Exploring Available Materials for Solar Birdproofing – Insist on Seeing the Material and Its Packaging
Australian Solar Mesh utilises Industry Specialised Stainless Steel with a Specialised Coating Far Superior than UV Protected PVC.
When safeguarding your solar panels against birds, choosing the right material is crucial.
Options range from:
Rubber gutter guard
HDPE plastic
Carbon steel
Galvanized steel
304 stainless steel
Each material, however, comes with its own set of challenges including potential for irreversible damage, unnecessary costs, and risks of voiding warranties.
Rubber Gutter Guard: Found in stores like Bunnings, these are an economical option but lack durability for long-term use. Birds and possums can easily damage them, and they block necessary ventilation required for the solar installation to dissipate heat in accordance with rules and regulations of electrical safety. This can lead to reduced efficiency, thermal stress, accelerated aging, and even electrical fire hazards, potentially reducing a solar panel's lifespan from 25 years to as few as 0-5 years in the worst scenarios.
HDPE Plastic: Touted as “safe for metal roofs,” HDPE can be effective in areas without prior pigeon problems. However, in regions where pigeons are common, this material may not hold up as these feral pigeons are quite aggressive. Furthermore, it isn’t adequate to prevent possums from breaking through. Like rubber guard, HDPE plastic impedes ventilation, leading to similar risks of reduced efficiency and increased thermal stress, cutting your solar panel's lifespan significantly.
Galvanized Steel: This option is more durable than rubber or plastic but not without its problems. Galvanized steel will begin to corrode after 5 to 10 years of exposure to the elements. For more detailed insights, please refer to our posts on “Understanding Grades of Steel” and “Unveiling the Truth About Aluminium Attachments.”
304 Stainless Steel: Widely used by pest control professionals, gutter technicians, and subcontractors to solar companies, 304 stainless steel is noted for its durability and effectiveness, however only in isolation. More information can be found in our “Understanding Grades of Steel” blog post.
Conclusion: Choosing the right material for solar birdproofing is more than just purchasing a product or engaging someone off the internet; it involves understanding the long-term impacts on your solar installation. When selecting materials, don’t just settle for seeing a sample. Demand to see the actual materials and the box they come in to verify quality and ensure compliance with safety standards. This small request has the capacity to mitigate a plethora of problems.