Improvementt of the water resistancy in the integration of photovoltaic panels on traditional roofs

The use of innovative technologies in order to improve performance and reduce energy costs is one of the most important requirements currently in refurbishment projects. This paper begins by outlining some requirements (functional, technical and aesthetical) that must be met for integrated devices, like building integrated photovoltaic panels (BIPV), within the context of current knowledge of historical roofing techniques. We then consider the area around the BIPV which has an increased possibility of water infiltration, locally and near the eaves. Different specimens, on 1:1 scale, were produced, at the Laboratory of the Department of Building Engineering and Territorial Systems (DISET)1 ly Department of Structural Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG). he Politecnico di Torino, in order to improve current devices from a technical and aesthetical point of view, according to the critical aspects described, and to satisfy the requirement of the current legislation in Italy2 r example, for Piedmont area, D.G.R. n. 45-11967 of 04.08.2009, that gives some technical and aesthetical requirements to be observed. ally, some wind driven rain experimental tests were carried out, in order to improve the local water resistancy of devices and some solutions are proposed. in results can be resumed as follow: udy has carried out the most important criteria for the effective design of each element composing the connecting system; ter resistancy of the critical area of the fitting system at the inferior corner of the panel can be ameliorated introducing a flow divider, which characteristics are defined; oposed solutions are related to a common modularity, in order to be adapted to different existing systems or panels.