Withstanding the storm

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Solar-powered ventilation products show surprising durability in severe weather and some models now comply with the FORTIFIED™ standard. 

When it comes to roofing in storm-prone areas, durability matters, especially for systems mounted directly on the roof. And for homeowners weighing the benefits of solar-powered attic ventilation, one of the biggest concerns is clear: will it hold up when hail, wind and extreme weather hit? In an episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Adam Keithly, vice president of operations at Attic Breeze, addressed this concern head-on with surprising insights about how their solar attic fans perform under pressure, literally. 

While Attic Breeze’s solar-powered ventilation systems are best known for their energy efficiency, it’s their rugged construction that’s caught the attention of contractors in hail-prone regions like Texas and Florida. Adam noted, “We have had instances where people have whole solar panel systems, like house-size systems on their roofs and our vent is installed next to it. Hail damage has come in and destroyed the large solar panels on the house and our vent holds up just fine.” 

Though the company doesn’t currently hold a certified hail impact rating, they’ve recently achieved an important wind certification: the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) rating for Florida. That means the product has passed testing against the extreme pressure gradients found in hurricane conditions. Adam explained, “That certification shows that our vents are going to hold up to those winds. They’re not going to rip off your roof and cause any more damage.”   

The Attic Breeze and Cardinal Ventilation models that were previously approved for HVHZ are now also approved to be used as part of FORTIFIED™ projects. Those models are:  

• Attic Breeze:  AB-2523A, AB-2543A, AB-3523A, AB-3543A, AB-4523A, AB-4543A  [All SFA and CMA models]  
• Cardinal Ventilation:  CV-XLP, CV-XLP PRO [All models] 

One reason for their exceptional performance, Adam said, is their compact and sturdy design. “Our solar panels are a little smaller than the traditional large solar panels that power the home. So, that makes them a little more rigid and a little more resistant to abuse from the elements.” While the system does not carry a specific impact rating, the solar panels themselves have been evaluated under the IEC61215 standard [equivalent to UL61215] which involves shooting 25mm [0.984”] ice balls at the panel with a velocity of 23 m/s [51.4 mph]. The solar panels withstood impact, remaining functional with no observed damage. 

For contractors working in hurricane zones or homeowners worried about adding new vulnerabilities to their roofs, this could be a game-changer. While many people associate solar products with fragility, Attic Breeze is flipping the script. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about the materials and design philosophy behind these solar-powered systems and how they’re holding up in real-world storm conditions!