Cornerstone No. 189, page 4
Scots Kirk St. Andrew’s House Building
New Roof Cover and Photovoltaic Panels
The old roof cover was made of tin and has lasted more than 50 years. It had
to be repaired many times because of leaks. It was at the end of its lifespan
and could not be repaired anymore. The Session therefore decided to have it
replaced.
Thanks to our many donors and in particular to Oak Foundation for very
generous grants, the project could be achieved. A tender document was
prepared by M. Burgos and sent to three different firms in order to receive
offers. The work was awarded to M. Burgos as his offer was the cheapest and
also because of the renowned quality of his work.
The existing insulation that was laid on top of the concrete roof slab (support-
ing the roof) was improved by adding an extra layer of insulation that was
blown onto the surface. It was quite a difficult job to carry out as the space
between the roof and slab is very restricted. The removal of the old tin cover,
the transport of the new one and of the solar panels was carried out with a
mobile crane and also with a chain hoist.
The wooden roof structure has been retained. The new cover is made of copper
and should last for a very long time. The rainwater pipes and the gutters were
also replaced by new copper ones. Many safety hooks were fixed onto the roof
in order to protect the maintenance people. The opening to the roof was
replaced by a slightly larger one, but access to the roof is still difficult.
The tops of the ventilation ducts were sealed, as they had become loose and
the chimney of the old refuse chute (no longer allowed) was demolished.
Session decided to have solar panels installed as well. These are photovoltaic
panels; there was however not enough space to also install a system that heats
running water. As the roof is almost flat, the photovoltaic panels had to be fixed
on top of the roof; another system called “integrated” would have replaced the
roof cover. Offers were solicited from five different firms and the firm Electrosol
was chosen.
The 46 panels (make ALEO, monocrystalline) installed on the roof produce
300W each, that means a total of 13.8 Kw. According to Electrosol the
estimated annual production will be about 13'400 Kwh. The panels produce
direct current that is directed to the ground floor by way of a cable going
through the old refuse chute and then to the roof of the basement and towards
the inverter. The inverter transforms direct current into alternative current and
is installed opposite the electricity switchboard.
The electrician has installed a new electricity meter that reads the consumption
of the whole building. The electricity produced is used primarily by the
building's users and the surplus is sold to the
at a reduced