a legal offence in most jurisdictions.
The process typically involves: asbestos survey to confirm the material, removal of asbestos roofing by a licensed contractor, installation of new roofing, and then solar panel installation. Some grant programmes cover part of the asbestos removal cost when combined with solar installation.
The Problem
Industrial buildings represent the largest opportunity for rooftop solar, and the highest probability of asbestos cement roofing. Factories, workshops, and production halls built before 2000 almost universally used corrugated asbestos cement sheets for their large roof spans.
The combination of ageing, weathered asbestos cement and the structural loads of industrial-scale solar arrays makes removal mandatory rather than optional. Attempting to install panels on deteriorating asbestos roofing risks catastrophic fibre release and structural failure.
What You Need
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are people getting rid of their solar panels?
Some homeowners remove solar panels when roof repairs are needed, particularly when the roof contains asbestos cement that must be replaced first. Others replace ageing panels with more efficient modern technology.
What is the 20% rule for solar?
The 20% rule refers to planning guidelines requiring that solar installations do not protrude more than 20cm from the roof surface. Permitted development rights vary by property type and local authority.
Who is the biggest manufacturer of solar panels?
LONGi Green Energy is currently the world's largest solar panel manufacturer by capacity. For asbestos-related concerns, the manufacturer is less relevant than ensuring the roof is ACM-free before installation.
What is the biggest drawback of solar panels?
The main drawback is the upfront cost and the need for a structurally sound, asbestos-free roof. For buildings with asbestos roofing, the combined cost of roof replacement and solar installation must be factored in.
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