Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Ballast Solar. Something missing? admin@ballastsolarplans.com.
Plan sets
What does Ballast produce?
A complete residential PV and storage permit set on ANSI B: cover, site plan, roof plan, elevations, attachment details, single-line and three-line diagrams, NEC calculations, labels and spec sheets.
How long does a set take?
Minutes for most homes, once you have the address and the survey. Revisions take seconds.
Do I need CAD or drafting experience?
No. The roof plan, one-line and sheets are drawn for you. If you can read a plan set you can make one.
Which systems are supported?
Solar only, solar plus battery, battery-only retrofits and off-grid, on roofs or ground mounts. Commercial three-phase is not in scope yet.
Is the set NEC compliant?
Every set is checked against the NEC edition your jurisdiction has adopted, with the article cited. Anything only a person can confirm is marked for review.
Do I still need an engineer?
Where the AHJ requires a stamp, yes. You can order stamps from the project.
Who is responsible for the set?
The contractor of record, who reviews and submits it (with a licensed engineer where required). Ballast Solar makes that review faster; it does not replace it.
Can I bring a plan set from another design firm?
Yes. Upload the PDF and revise it yourself.
Permits and corrections
How does Ballast know what my jurisdiction wants?
It starts with each jurisdiction’s adopted codes and requirements, and learns from the corrections you get back.
What should I do with a correction letter?
Put it in. You get a revised set and a drafted response, usually the same day.
Can it fill in the permit application?
Yes. Upload the blank building permit or interconnection application and it comes back filled in from the project.
Does it work with SolarAPP+?
Yes. SolarAPP+ jurisdictions are flagged, and the application data is ready to copy across.
Solar Agent
What is the Solar Agent?
The project management side of Ballast Solar. It keeps every job moving from site survey to PTO, the way a project coordinator would.
What does it do without asking?
Notes, tasks and follow-ups. Anything that reaches a customer or moves a job waits for your approval.
Can I bring my existing CRM?
Yes. Your projects, contacts and documents come over, and we help you move.
Account
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, in the browser on any phone or tablet. Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app.
Can my team work in the same workspace?
Yes, with admin, designer and reviewer roles.
Who owns the data?
You do, and you can export your whole workspace at any time. Your project and customer data is never used to train anything.
How do I get support?
Open a ticket from any project. The Design Support package adds an on-call designer.