Case Study · NHS Hampshire · Completed May 2026
930 Mounts. Zero Tiles Removed.
208.1 kW across 344 panels on a Cambrian composite slate roof — the mounting challenge that changed how SSC SW Ltd specifies every slate roof project.
On-site at Petersfield Hospital, Hampshire — SolVe Mount installed without disturbing a single tile
930
Mounts Installed
344
Panels
208.1
kW System
65%
Faster Than Traditional
The Challenge
Spec'd as Natural Slate. Roof Was Cambrian.
SSC SW Ltd arrived on an NHS site in Hampshire to install a 208 kW solar system. The specification said natural slate. The roof was Cambrian interlocking composite slate — and that difference changed everything.
Cambrian slates are nailed together and interlock via a side-channel system. Traditional mounting methods — roof hooks and plastic flashing — require removing tiles to slide flashing underneath. On Cambrian slate, removal risks cracking the interlocking profile and cannot be done without damaging the surrounding tiles. With 930 mounting points required, that would mean up to 5,580 tiles at risk of damage, five or more minutes of tile work per point before a mount could even be fitted, and likely a requirement for a specialist roofer on an already-contracted NHS project.
There was no MCS-certified alternative on the market for Cambrian interlocking slate. Until SolVe.
What Traditional Methods Would Have Required
- ×Up to 6 Cambrian tiles removed per mounting point
- ×5+ minutes per tile removed — before any mount is fitted
- ×Risk of cracking the interlocking profile on every removal
- ×Specialist roofer likely required on an NHS-contracted project
- ×No MCS 012 3.0 certified solution available for Cambrian slate
The Solution
The Only Certified Option for Cambrian Slate
Having seen the SolVe Mount at the Solar & Storage Live exhibition, Samuel Strong contacted Thomas at SolVe Innovations. From that call, SolVe produced a revised mounting design specific to the Petersfield roof — complete with wind and snow load calculations and a detailed bill of quantities.
The products were personally delivered to site. SolVe then provided a full on-site installation demonstration to ensure the SSC team could install correctly, safely, and efficiently from the first mount to the 930th.
The SolVe Mount uses a 28mm diamond core bit to create a precise working hole through the Cambrian slate. The slate stays in place. Forces are channelled directly to the rafter via the bolt — zero load on the tile. A single nut tightens the expansion seal outward against the walls of the core hole, creating a permanent IPX8-rated watertight barrier.
- MCS 012 3.0 certified — BBA Certificate 7460
- Verified wind and snow load calculations provided
- Personal site delivery and installation demonstration
- No tiles removed across all 930 mounting points
Video: SSC SW Ltd installing SolVe Mounts at Petersfield Hospital, Hampshire
930 SolVe Mounts installed on Cambrian composite slate — NHS Hampshire, May 2026
How It's Done
Core. Pre-drill. Fix. Done.
Shot on-site at Petersfield Hospital — the complete SolVe Mount installation process on Cambrian composite slate.
SolVe Mount installation process — filmed on the Petersfield Hospital roof, Hampshire
Testimonial
"We were faced with a significant challenge on an NHS site after discovering that the roof covering differed from the information provided at tender stage. The project had been specified as a natural slate roof; however, the property was fitted with Cambrian composite slate tiles. Finding a suitable mounting solution that was MCS-approved while meeting all structural, safety, wind-loading, and snow-loading requirements proved difficult.
Having previously seen SolVe Mounts at the Solar & Storage Live exhibition, I contacted Thomas at SolVe Innovations. From the outset, the support we received was exceptional. After sending over our original system designs, the team quickly produced a revised mounting design incorporating the SolVe Mount solution, complete with wind and snow load calculations and a detailed bill of quantities.
What impressed us most was their commitment to ensuring a successful installation. The products were personally delivered to site, and the team provided a comprehensive installation demonstration to ensure everything was fitted correctly, safely, and efficiently.
As a result of this experience, we at SSC have fully adopted the SolVe Mount system and have used it on every slate roof project since. By reducing installation time by more than 65% compared with traditional hooks and flashing, the system offers a clever, simple, and effective solution that is MCS-approved and British-made.
It has given us complete confidence when designing and installing solar systems on both slate and composite slate roofs, and we would not hesitate to recommend it to others within the industry.
The Difference
SolVe Mount vs Traditional Mounting on Cambrian Slate
| Aspect | Traditional Hooks & Flashing | SolVe Mount |
|---|---|---|
| Tile removal required? | Up to 6 tiles per mounting point | Zero — every tile stays in place |
| Time per mounting point | 5+ min per tile removed, before mounting begins | Under 2 minutes from core to fixed |
| Cambrian slate compatible? | No — interlocking profile prevents flashing | Yes — MCS 012 3.0 certified (BBA 7460) |
| Structural load path | Fixed to rafter, but requires shims to increase hook height — reducing wind uplift rating | Direct to rafter — zero load on the tile |
| Waterproofing method | Plastic flashing and hook | IPX8 expansion seal — 8.2× safety margin |
| Roofer required? | Recommended or required | No — any competent trade can install |
The Result
Standard Practice, Not a One-Off
SSC SW Ltd did not use the SolVe Mount to solve one problem on one roof. Following the Petersfield installation, they adopted it as standard practice for every slate roof project in their pipeline. That is the measure of a product that works.
The SolVe Mount is MCS 012 3.0 certified, BBA certificate 7460, British-made, and carries a 20-year warranty. It is the only mounting system certified for Cambrian interlocking slate, with no tiles removed and no specialist roofing trade required.
Related
Roof Compatibility
Solar Panels on Cambrian Interlocking Slate
Full technical and installation guide for the only MCS 012 3.0 certified mounting option for Cambrian slate.
Installation
Do You Need a Roofer to Install Solar Panels?
Who can carry out solar panel installation in the UK, and what MCS 012 3.0 actually requires.
Engineering
Built to Last: IPX8 Seal, A4-80 Bolt & Fire Safety
The engineering case behind the 20-year warranty — IPX8 test data, pressure margins, marine-grade bolts.