IntegraRack IR-40FSA BallastRack Adjustable Angle Solar Module Rack, 15-40 Degrees Fixed Angle Solar Panel Rack

The IntegraRack IR-40FSA BallastRack Adjustable Solar Panel Ground Mount

The IntegraRack IR-40FSA is a solar panel mounting frame that uses a fixed front leg with an adjustable rear leg. The rear leg slides through locking notches to set the array to a fixed tilt from 15° to 40° in 2.5° steps. Because you set the tilt in the field, this adjustable solar panel ground mount covers sites from southern states with high sun angles to northern states, where a steeper tilt sheds snow and captures low sun angles in winter.

Setting The Tilt Angle From 15° To 40°

To change the angle, loosen the serrated nut with a 1/2" wrench, pull the locking bolt, slide the adjustable leg to the mark for your target angle, then reset the locking bolt and tighten the nut. Set every frame in a row to the same angle and lock the adjustable leg firmly to hold the rated wind and snow numbers. IntegraRack's installation manual calls for a fixed installation tilt and advises against seasonal angle changes, so pick the angle that fits your latitude before you anchor the system.

Looking for a seasonally-adjustable frame? Check out the IR-45ASA!

Aircraft-Grade Aluminum Or Black Zinc Steel

You pick between two frame materials at checkout. The aircraft-grade aluminum frame uses 6061-T6 tube that keeps the system light for shipping and handling. The black zinc electroplated high-strength steel frame carries a black zinc finish that IntegraRack applies for corrosion resistance, and the manual notes that the steel version gives the array added ground clearance. Both materials use the same steel IR-F2 flange clamps, and IntegraRack's data sheet lists them under the same load ratings for a given module size.

Wind And Snow Ratings By Configuration

Load capacity rests on three factors: solar module size, tilt angle, and mounting method. For solar modules up to 24sqft, the published wind ratings run from 70mph at a 40° ballasted base to 160mph at a 15° anchored or bolted base. For modules up to 32sqft, the ratings run from 60mph to 140mph across those same conditions. Snow load stays flat across every tilt angle at 100psf for modules up to 24sqft and 65psf for modules up to 32sqft. A ballasted base sets the lowest wind figures, while the IR EarthBallast, IR AnchorSpike, and bolted-concrete methods reach the highest. Match your exact build to the stamped engineering data sheet.

Five Mounting Methods Without Heavy Machinery

As a ground mount solar racking system, every IR-40FSA frame anchors to the ground, and the job skips rails, earth augers, and post pounding. IntegraRack's install manual describes five methods. The IR EarthBallast system epoxies a geotextile sheet across the base tubes, and you then pile soil over the sheet to hold the array in place. The IR AnchorSpike system taps barbed aluminum spikes into compacted soil and sets them with a two-part epoxy for sites with shallow frost depth. IntegraRack recommends testing a spike on site to confirm its hold, similar to the IR EarthScrew system which uses 30" screws that dig into dense soil. The Concrete Slab/Footing Anchor Bolt system fastens the base tubes to a slab or footing for a permanent hold. Base ballast rests concrete curb stops or a water tote across the base tubes for a movable setup, though 3/4" steel forming stakes at each base-tube are required.

Integrated Grounding Through The IR-F2 Flange Clamps

Four IR-F2 flange clamp bonding brackets hold each solar module to the frame. Each clamp carries two sharp barbs that pierce the anodized aluminum module frame, which bonds one module to the next and forms the grounding path along the row. The clamps also let you slide the modules for height alignment before you tighten the serrated nuts. A licensed electrician or solar contractor should complete the direct-to-earth grounding under the latest NEC (National Electric Code), including NEC 250 and NEC 690, and should keep bare copper grounding wire clear of the aluminum and zinc-plated steel to head off galvanic corrosion.

Installation Speed And Frame Spacing

A crew can raise a 10-panel row in about 100 minutes with a screw gun and a 1/2" socket, a 4ft level, a tape measure, and a string line. Skip the impact gun, because it strips the self-threading bolts. Plan on one frame for every solar module in a row plus one more, so a 10-panel row calls for 11 frames. Space the frames at the solar module width minus 1" for the aluminum frame or minus 3/4" for the steel frame, and mark on the conduit where the frames should lay. Integrated wire management along the front legs keeps the solar wiring out of the way with enough slack for the panels to move during alignment.

The IntegraRack 25-Year Warranty

IntegraRack backs the BallastRack line with a 25-year limited product warranty when you install the system according to the manual. A mounting method outside the manual or an improper installation voids that coverage, so follow the documented steps and lock every frame to its anchors.