Bird Deterrence in Grächen, Also Under Solar Panels

In zone W1Eplus, the energy-saving residential zone for ecological new buildings, new buildings must be certified with the Minergie label and use solar energy under Art. 69 of the building and zoning regulations (Bau- und Zonenreglement). The article leaves open whether this is done through panels on the roof.

Federal law also applies to solar installations on roofs. Adequately adapted installations in building zones do not need a building permit, but must be reported to the municipality (Art. 18a RPG, the Federal Act on Spatial Planning), in Valais at least 30 days before construction starts. An installation counts as adapted if, among other things, it projects no more than 20 cm above the roof surface (Art. 32a RPV, the Spatial Planning Ordinance). On cultural and natural monuments of cantonal or national significance, a permit is always required.

Surface-mounted panels sit roof-parallel on a substructure, and an open gap remains between the panel and the roof skin. This sheltered cavity can serve pigeons as a perch and nesting site. Installations integrated into the roof surface do not have this gap.

Before mounting, I clarify whether the panels are surface-mounted or integrated. bird deterrence in Upper Valais explains how I generally choose between netting, tensioned wire and spikes.

With roof-parallel surface-mounted panels, I clamp an edge-trim grille to the panel frame and drill into neither the panels nor the roof skin. On a new building, the grille can be added right after the panels are mounted. On integrated installations, I mainly deal with flashing and the eaves. For Stadel (timber barns), the mounting technique follows their construction, see bird deterrence for Stadel in Saas-Fee.