Choose the right foundation guide
| Route | Use the detailed guide when | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| Driven piles | Mechanized driving is being screened and refusal, variability, test acceptance or corrosion must be resolved. | Driven-pile guide |
| Ground screws | Rotary installation, removal, access or lower-disturbance construction is being considered. | Ground-screw guide |
| Concrete | Spread footing, pier, excavation, reinforcement, curing or anchor-bolt interfaces need review. | Concrete guide |
| Ballast | Penetration is constrained and weight, sliding, overturning, drainage or surface protection must be checked. | Ballast guide |
| Rock anchors | Shallow rock, refusal or drilled-and-grouted anchorage is part of the site concept. | Rock-anchor guide |
Inputs needed before selection
- Site and subsurface: stratigraphy and variability, groundwater, obstructions or rock, frost and drainage context, and corrosion-relevant conditions.
- Structural: reactions and load combinations from the selected mounting concept, including uplift, lateral and moment demand.
- Construction: access, equipment, tolerances, spoil or disturbance constraints, sequencing and repair access.
- Verification: trial installation or testing where required, survey records, material/coating evidence, nonconformance rules and acceptance responsibility.
Looking for a PV system foundation connector?
Connector selection is a separate interface decision. Open the PV system foundation connector guide for pile caps, base plates, screw-head flanges, load inputs, tolerances, corrosion and RFQ evidence. This hub remains the owner of the broader solar-foundations topic.
Evidence boundary
The FHWA subsurface-investigation guidance treats exploration, interpretation, quality control and reporting as an integrated scope. PVRack applies that principle only as a planning boundary: obtain enough project-specific evidence for the responsible designer to select and verify the foundation. Continue with the foundation selection guide for a structured comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Which solar foundation type should a project use?
There is no universal answer. Screen driven piles, ground screws, concrete, ballast and rock anchors against subsurface data, project loads, installation access, corrosion exposure, tolerances and acceptance testing before project-specific design.
Is a geotechnical investigation needed before foundation selection?
The investigation scope is project-specific, but foundation selection should not rely on a generic soil label. The project team needs enough subsurface information to identify variability, groundwater, obstructions and the parameters required by the designer.
Where can I compare foundation connector options?
Use the dedicated PV system foundation connector guide for pile caps, base plates, screw-head interfaces, tolerances, corrosion and RFQ evidence. This hub owns the broader solar foundations topic.
Does this guide provide foundation depth or capacity?
No. Depth, capacity, spacing and testing requirements depend on site data, loads, the governing code and the responsible geotechnical and structural design.