Hello,

I’m hoping someone can give me some guidance on selecting appropriate hardware for a freestanding solar shade structure that I’m building.  A 3d drawing is attached to give you an idea of what I’m working on. 

The project is through the utility approval and permitting process, and while I’m pretty happy with the dead/wind up and downforce design of the structure I’m getting a bit concerned about rigidity as code requires post bases instead of sunk posts.  The posts are all 6×6, and the beams 6×10 set at 15 degrees to put the panels at a reasonable angle to the sun.  The crossbars are 12G unistrut and double as lateral structural elements and the racking to attach the panels.  Half of the posts are attached to an existing patio slab, for which I’m planning to use Simpson ABU66 bases with wedge anchors.  The other half are going into new 12″ diameter, 24″ deep footings.  Building in Phoenix, AZ, so frost is not a concern 🙂 In an effort to improve rigidity I’ve upgraded those bases from PBS66 to CBSQ66. 

For the post/beam interface I was originally just planning to use HTP37Z ties.  I’m assuming going to a post cap might help with rigidity, but of course can’t find anything off the shelf for that angle.  So I’ve been considering several options:

– CCQ66 with post tabs bent to 15 degrees, looks very heavy duty but expenssive and no lateral force spec.

– PCQ66 with post tabs bent to 15 degrees, not as heavy duty and still pretty expenssive but with lateral spec.

– AC66 with beam/post bearing surface sloping across beam attachment face, looks even less heavy duty but has superior uplift and lateral specs compared to PCQ66.  May not be able to get the full number of fasteners into the beam though due to slope.  Much cheaper than the other options though.

I can always try to anchor the structure to the house, and/or add diagonal bracing, but would like to try and make the structure as inherantly rigid as possible without totally blowing the budget.  Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Rob