Ridged Systems awarded ICC-SRCC OG-300 Solar Thermal Systems Program certification

Fire and Ice solar hot water systems provide domestic hot water and can work in conjunction with mechanical systems to reduce electrical energy consumption

Brea, Calif. – The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC), a program of the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), has awarded Ridged Systems a certification for several configurations of its innovative Fire and Ice solar hot water systems. The ICC-SRCC OG-300 Solar Thermal System Certification Program certifies that hot water systems demonstrated compliance with the ICC 900/ICC-SRCC 300 Solar Thermal System Standard which sets minimum criteria for performance and safety.

ICC-SRCC engineers thoroughly examined the Fire and Ice systems, including its installation and operation manuals, to ensure that each of its twelve systems meet the requirements of the OG-300 program. The solar thermal function of the systems was modeled and rated using ICC-SRCC’s proprietary computer modeling program. Each system makes use of the Apricus ETC-20 vacuum tube collectors with heat wands, which are themselves certified under the ICC-SRCC OG-100 Solar Thermal Collector Certification Program.

Fire and Ice systems not only provide domestic hot water, but are also designed to be coupled with mechanical systems. An innovative heat exchanger is used that accepts heat from a solar loop containing glycol and from refrigeration loops connected to mechanical equipment. In doing so, the system can act as a desuperheater, accepting waste heat, and reducing the electrical energy consumption of the mechanical system by 20 to 35%, according to the manufacturer.

“ICC-SRCC congratulates Ridged Systems for achieving OG-300 certification for their Fire and Ice systems,” said ICC-ES Vice President of Technical Services Shawn Martin. “Ridged Systems has demonstrated that solar thermal systems have much to offer to help reduce the energy consumption of homes and businesses.”

President of Ridged Systems Tim Graboski said, “Energy is such a vital part of our culture, specifically conservation of energy. The building codes are mandating more stringent energy standards for homes and business. Markets are seeking innovative technologies to assist in complying with these mandatory energy standards. Fire and Ice solar is a hybrid technology utilizing solar energy to increase energy conservations, as well as energy efficiencies.”

ICC-SRCC OG-300 certification is utilized by many incentive and rebate programs for solar water heating systems across the U.S., such as the Federal Investment Tax Credit, the California Solar Initiative Thermal Program and the Massachusetts Small-Scale Solar Hot Water Program. Various codes, including the International Codes, also require compliance with the ICC 900/ICC-SRCC 300 standard, which is demonstrated by OG-300 certification.

For more information about the ICC-SRCC certification programs, visit www.solar-rating.org.