Kendall Athletic Facility, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Chronic leaks developed in the new modified bitumen roof membrane after new solar panels were installed on the roof. After an investigation, it was determined that the plates that secured the panels to the sloped portions of the roof were not secure and moved with the wind and temperature. They were also “sealed” to the MB cap sheet with mastic, but the seal was not secure.  

The solution had to satisfy the roofing manufacturer to maintain the warranty. It was decided to eliminate the solar panels on the sloped portion of the roof, approximately 20%. Then the penetrations from the plates were patched using the same material as the existing membrane. Then, to provide a “belts and suspenders” solution an entire new cap sheet was installed over the entire area to match the existing.