Project Design & Study

ISSOL has internalized design capacities since 2009 for very architectural Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) installations. The aim is to assist architects and engineers in the design of the right glazing product for their project, in the respect of esthetics and both photovoltaic and building codes.

In that perspective ISSOL will also propose to build customized active glazing samples. This sampling campaign is often crucial for architects to choose the right product and finish. Having its own glass production facilities, ISSOL will link studies to sampling directly.

In the context of the project, ISSOL would act as technical partner to architects and consultants that already work on the project with the aim to ease their conception and material choices.

Here is a non-extensive list of services that ISSOL engineers and architects can deliver:

• Internal BIPV glazing design – cells pattern study
• glazing thickness study
• glazing finish study and customization
• glazing electrical attributes, connection, junction boxes, power, stringing layout
• active glass sample
• total installed power linked to glass customization
• output calculation in MWh/y
• shadow study
• tendering documents (datasheets, texts)
• normative study (IEC, CE and building codes)
• Fixation details and interactions with the façade maker
• BOS, electrical dimensioning and string’s layout

ISSOL can produce a design of each different piece of active glazing. Each one would then have a detailed internal cell layout organization integrating parameters such as tension, voltage, transparency, min and max gaps between PV cells or to the edge of the glass for electrical protection and against glass delamination.

Example of glass study

Glazing thickness has to be calculated regarding local environmental loads (wind, snow) or other loads (walkability…) The format of the glass will be directly linked to the thickness of the complex, with optimal formats to be found for industrial/on site manutention.

At ISSOL we have the capacity to offer several glazing customizations on the finish (Albarino glazing, 3D patterned glazing).

ISSOL calculate the power of each piece of glazing. It is important to keep parameters like the number of cells in a single line under a certain value. Positioning of junction boxes and, most important, the global stringing layout that has to link active glazing equally is to be carefully drawn.

Usually energy consultants need to start from a particular data that is the total installed power per tilt and azimuth.

This data will be measured in kWp (kilowatt peak) and delivered by ISSOL depending on the customization made on the active glass.

As for shadow studies, the global output may be calculated by energy consultants. MWh/y values, if linked to a precise output objective, is sometimes usefully challenged or compared.

These are optional services as energy consultants are sometimes equipped to provide the shadow study. However ISSOL has particular software dedicated to architectural photovoltaics that are compatible with most usual 3D design software.

Once the final layout decided, ISSOL will provide documents ready for tendering process such as detailed glazing plans, glass thickness, stringing layouts, balance of system, description of all products and norms.

Active BIPV glazing has to deal with PV norms such as IECs directly coming from standard PV industry, which is sometimes tricky dealing with. Our experts ensure that the customized product will well be compatible with those PV norms, or if necessary, deliver additional testing and results.

Most important: ISSOL can verify the good compatibility with building codes. This step, often forgotten by PV actors, is key as our glazing, before being active, is part of the building envelope and has to follow the same dimensioning.

Included in ISSOL services: A real view of every kind of active glazing that may fit in the project.
Those samples are usually 4 cells laminated glass 400/400mm.

Next to the glass sampling campaign, ISSOL may provide real-size mock up on the project size.