High-wind markets need a wind-first approach
In Australia, the Pacific islands, southern China and coastal Southeast Asia, wind — not snow — usually governs the mounting design. Cyclone and typhoon regions can see design wind speeds far above inland sites, so uplift at array corners and edges becomes the critical case. A mounting system that is comfortable in a mild inland zone can be badly under-designed a few hundred kilometres away on an exposed coast, which is why the wind basis must be established before selection.
Reading AS/NZS 1170 wind regions
Australian and New Zealand projects are designed to AS/NZS 1170.2, which sets wind regions (including cyclonic regions C and D), terrain categories, and importance and directionality factors. The same physical structure carries very different loads in Region A versus a cyclonic region. For coastal Asian projects, equivalent code bases such as ASCE 7 or GB 50009 apply. Sharing the applicable code, wind region and terrain category lets Apex align the roof or ground structure with the real envelope.
Uplift, fixing density and edge zones
High wind is largely an uplift problem. Corner and edge zones of a roof array usually require a denser fixing schedule than the field zone, and flat-roof ballast quantities rise sharply in exposed locations. On metal roofs, the sheet profile, thickness and purlin condition decide whether clamps and short rails can carry the uplift, so profile photos and a structural drawing are worth more than a headline wind rating. Ballasted systems must be checked against both sliding and overturning.
Trackers and stow strategy in storms
For utility single-axis trackers, high-wind design centres on the stow strategy: the angle the rows move to when a storm is detected, and how quickly the drive and control system reaches it. Stow behaviour, damping and foundation reactions are all part of the wind review, so tracker selection in a cyclone region is a system decision, not just a structural one.
Corrosion goes hand in hand with coastal wind
High-wind coastal sites are also high-corrosion sites. Salt spray drives the choice of aluminium alloy, stainless grade and galvanizing thickness, so the corrosion class should be stated alongside the wind data. Sending the wind region, terrain category, coastal distance and corrosion exposure together lets Apex prepare a structure and material package that survives both the storm and the salt.
Prepare your project for Apex review
Send the project location, module datasheet, layout drawing, wind and snow basis, and roof or foundation condition for faster system selection.
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