IronRidge, an ESDEC company, has streamlined the process of designing and installing its solar ground mount structures when using ground screws as the foundation.
In March, IronRidge completed compatibility testing with Krinner Foundations’ G-Series ground screw and American Ground Screw‘s Model-3 ground screw and now offers a certified systems engineering letter. Both ground screw options are now part of the UL2703 listing for IronRidge XR Ground Based System.
IronRidge manufactures custom attachment hardware which is required to connect the sub-structure to the ground screws. These hex-head set screws provide corrosion protection and a thread-locking coating to prevent fasteners from loosening over time. IronRidge has designed and tested this set for use with both Krinner Foundations’ and American Ground Screw’s products to meet the load requirements placed on the system.
IronRidge has added the option to select ground screws in its “Ground Mount Design Assistant” online platform.
In a recent survey of IronRidge installers, ground screws were chosen over cement pilings 2-to-1. The foundations work in a variety of soil types and conditions, from sandy and rocky to hard-packed clay. That isn’t always the case with poured footings.
“IronRidge has long been committed to reducing our installer’s soft costs, and this latest initiative to streamline the design and install of ground mount systems delivers on that promise,” said Rich Tiu, IronRidge CEO. “We have collaborated closely with two pre-eminent manufacturers of ground screws to make this possible. And we listened closely to our installers to deepen our understanding of their processes. The result is a combination of hardware, software, and engineering that saves installers time and money.”
