Roof builder 2 – Shading objects, safety paths, restriction zones & PV areas

Introduction

This article continues the overview of the Roof builder tool, focusing on how you can simulate real-world scenarios for accurate PV system design.
It explains how to:

• Create realistic designs by adding shading objects (like blocks, trees, and buildings) to simulate real-world obstructions and define their parameters accurately
• Draw safety paths on the roof with specified widths and offsets.
• Mark off areas where PV modules cannot be placed by adding restriction zones
• Have greater control over your layout by adding a custom PV area
   

Shading objects 

PVcase allows adding 3D shading objects to represent real-world obstacles. Placing shading objects correctly is crucial, as it allows you to perform a shading analysis and see how these objects will affect your system. Then, based on this information, you can make the best possible decisions about your design.

To add shading objects, use the Shading objects menu. 
Here you have two options to choose from:

• On the roof
• Near the roof  

The location of the shading objects will also determine the type of objects available, as explained below.

On the roof

This option includes the following shading objects:

• Block
• Chimney
• Skylight AC
• Smoke ventilator

All of the objects will be placed on the roof.

Near the roof

This option includes trees and buildings. All of the objects will be placed near the roof.

Object creation

Regardless of the location you have selected for your shading objects, the Object creation section allows you to modify their parameters.
Once you have configured the parameters, you can include the objects in your design.
If you want to add a new object, click Add object.
Alternatively, if you want to use an existing object, go straight to the Pick object option.

Pick object 

To use this object placement option, you must define the object shapes in advance. You can convert non-PVcase shading objects into PVcase objects. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Adjust Parameters. Manually set the height and offsets for the objects. The width and length will be taken automatically from the DWG shape
2. Click Pick object 
3. Select the desired object from the drawing
4. Press either Space or Enter on your keyboard to finalize object placement

Object quick overview and edits

After you have included a shading object, you can hover over it to get a quick overview:

You can also make some quick edits, without reopening the Roof builder menu:

1. Select the object
2. Right-click and select Roof Mount; then Edit objects

3. Apply the changes in the Edit shading objects window

4. Click Update to apply the changes

Add object

To add a new shading object to your design, follow these steps:

1. Click Add object
2. Place the object in the model space by clicking on the desired location

Once the object has been placed, the Roof builder modal will reappear. You can then reedit the parameters if needed.

You can also add an identical shading object, by applying one of the following options:

• Repeat the same steps
• Right-click on the object and select .ADDOBJECT

• Use the .ADDOBJECT command directly

Safety Path

Including safety paths in the design process early on makes compliance with safety regulations much easier.

You may draw a safety path on the roof using the Safety path function. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click on Safety path
2. Specify the width (e.g., 2m) and press Space or Enter

3. Specify the offset from the road (e.g., 0.5m) and press Space or Enter

After you’ve defined the parameters of the safety path, there are two options draw it:

• Select safety path polyline
• Press ESC to draw it

Select safety path polyline

This function will convert existing polylines to safety paths. To do so, select the polylines and press Space or Enter on the keyboard to finalize the process.

Press ESC to draw safety path

This function lets the user draw the safety paths manually. To use the function, after the path parameters are defined, press the ESC key on the keyboard and you will be able to draw the road by clicking in the model space.

Restriction zone

To ensure compliance with structural, shading, regulatory, safety, or aesthetic constraints, you can add restriction zones to your design.

After clicking on the Restriction zone button, you will have two options to choose from:

• Add object
• Pick object

Add object

1. Click Add object 

2. Select the restriction type (Rectangle, Circle, Polyline)

3. Specify the first corner point

4. Draw the object

Pick object

1. Click Pick object 
2. Select the desired object from the drawing
3. Adjust the object’s parameters
4. Press either Space or Enter on your keyboard to finalize object placement

PV area

Roof builder also allows you to create a Custom PV area. This gives you more control in layout generation by creating micro areas for our software to generate modules on. Every PV area would apply layout settings separately.

To do so, click Custom PV area. You will then have two options to create your PV area outline:

• Click Pick, to select an outline from your layout

• Click Add, to draw an outline as a polyline or a rectangle

Here’s an example of drawing a rectangular PV area:

Roof builder health check

Uneven roof surfaces, known as non-planar, can cause problems, such as modules being placed at varying tilts. This can result in unrealistic visual representations and stringing complications.
The Assign slope algorithm minimizes the creation of non-planar roof surfaces. However, given that the Roof builder is extremely flexible, non-planar surfaces can still come about if you create ridges or slopes incorrectly.
This is where the Roof health section comes in: it will show you how many surfaces there are for your building(s) and how many need your attention. By clicking Highlight, you’ll see the problematic surfaces.

And if you need assistance adjusting the surface, you can use the Planarize roof function.

Planarize roof

The PVcase Roof Mount context menu includes a Planarize roof function, which you can use to automatically correct uneven surfaces:

1. Right-click on the highlighted surface
2. Go to Roof Mount
3. Select Planarize roof

The images below show a roof surface before and after using the Planarize roof function: