Metal Roof Mounts

Metal roof solar mounts are the roof attachment: the clamp or bracket that holds your rails (or rail-less hardware) to a metal roof. Pick by roof profile first. Standing seam roofs take a seam clamp that grips the seam without drilling the panel. Corrugated and exposed-fastened roofs, such as R-Panel, PBR-Panel and AG-Panel, take a bracket that fastens to the rib, the sheeting or the structure below. Then add rails, L-feet, module clamps and bonding hardware.

Read more about Metal Roof Mounts
  • Double-folded standing seam (traditional 1" and most 1.5" European-style seams, or Butler MR-24): S-5! S-5-E clamp.
  • 1" nail-strip standing seam: S-5! S-5-N clamp.
  • Folding or snapping standing seam on IronRidge XR rails (seam at least 1.0" tall and no more than 0.5" wide): IronRidge QuickMount Lynx with an IronRidge Slotted L-Foot.
  • 7/8" or 3/4" corrugated: S-5! CorruBracket (in the low, into the structure) or CorruBracket 100T (on the crest).
  • Trapezoidal rib: S-5! RibBracket for R-Panel and PBR-Panel ribs with a 1.0" top, or the S-5! Protea Bracket for rib tops as wide as 3", including insulated metal panels.
  • Exposed-fastened roof, L-foot into the structure: S-5! SolarFoot.
  • Stone-coated steel or copper roof: none of these product pages list stone-coated roofs, and S-5! says the S-5-E and S-5-N are not for copper. Request a written quote with roof photos.

7 products

Which metal roof do you have?

  • Standing seam (concealed fastener): raised seams run from the ridge to the eave and you cannot see screws in the flat of the panel. Seams can be double-folded, nail-strip, or snap-together. The seam shape decides the clamp, so take a close-up photo of the seam end and measure its height and width before you order.
  • Corrugated: rounded, wavy ribs with exposed screws. CorruBracket and CorruBracket 100T fit U.S. corrugated profiles 7/8" or 3/4" high with a rib pitch of about 2.67", per S-5!.
  • Trapezoidal rib / exposed-fastened (R-Panel, PBR-Panel, AG-Panel): flat-topped ribs with rows of exposed screws. Measure the width of the rib top: RibBracket fits a 1.0" rib top, and the Protea Bracket fits most trapezoidal profiles with rib tops up to 3" wide. SolarFoot sits in the flat between ribs.
  • Stone-coated steel: metal panels with a stone-chip coating, often shaped to look like shingles or tile. None of the attachments listed here name stone-coated roofs, so ask us for a written quote before you plan an array on one.

Metal roof attachment comparison

Attachment Roof profile (per manufacturer) How it attaches Seal Rail connection In IronRidge XR Flush Mount manual?
S-5! S-5-E Double-folded standing seam, 1" and most 1.5" European-style; Butler MR-24 Clamps the seam with two setscrews; no penetration No roof penetration Included M8 bolt Yes
S-5! S-5-N 1" nail-strip standing seam (base of rib under 0.82") Clamps the seam over an N insert; no penetration No roof penetration Included M8 bolt Yes
IronRidge QuickMount Lynx Folding and snapping standing seams at least 1.0" tall, 0.5" wide maximum Clamps the seam with two set screws; no penetration No roof penetration IronRidge Slotted L-Foot (sold separately) Yes (IronRidge part)
S-5! CorruBracket U.S. corrugated, 7/8" or 3/4" high In the low of the corrugation, through the panel into decking, purlins or trusses Factory butyl M8 threaded hole No
S-5! CorruBracket 100T U.S. corrugated, 7/8" or 3/4" high On the crest; sheeting only, or into decking or purlins for heavier loads EPDM gasket M8 bolt in slotted top hole No
S-5! RibBracket Trapezoidal rib (R-Panel, PBR-Panel), 1.0" rib top On the rib crown, into the sheeting only EPDM gasket M8 bolt in slotted top hole Yes
S-5! Protea Bracket Most trapezoidal profiles incl. insulated metal panels, rib top up to 3" On the rib crown, into the sheeting only EPDM gasket (no added sealant) Built-in L-foot Yes
S-5! SolarFoot Exposed-fastened, such as AG-Panel or R-Panel In the flat of the panel, into decking, purlins or trusses Factory butyl M8 stud for your rail system's L-foot (sold separately) Yes

"Into the structure" brackets must never be fastened into the metal roofing alone, per S-5!. Fasteners for CorruBracket and SolarFoot are sold separately; S-5! lists 1/4-14 self-drilling screws for metal or Type 17 screws for wood, 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" long.

S-5! vs IronRidge: attachment vs rail system

S-5! and IronRidge usually work together rather than compete. The S-5! parts above are roof attachments. IronRidge makes the XR rails, module clamps, L-feet and bonding hardware that sit on top, plus its own Lynx standing seam clamp (built on technology licensed from S-5!).

  • IronRidge-listed S-5! attachments: IronRidge's XR Flush Mount installation manual lists the S-5-E, S-5-N, RibBracket, Protea Bracket and SolarFoot among the third-party roof attachments tested or evaluated with its XR Flush Mount system, and says to install them per S-5!'s instructions.
  • CorruBracket and CorruBracket 100T: not listed in that manual. Confirm that your rail maker approves them before you design around them.
  • IronRidge shingle and tile parts: FlashFoot2 and the other flashed attachments in roof mounts are made for composition shingle or tile roofs, not metal seams or ribs.

What else a metal roof array needs

  • L-feet: the IronRidge Slotted L-Foot, mill or black connects IronRidge rails to Lynx. IronRidge's L-Foot page also names S-5! SolarFoot, which holds a rail system's L-foot; check that the L-foot base fits over SolarFoot's M8 stud. The Protea Bracket has its own L-foot; S-5! says not to add a second one.
  • Rails and splices: IronRidge XR rails such as the XR100 rail, 84", mill, joined with the matching XR100 BOSS bonded splice. XR10, XR100 and XR1000 each use their own splice.
  • Rail-to-attachment bonding: IronRidge T-Bolt bonding hardware attaches the XR rail to the L-foot and bonds the two.
  • Module clamps: UFO mid clamps, clear or black (30–46 mm frames) between panels, and EFO end clamps (30–40 mm frames) or CAMO hidden end clamps at the row ends. IronRidge says CAMO is not intended for islands, sites within 3 miles of a coastline, or sites near saltwater bays and inlets.
  • Grounding: UFO clamps bond the panel frames to the rail as part of IronRidge's UL 2703 listed grounding system. Add an IronRidge rail grounding lug to tie the array to your grounding conductor; IronRidge specifies one lug per row on Flush Mount.
  • Microinverters or optimizers on the rail: IronRidge MLPE bonding hardware mounts approved devices to an XR rail and bonds them. See microinverters.
  • Wire management: Heyco SunRunner PV cable clips hold up to two PV cables along panel frames, and cable & wiring covers PV wire and connectors for the home run.
  • Tools: S-5! says to set seam clamp setscrews with a dial-calibrated torque wrench, not a clicking one. IronRidge clamps and bonding hardware use a 7/16" socket.

Browse every rail, clamp and attachment in solar panel mounts, or pick solar panels first so you know the frame height before you choose clamps.

Before you order

  1. Identify the profile and measure it: seam height and width, rib top width, or corrugation height.
  2. Note the roof material. S-5! says the S-5-E and S-5-N suit most common metal roofing materials except copper.
  3. Find the structure (purlins, trusses or deck) if you plan to use CorruBracket or SolarFoot, which must fasten into it.
  4. Check your panel frame height against the module clamp ranges above.
  5. Plan attachment spacing and rail spans with engineering for your site. S-5! says the installer is responsible for engineering and spacing, and IronRidge sets spans through its Design Assistant and PE-stamped certification letters.

Our guide on how to mount solar panels covers roof and ground mounting basics.

FAQ

Will S-5! clamps work on my metal roof?

Only when the clamp or bracket matches your exact seam or rib profile. Double-folded seams take the S-5-E, 1" nail-strip seams take the S-5-N, 7/8" or 3/4" corrugated roofs take CorruBracket or CorruBracket 100T, trapezoidal ribs take RibBracket or the Protea Bracket, and SolarFoot holds an L-foot on exposed-fastened roofs. If your profile is not on that list, request a written quote with a seam or rib close-up.

Do metal roof mounts penetrate the roof?

Standing seam clamps (S-5-E, S-5-N and IronRidge Lynx) grip the seam and do not penetrate the roof. Corrugated and trapezoidal brackets do fasten through the panel: RibBracket and the Protea Bracket into the sheeting, CorruBracket and SolarFoot into the structure below, and CorruBracket 100T either way. Each bracket comes with a factory-applied EPDM gasket or butyl sealant. Follow S-5!'s instructions; for example, S-5! says not to add sealant to the Protea Bracket.

Do I still need rails and module clamps?

Usually yes. The clamp or bracket is the roof attachment; rails and mid/end clamps hold the panels. A typical set is attachment, L-foot (if your attachment needs one), XR rail and splices, T-bolt bonding hardware, UFO mid clamps, end clamps and a grounding lug.

Do I need IronRidge rails with S-5! clamps?

You need a rail system, and IronRidge XR is a common one. IronRidge's XR Flush Mount manual lists the S-5-E, S-5-N, RibBracket, Protea Bracket and SolarFoot as tested or evaluated attachments. It does not list CorruBracket or CorruBracket 100T, so confirm rail approval for those first.

What's the difference between S-5! and IronRidge for metal roof solar mounts?

S-5! makes the metal roof attachment: seam clamps and rib or corrugation brackets. IronRidge makes the rail system that sits on top (XR rails, UFO and EFO clamps, L-feet, bonding hardware) and also sells the Lynx standing seam clamp. Most metal roof arrays use an attachment from this page plus an IronRidge rail system from solar panel mounts.

Should I use IronRidge Lynx or an S-5! clamp on standing seam?

Measure the seam. Lynx fits folding and snapping standing seams at least 1.0" tall and no more than 0.5" wide, and it is designed for IronRidge Slotted L-Feet and XR rails. The S-5-E fits double-folded seams and the S-5-N fits 1" nail-strip seams. If your seam fits more than one, go with the clamp your rail system lists.

What about stone-coated steel or copper roofs?

None of the attachments on this page list stone-coated steel roofs. For copper, S-5! says the S-5-E and S-5-N are not for copper roofing. For either roof type, request a written quote with photos before you buy racking.

Can I go rail-less on a metal roof?

S-5! shows RibBracket, CorruBracket, CorruBracket 100T and the Protea Bracket with its own direct-attach PV kit, but that kit is not listed online right now. For a rail-less design, request a written quote.

How do I bond and ground a metal roof array?

On IronRidge XR, T-bolt bonding hardware bonds the rail to each attachment, UFO and EFO clamps bond the panel frames to the rail, and BOSS splices keep joined rails bonded. A rail grounding lug then ties the array to your grounding conductor. Follow IronRidge's XR Flush Mount manual and the NEC.

How do I mount solar panels on a metal roof?

1) Identify and measure the roof profile. 2) Choose the matching clamp or bracket from this page. 3) Add L-feet if needed, XR rails and splices, and T-bolt bonding hardware. 4) Add UFO mid clamps, end clamps and a grounding lug sized to your panel frames. 5) Dress the wiring with PV cable clips and run it from cable & wiring. Have attachment spacing and spans engineered for your site.

Metal roof vs ground mount: which should I choose?

Use the roof when the structure, orientation and shade work and you have a matching attachment. Choose a ground mount when the roof is shaded, faces the wrong way, is near replacement, or has a profile none of these attachments fit.

Can altE help size a metal-roof racking BOM?

Yes. Request a written quote with your panel model and count, roof photos with seam or rib close-ups, a rough layout, and your wind and snow notes, and we will put together a matched bill of materials.