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Solar carport structures
A solar carport structure is a free-standing steel frame over a car park that carries a PV array as its roof. It combines three jobs in one structure: shelter for vehicles, mounting for solar panels, and routing for cabling — with drainage designed in and, increasingly, provision for EV charging equipment. Frames are configured by bay layout, wind and snow loading, and panel type.
Overview
What they do
Solar carports earn their place because they generate on land that is already occupied. For a commercial site with a large car park, the structure turns dead asphalt into generation capacity without touching the roof or taking new land — which is why they appear in retail, industrial, healthcare, education and public-sector schemes.
Structurally they are more demanding than roof mounting. The frame is exposed on all sides, carries wind uplift across a large sail area, must maintain vehicle headroom and column set-out that suits parking bays, and has to shed water somewhere sensible rather than onto the cars beneath it.
What we supply
Structures in this package
Single-row carports
One row of bays with a mono-pitch canopy, columns on one side or centrally. The simplest configuration for perimeter parking rows and smaller car parks.
Double-row carports
Back-to-back bays under a duo-pitch or single-plane canopy sharing a central column line — the most material-efficient layout for large car parks.
Cantilever carports
Columns on one side only, leaving the opposite side clear for unobstructed vehicle access and easier manoeuvring. Heavier frame for the same span.
Multi-bay arrays
Continuous multi-bay structures across a full car park, set out to the parking grid with consistent column positions and coordinated drainage runs.
Cable management and drainage
Integrated cable routing within columns and beams, plus gutters and downpipes designed into the structure rather than added afterwards.
EV charger provision
Structural provision and containment for EV charging equipment mounted to carport columns, coordinated with your electrical contractor's layout.
Where used
Typical projects
- —Retail and supermarket car parks
- —Industrial and distribution facilities
- —Office and business park parking
- —Hospitals, schools and universities
- —Local authority and public-sector car parks
- —EV charging hubs
To quote
What to send for a quotation
Drawings are welcome but not required to start. Whatever you have of the following is enough for a first quotation:
- —Car park layout or site plan with bay dimensions and column constraints
- —Number of bays or target array size, and panel type if selected
- —Required headroom clearance and any vehicle access restrictions
- —Ground conditions or foundation details, if known
- —Site location or wind zone, and any snow loading requirement
- —Whether EV charger provision or drainage connection is needed
Documentation
Certification & documentation
Production is through EN 1090-certified factories, with execution class and documentation scope confirmed per project against the relevant factory certificate. KLY coordinates certification through its factories and does not self-certify; certificates are available on request. The document pack is agreed at quotation and typically includes:
- —Declaration of Performance (DoP)
- —CE / UKCA marking documentation
- —Material test certificates (EN 10204 3.1)
- —Welding procedure and welder qualification records
- —Inspection and dimensional check reports
- —Galvanising or coating certificates
- —Packing lists and delivery documentation
Supply
How KLY supplies it
KLY manages the route from requirement to delivery: engineering support through qualified independent partners where required, production through EN 1090-certified factories, documentation and inspection, and delivery to site. KLY acts as the UK importer for its standard supply route, managing import coordination, customs documentation and delivery to site — DDP where agreed, so landed cost and delivery terms are clear before order.
See how we work for the full process, the energy & renewables sector page for the wider package, or the guide to imported structural steel for UK projects.
FAQ
Solar carport structures — common questions
Single-row, double-row, cantilever and continuous multi-bay configurations are all supplied. Spans and column positions are set out to your car park grid — bay dimensions, headroom clearance and manoeuvring space drive the frame geometry.
Yes, where required. Gutters and downpipes are designed into the frame rather than added afterwards, with the discharge position coordinated with your civils contractor.
Structural provision and containment for column-mounted EV charging equipment can be included, coordinated with your electrical contractor's layout. KLY supplies the structural package — the chargers and electrical installation are by your appointed contractors.
Hot-dip galvanising to EN ISO 1461 is standard for outdoor durability. A duplex system — galvanising plus powder coating or paint — is available where a specific colour is required, which is common on public-facing and retail sites.
No. A car park layout and an approximate bay count are enough for an initial quotation. Drawings are welcome but not required to start — production begins only once drawings and scope are approved.