Installing PV panels on a 50 degree roof

[LucMan]

I'm looking to get an answer on why PV installers don't want to install new panels on my barn roof that has a 50 degree angle? I've contacted several companies to get a quote on installing approximately a 3KW system on my barn roof here in NY and they all said they can't install on a roof over 45 degrees. The roof has a southern exposure and the lowest part of the roof is 10 ft. from the ground. I could do it myself if I could get the final electrical inspection and CO for the building permit, which is what I may end up doing unless there is some kind of code that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance to any responses to this question.

[J.P.M.]

What part of the state ?
I'd call the AHJ and inquire if the building or fire or whatever codes gets in the way of installing on higher slopes.
Seems to me that 50 degrees would be a decent slope at that latitude.
Will the PV be parallel to the roof ?
If there's a vertical wall behind the roof I'd paint the roof white and mount the panels on the wall and see what an installer says. Probably no code violation with vertical mounting.
My guess is the 50 degree slope spooks a lot of installers. Or the higher slope is a B.S. red herring excuse, and installers just don't know how/want to fool with it.
What's the roof material ? Composite ? Standing seam metal ? New ? Old ? In between age.
Any electrical issues with the building/PV interface that would get in the way ?
What's the highest slope you've ever put a solar thermal system on ?
FWIW, there's a few 45+degree roofs in my HOA with PV mounted on them, but that's CA, not NY.

[LucMan]

Upstate NY Orange county. The panels would be parallel to the roof, no vertical wall, mounted on a 10 ten year old composite roof. I would have no issues with mounting flat plates or an evacuated tube system on this roof. I have mounted several on 12/12 pitch roofs they work great. If I had a good exposure I wouldn't have a problem going vertical on the right job! I can't see any reason to" Not" mount the panels on this roof except some OSHA, local or NY state, or fire code !
My next step is to go to town hall and talk to the building inspector about local and NY state code.

[littleharbor2]

I wonder if they're concerned with scarring up your roof being that it's 10 years old already and then having to deal with that.

I know when I was roofing I wouldn't get on a 12 12 roof without roof jacks and the associated planks. I wonder if that causes issues when trying to mount Solar panels.

[J.P.M.]

Upstate NY Orange county. The panels would be parallel to the roof, no vertical wall, mounted on a 10 ten year old composite roof. I would have no issues with mounting flat plates or an evacuated tube system on this roof. I have mounted several on 12/12 pitch roofs they work great. If I had a good exposure I wouldn't have a problem going vertical on the right job! I can't see any reason to" Not" mount the panels on this roof except some OSHA, local or NY state, or fire code !
My next step is to go to town hall and talk to the building inspector about local and NY state code.

Well, if you go to the town authority, at least you'll know (or get more information) about the idea that PV installers are saying about high slope roof installs being taboo.
If there are some jurisdictional restrictions, I'd guess it/they may be something about the specific structure or type, but it still sounds like a bunch of installer B.S. to me.
You may well wind up getting a permit and doing it yourself, which in your case I'd bet would wind up with a better install anyway.
Look around. Any PV installs on 45 degree or greater sloped roofs ?