Solar Carport Frame

COMMERCIAL PARKING SOLAR CANOPY

Aluminum Solar Carport Frame

WANHOS solar carport frames transform open parking areas into elevated PV generation space while providing shade and weather cover for vehicles. The project-specific aluminum structure can be configured around the parking layout, module dimensions, vehicle clearance, local wind and snow loads, foundation conditions, drainage strategy and optional EV-charging infrastructure.

SOLUTION OVERVIEW

More Than a PV Rack on Tall Columns

A solar carport is a freestanding structure located in an active vehicle and pedestrian environment. Its design must coordinate the structural frame, foundations, parking circulation, drainage, electrical routing, lighting, grounding, vehicle-impact protection and local permit requirements. Treating these interfaces as one project reduces late changes and site conflicts.

CARPORT CONFIGURATIONS

Select the Layout Around Parking Operations

The best structural form depends on parking geometry, orientation, module coverage, drainage direction, foundation locations and how much interruption to the existing car park is acceptable.

DESIGN COORDINATION

Eight Decisions That Shape a Solar Carport Project

01  Parking layout:  Bay width and length, drive aisles, wheel stops, accessible spaces, pedestrian routes and entry or exit movements.

02  Vehicle envelope:  Minimum clearance, mirrors, open doors, vans, service vehicles, buses, trucks and any height-restriction equipment.

03  PV layout:  Module size, orientation, quantity, clamp zones, tilt, shading, maintenance access and fire-clearance requirements.

04  Structural loads:  Dead load, wind pressure and uplift, snow, rain accumulation, seismic effects and other locally required actions.

05  Foundations:  Soil capacity, groundwater, underground utilities, pavement, frost, drainage, anchor layout and construction access.

06  Water management:  Roof joints, drainage channels, gutters, downpipes, discharge points, ponding and snow or ice shedding.

07  Electrical integration:  Cable routes, bonding, grounding, combiner or inverter locations, lighting, EV chargers and equipment protection.

08  Permits and interfaces:  Planning, building, electrical, fire, accessibility, utility interconnection and car-park operating requirements.

WATER MANAGEMENT

Is a Solar Carport Waterproof?

A standard framed PV array is not automatically a watertight roof because water can pass through the gaps between modules and around penetrations. A weather-shedding or waterproof carport requires a specified system of module seals or under-roof sheeting, longitudinal and transverse drainage channels, gutters, downpipes, end details and controlled discharge.

Waterproofing performance must be defined in the project scope and coordinated with the exact module geometry and carport slope. Drainage capacity should be checked against local rainfall intensity, not only average annual rainfall.

STRUCTURE AND FOUNDATION

Carry Every Load Safely into the Ground

The carport frame and foundation form one structural system. Foundation selection cannot be finalized from the above-ground drawing alone.

REFERENCE CONFIGURATION

Preliminary Product Data

The original product information describes the reference arrangement below. These values are not universal limits and must be rechecked for the final geometry, module array, site loads and governing code.

Installation:  Outdoor parking areas

Reference Canopy Tilt:  5°–15°*

Reference Ground Clearance:  2,500 mm*

Reference Structural Span:  5,000 mm*

Reference Maximum Wind Speed:  Up to 42 m/s*

Reference Maximum Snow Load:  Up to 1.4 kN/m²*

Reference Structural Material:  Aluminum 6005-T5*

Surface Protection:  Anodized aluminum*

Reference Module Orientation:  Landscape*

Design Basis:  Applicable project-specific structural, building and electrical requirements

Warranty Reference:  10 years, subject to the confirmed system and written terms

Design Service Life Reference:  More than 20 years, subject to design, environment, installation and maintenance

*Reference values from the original configuration. Final capacity, dimensions, materials and member sizes require project calculations and approved drawings. Wind-speed format, return period, exposure and load combinations must be defined by the governing code.

SYSTEM SCOPE

Define What Is Included in the Carport Package

01  Primary Structure:  Columns, main beams, cantilever arms, braces and base plates.

02  PV Support Members:  Purlins or rails, splices, module clamps and compatible fasteners.

03  Structural Connections:  Bolts, nuts, washers, connection plates and identified assembly hardware.

04  Water-Management Options:  Module seals, drainage channels, gutters and downpipes when included in the agreed scope.

05  Electrical Accessories:  Cable-management parts, bonding hardware and equipment mounts where specified.

06  Excluded Civil or Electrical Work:  Foundations, pavement reinstatement, modules, inverters, EV chargers and field installation must be identified explicitly in the commercial offer.

INSTALLATION SEQUENCE

Coordinate Civil, Structural and PV Work

The final method statement, lifting plan, temporary bracing and inspection points must be prepared for the approved structure and site.

STEP 1  Survey and Set Out
Verify property limits, levels, parking markings, underground utilities, foundation centers and column clearances.

STEP 2  Construct and Inspect Foundations
Install footings, piles or anchors to the approved civil and structural drawings; check position, elevation and concrete or pile acceptance records.

STEP 3  Erect Columns and Main Beams
Use the specified lifting points, temporary bracing and connection sequence. Confirm plumb, level, alignment and bolt installation.

STEP 4  Install Bracing, Purlins and Rails
Complete the load-resisting system before installing modules and verify member spacing against the approved layout.

STEP 5  Install Water and Cable Systems
Fit specified seals, channels, gutters, downpipes, cable trays and conduits while maintaining drainage falls and electrical separation.

STEP 6  Mount Modules and Commission
Install modules within approved clamp zones, complete bonding and grounding, inspect fasteners, test drainage and electrical systems, and reinstate the parking area.

EV-CHARGING READY

Plan EV Infrastructure Before Concrete Is Poured

A solar carport can provide an effective platform for EV charging, but PV generation and charger demand are separate design inputs. Charger quantity, power level, simultaneity, load management, grid connection, battery storage and user operating profile determine the electrical solution.

Coordinate underground conduits, charger foundations, protective bollards, accessible charging spaces, network equipment and future spare capacity with the civil and structural work from the start. The carport frame alone does not make a project EV-ready.

PROJECT REFERENCES

Solar Canopies for Different Parking Environments

Reference images demonstrate possible arrangements only. Dimensions, foundations, member sizes, water-management details and electrical scope must be redesigned for each site.

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR DESIGN

What to Provide for an Accurate Carport Proposal

Send the project location, topographic and parking plan, site photographs, parking-space and drive-aisle dimensions, number and type of vehicles, required minimum clearance, column restrictions, underground utility plan, soil or geotechnical information and preferred foundation type.

Provide module manufacturer and model, dimensions, quantity and electrical layout; canopy type and tilt; design wind, snow, seismic and rainfall requirements; governing codes; waterproofing or weather-shedding expectation; gutters and discharge points; cable routes, lighting, inverter and EV-charging requirements.

Also define the required supply scope, finish, project documents, third-party inspection, packaging, destination port, installation responsibility and delivery sequence.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Solar Carport Frame FAQ

What is a solar carport?

It is an elevated, freestanding PV canopy designed above parking spaces. It combines a structural frame and solar array while preserving the area below for vehicles and pedestrians.

Is a solar carport waterproof?

Not automatically. Standard framed modules have gaps. A waterproof or controlled-drainage canopy requires compatible seals or an under-roof system plus channels, gutters, downpipes and project-specific rainwater calculations.

How high should a solar carport be?

Clearance depends on passenger cars, vans, trucks, accessible routes, service vehicles and local rules. The original 2.5 m value is only a reference. Confirm the lowest structural, electrical and drainage element over every travel path.

How many solar panels fit above one parking space?

There is no fixed number. It depends on the parking-bay dimensions, module size and orientation, canopy overhang, column grid, tilt, gaps, maintenance access and local code clearances.

How much electricity can a solar carport generate?

Annual energy depends on installed module capacity, location, orientation, tilt, shading, temperature, soiling, inverter efficiency and downtime. A site-specific energy model is required; the frame itself does not define output.

What foundations are used for solar carports?

Common options include cast-in-place concrete footings, precast foundations, anchor-bolt bases and engineered ground screws or helical piles. Soil, utilities, groundwater, frost, loads and pavement determine the selection.

Can EV chargers be integrated?

Yes. Coordinate charger power, load management, grid capacity, conduit, charger locations, accessible bays, network equipment and impact protection before foundations and pavement work begin.

Can the carport dimensions and module layout be customized?

Yes, subject to structural feasibility, extrusion or fabrication limits, parking geometry, modules, loads, foundations, drainage and order requirements. Custom dimensions require revised calculations and drawings.

Does a solar carport require planning or building approval?

Often yes, because it is a freestanding structure with civil, structural and electrical works. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and may include planning, building, fire, accessibility, drainage, electrical and utility approvals.

How are wind and snow capacities determined?

The engineer uses the governing code, site wind and snow data, exposure, height, canopy geometry, load combinations and foundation behavior. A wind speed without its code basis and return period is not a complete design value.

How are columns protected from vehicle impact?

Use suitable column setbacks, curbs, wheel stops, bollards or engineered barriers based on the traffic plan and local rules. Downpipes, chargers and electrical equipment may need separate protection.

What documents should a B2B buyer request?

Request the general arrangement, member and connection drawings, bill of materials, structural design basis, installation manual, material and finish documents, packing list and a clear scope matrix showing foundations, drainage, electrical equipment and field installation responsibilities.