What does this rooftop solar pv rough-in checklist cover?

15 items across 4 sections, covering layout and roof readiness, attachment and flashing, racking and layout, conduit rough. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.

Who should run this inspection?

The install crew lead laying out the array, with the GC's superintendent or roofer signing off penetrations before they are hidden.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

After layout is chalked and attachments are set, before any modules land on the roof and while every penetration is still open to inspect and re-flash.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

11 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 16 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.

What most often fails a rooftop solar pv rough-in inspection?

Standoffs lagged into decking or sheathing instead of hitting the rafter or truss below, so the pull-out capacity was never there. Flashing slid under the shingle course on the downslope side only, leaving the upslope edge exposed to run-off. Ballast blocks counted against the layout drawing but never checked against the roof's allowable load for that zone.

Can I use this checklist in RTI?

Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

Free checklist

Rooftop solar PV

Rooftop solar PV rough-in inspection checklist

Rooftop solar PV rough-in is the last time the work is fully visible. Once the cover inspection passes and the walls, ceilings and slabs close, every defect left behind becomes a demolition bill. This checklist walks the rough-in in the order the work goes in, with the photo each item needs before it gets buried. Work is commonly verified against NEC (NFPA 70), the applicable building code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Layout and roof readiness

Array layout chalked with the setbacks and pathways on the plan
Chalk lines measured from the actual ridge, hips and roof edges and matching the fire-access setbacks and pathways shown on the permitted layout.
Racking, mounts and flashing kits match the approved submittal
Box and part labels for rails, mounts, flashing and clamps checked against the approved submittal for maker and model before they go on the roof.
Roofing under the array footprint checked before it is covered
Roof covering inside the array area walked for damage, soft spots or worn areas, and anything found reported to the roofer while it can still be reached.
Permit set and structural review on the roof with the crew
Stamped layout, attachment detail and the engineer's roof review on hand, and the revision the crew is working from matches the permitted set.
No photo

Attachment and flashing

Each penetration flashed and sealed to the roof system
Flashing integrated into the roof covering so water sheds over it, sealant at the fastener per the mount maker's detail, no reverse laps.
Standoffs and mounts land on structural members
Lag or structural screw engaging the rafter, truss or purlin, not just decking; layout matched to the framing spacing found on the roof.
Every missed or abandoned pilot hole sealed before flashing
Holes that missed the member or were moved accounted for and sealed per the mount maker's instructions before the flashing or base covers them.
No photo

Racking and layout

Rail or ballast layout matches the stamped plan
Row spacing, cantilevers and mount count per the engineered layout; on ballasted systems, block count and placement per the zone loading.
Rails leveled and splices bonded
Rails straight and coplanar so modules seat flat, splice kits installed where rails join, no gaps that break the bonding path.
Racking leaves roof drainage paths open
Rails, ballast and wire runs laid so water still flows to drains, gutters and valleys; nothing dams a valley or sits in a drain sump.
Rail expansion breaks where the racking maker requires them
On long rail runs, breaks or expansion splices at the spacing the racking instructions give, with modules not clamped across the gap.
No photo
Mount and rail bolts torqued and torque-striped
Mount-to-rail and base bolts run down to the racking maker's value with a calibrated tool and striped so any hardware that loosens later shows.

Conduit rough

Conduit runs and roof transitions roughed in
Conduit supported off the roof, transition point flashed, home-run pathway to the inverter and combiner established before modules block access.
Inverter and disconnect locations set where the plan shows
Wall or pad space for the inverter, disconnects and meter laid out per the plan, with clear working space in front and nothing stored in the way.
AHJ rough or structural inspection called before modules land
Attachment or rough inspection requested and its result recorded before modules cover the mounts; any correction notice noted for the crew.
No photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Standoffs lagged into decking or sheathing instead of hitting the rafter or truss below, so the pull-out capacity was never there.
Flashing slid under the shingle course on the downslope side only, leaving the upslope edge exposed to run-off.
Ballast blocks counted against the layout drawing but never checked against the roof's allowable load for that zone.

Verified against

NEC (NFPA 70)

Common questions

6 answers

What does this rooftop solar pv rough-in checklist cover?: 15 items across 4 sections, covering layout and roof readiness, attachment and flashing, racking and layout, conduit rough. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
Who should run this inspection?: The install crew lead laying out the array, with the GC's superintendent or roofer signing off penetrations before they are hidden.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: After layout is chalked and attachments are set, before any modules land on the roof and while every penetration is still open to inspect and re-flash.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 11 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 16 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
What most often fails a rooftop solar pv rough-in inspection?: Standoffs lagged into decking or sheathing instead of hitting the rafter or truss below, so the pull-out capacity was never there. Flashing slid under the shingle course on the downslope side only, leaving the upslope edge exposed to run-off. Ballast blocks counted against the layout drawing but never checked against the roof's allowable load for that zone.
Can I use this checklist in RTI?: Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

Related checklists

Rooftop solar PV FinalRooftop solar PV final inspection checklistModules torqued, grounding and wire management complete, rapid-shutdown and labeling in place, with energization observed and documented15 items20 photos Rooftop solar PV PunchRooftop solar PV punch checklistCloseout walk for module damage, loose clamps, missing labels and flashing touch-up9 items6 photos

Run it with the Photo Gate

A checklist nobody can submit half-finished

Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 16 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.