PV Slate Questions

We recommend choosing the lightest grey *6mm thick* slates available in the range that you prefer.  The best matches we have seen to date are with the Cupa 12, Siga 37, Siga 39, Gallegas 37 & Gallegas 39, and the Cupa H3.  Other blue-grey slates including Welsh Cwt y Bugail (not Heather Blue), Cornish Delabole and La Concha will also blend well.  Natural slates with the words dark grey or black in their descriptions will contrast quite strongly with PV Slates.

Yes, the PV Slate received MCS accreditation in 2018. Contact us to discuss why this might be important for your project.

Each PV Slate weighs between 3.0-3.9kg depending on model. This means it weighs less than the natural slates it replaces so does not increase loading on the property or require any remedial strengthening, which is good news for listed buildings.

PV slate was specifically designed to help people in all restricted planning areas gain planning permission. Check the details with your local planning authority and we’re happy to assist where we can.

PV Slate can be fitted to pitches typically as low as 27.5 degrees. However, contact us and we will advise on the correct PV Slate product for your roof pitch and location.  

PV Slate 600x300 is compatible with natural slates of 600x300x6mm (24”x12”).

PV Slate 500x300 is compatible with natural slates of 500x300x6mm (20”x12”).

PV Slate 500x250 is compatible with natural slates of 500x250x6mm (20”x10”).

Contact us to discuss tile/fibre cement slate compatibility.

Please send your architect’s drawings to us in an email to info@gb-sol.co.uk and we’ll be happy to calculate how many PV slates your roof can accommodate. If you don’t have these, please provide your roof dimensions and we’ll produce an estimate.

PV Slate 600x300: 4.2 per m2

PV Slate 500x300: 5.5 per m2

PV Slate 500x250: 5.0 per m2

As natural slates need to surround the PV slates, please contact us for an accurate number of PV slates your roof can accommodate.

As PV Slate is an electrical product, there needs to be a border of two natural slates around the edges of the roof and any roof windows.  We can make passive "infill" PV Slates to complete the surround for a perfect finish and a roof that no one would believe was solar.

GB-Sol has been at the forefront of solar panel and mounting system design for nearly 30 years.

We are proactive in reviewing our designs and ensure a culture of continuous improvement in methods, materials and testing. Global solar and construction accreditation bodies are used to test and certify our solar panels and mounting systems.

In independent fire tests, GB-Sol’s PV Slates achieved EXT.S.AA, the highest possible rating under BS 476-3: 2004 - Roof Fire Test. Testing also confirmed passes for the CEN/TS1187:2012 Test4. AA (national class) is equivalent to Broof(t4) (European class), the highest class and the only classification allowed to span full roofs and the compartmentation of buildings.