Mounting by roof type
Ground-mounted solar panel structure: frame, drawings, materials
When the roof is not suitable, the panels go on the ground. A ground frame is a set of frames of rafters, posts and braces on concrete footings; it is designed for the same snow and wind as a roof, but the whole structure is yours. Below is a 10 kW plant in three cities: how much steel, how many posts and how much money it takes.
Ground frame designer
Design a ground frame for your site
The constructor opens with the loads for Kyiv under DBN. Change the city, panel and layout — profiles, footings, drawings and estimate are recalculated.
A 10 kW ground plant in three cities
The same 10 kW plant, calculated by the Solispec engine for each city separately: profiles, posts and footings are chosen for the local snow and wind.
| City | S₀ / W₀, Pa | Panels | Steel, kg | Posts | Materials, ₴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW in Kyiv | 1,550 / 370 | 18 pcs, 11.16 kW | 376 | 12 | 47,122 |
| 10 kW in Lviv | 1,310 / 520 | 18 pcs, 11.16 kW | 376 | 12 | 50,491 |
| 10 kW in Kharkiv | 1,600 / 430 | 18 pcs, 11.16 kW | 385 | 12 | 51,876 |
Cost: the frame materials at the Solispec price list on the calculation date, without panels, labour or delivery. The full bill of materials, drawings and cut list are on each plant’s page.
How Solispec calculates a ground frame
- Snow and wind for the site under DBN V.1.2-2:2006 — everything else depends on them.
- Tilt and row spacing so the rows do not shade each other in winter.
- Rafter, post and brace profiles chosen for the force in every member, joints and footings checked.
- Bill of materials, cut list, drawings and estimate — down to the bolt.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the profile by eye. The profile is chosen for the force in each member, not the other way round.
- Placing rows too close. In winter the front row shades the one behind — row spacing is calculated for the winter sun.
- Copying someone else’s drawing. A frame for Kyiv and one for Lviv differ: their snow and wind differ — compare the table.
Read and calculate
Other roof types
Sources and assumptions
- Snow and wind loads: DBN V.1.2-2:2006 «Loads and actions» with Changes 1 and 2, characteristic values for the regional centres (Annex E).
- Material prices: the Solispec price list on the plant’s calculation date; prices change, the constructor gives a current estimate.
- The calculation is preliminary and does not replace a design checked by an engineer.
Page data updated 14.10.2026, Solispec engine 0.12.0.