New clamp simplifies rooftop solar mounting
A new product focus highlights the S-5-TH clamp, designed for non-penetrating mounting of solar PV panels and other accessories on metal roofs. The innovation aims to reduce installation complexity and cost for commercial solar projects. Such product developments are making it more efficient for buildings to meet criteria for LEED v5 and net-zero energy goals.
The primary benefit of non-penetrating clamps is the preservation of the roof's integrity and warranty, as they eliminate the risk of leaks associated with drilling holes. This attachment method, pioneered by companies like S-5!, uses setscrews to create a mechanical interlock with the standing seam, a design that has proven so reliable it often has a zero failure rate with proper installation. This is a critical consideration for architects, as metal roofs can have service lives of 60 years or more, often outlasting the 30-plus year lifespan of the solar array itself. The global rooftop solar market is projected to grow from $120 billion in 2024 to $330 billion by 2034, with the commercial sector being the second-largest segment. In the U.S. alone, the commercial solar market saw a 108% increase in installations in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. This growth is fueled by decreasing solar panel costs—which have dropped approximately 70% since 2010—and the increasing adoption of rail-less mounting systems that can reduce freight costs by 60% and labor by 30-50%. The S-5-TH clamp is specifically engineered for T-shaped standing seam profiles, such as those from McElroy Metal and Morin SymmeTry. Its single-piece "living hinge" design simplifies installation and allows for the natural thermal expansion and contraction of the roof panels. Made of corrosion-resistant 6000 series aluminum, the clamp is part of a broader trend toward rail-less, or "direct-attach," systems that use the roof's structural ribs as the mounting rails. These hardware innovations directly support the stringent goals of updated green building standards like LEED v5, which now prioritize decarbonization as a core metric. LEED v5 mandates the quantification of embodied carbon in materials and requires projects to either be fully electric or have a clear plan for decarbonization over 25 years to achieve higher certification levels. For the first time, carbon emissions, not just energy efficiency, are central to the certification, pushing project teams to adopt on-site renewable energy solutions.
