Roof Compatibility · Cambrian Interlocking Slate
By Thomas Moyes, Co-Founder, SolVe Innovations Ltd
Solar Panels on Cambrian Interlocking Slate
The SolVe Mount is the only MCS 012 3.0 certified solar mounting option for Cambrian interlocking slate. No tiles removed. No flashing required. IPX8 sealed — as proven across 930 mounts at an NHS hospital in Hampshire.
Key Takeaways
- —The only MCS 012 3.0 certified solar mounting option for Cambrian interlocking slate (Certificate BBA 7460).
- —No adjustments required — install straight out of the box.
- —Mounting zone: 0–70mm from the overlapping tile edge.
- —Positioning note: avoid the join and channel — move left or right of the join.
- —No tiles removed — the slate stays in place throughout the installation.
- —IPX8 watertight seal — tested submerged for 30 days with no ingress observed.
The Problem
Why Traditional Mounting Doesn't Work on Cambrian Slate
Cambrian interlocking slates are nailed together and connect via a side channel system. This design prevents installers from sliding traditional flashing underneath or removing tiles without causing damage.
Before SolVe Mounts were available, projects involving Cambrian interlocking slate faced a difficult choice: remove up to 6 tiles per mounting point at 5 or more minutes per tile — dramatically increasing labour cost, causing unexpected programme delays, and risking tile damage — or avoid the roof type altogether.
Traditional roof hooks and lead flashing are simply impractical on Cambrian interlocking slate. The SolVe Mount is engineered to work around this constraint — and is the only MCS 012 3.0 certified mounting option that does so.
MCS Certified
Is the SolVe Mount Certified for Cambrian Interlocking Slate?
Yes. The SolVe Mount is MCS 012 3.0 certified and holds BBA Certificate BBA 7460, covering Cambrian interlocking slate. No adjustments are required — the mount installs straight out of the box on this roof type.
The mounting zone is 0–70mm from the overlapping tile edge. This gives substantial flexibility to position the mount on the slate surface. The critical positioning requirement is to avoid placing the mount over the side join or channel — move left or right to ensure the expansion seal does not block the drainage channel.
The Method
How the SolVe Mount Works on an Interlocking Profile
The SolVe Mount uses diamond coring — not conventional drilling. A 28mm diamond core bit grinds away a clean, circular plug of material with almost no vibration, no hammering, and no heavy pressure. The result is a precise working hole through the Cambrian slate. The slate around the hole is left almost undisturbed and retains its structural integrity.
The expansion seal is then inserted through the core hole. When tightened, it presses outward against the walls of the core hole and expands beyond it, creating a permanent watertight barrier. Forces are channelled directly to the rafter — the slate itself carries zero load.
Because the seal sits in the core hole rather than over the tile surface, it does not interact with the Cambrian interlocking channel — provided the mount is positioned left or right of the join, as specified in the installation guidance.
| Aspect | Conventional Drilling | SolVe Diamond Coring |
|---|---|---|
| Force applied | Heavy pushing — you lean in | Light guidance only — the bit does the work |
| Vibration | High — shakes the whole slate | Minimal |
| Hammer / percussion | Often used | Never needed |
| Result on slate | Can cause stress cracks or chips | Clean circular hole, slate almost undisturbed |
| Load on slate | Present | Zero — all force to rafter |
The Install
How to Install the SolVe Mount on Cambrian Interlocking Slate
All you need is a drill, a 28mm diamond core bit, and a spanner. No tile removal, no flashing, no specialist roofing knowledge required.
Core
A 28mm diamond core bit creates a precise working hole through the Cambrian slate. The slate stays in place — nothing is removed, nothing is disturbed.
Pre-drill
Using the drill guide provided with every SolVe Mount, pre-drill the rafter through the core hole.
Fix
Screw the fully assembled SolVe Mount through the core hole and into the rafter. Forces are channelled directly to the rafter — zero load is placed on the Cambrian slate.
Done
Tighten a single nut. The expansion seal presses outward against the walls of the core hole, creating a permanent IPX8-rated watertight barrier. Your MCS-certified Cambrian slate roof mount is complete.
Cambrian slate installation tip: Pre-assemble all SolVe Mounts first. Core all holes in a row, pre-drill all mounting holes, then fix all mounts. Four SolVe Mounts in under two minutes.
HOW DO YOU LOCATE THE RAFTERS UNDER CAMBRIAN INTERLOCKING SLATE?
Find EveryRafterThrough the Slates. Using Just Your Phone.
Rafter Finder locates every rafter through the tiles — no guesswork, no tile removal, no delays. Core in exactly the right spot, every time. Essential on Cambrian interlocking slate where removing tiles to probe the roof structure is not an option.
Video: Rafter Finder in action — locating through roof tiles in seconds
Case Study
NHS, Hampshire — 930 SolVe Mounts on Cambrian Interlocking Slate
Cambrian interlocking slates cannot use traditional flashing as they are nailed together, preventing the installer from sliding flashing underneath or removing tiles without causing damage.
Before using SolVe Mounts, the NHS project team were looking at removing up to 6 Cambrian tiles per mounting point, each tile taking 5 or more minutes to remove. Traditional roof hooks and flashing on Cambrian interlocking slate would require tile removal — dramatically increasing the cost of labour, causing unexpected delays, and damaging a significant number of tiles.
930 SolVe Mounts were installed on Cambrian interlocking slate — without removing a single tile.
Video: Installing SolVe Mounts on Cambrian interlocking slate at an NHS hospital in Hampshire
Why SolVe
SolVe Mount vs Traditional Mounting on Cambrian Slate
| Traditional Mount | SolVe Mount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles removed? | Up to 6 per mount | Never |
| Tile removal time | 5+ minutes per tile | No tiles removed |
| Roofer required? | Often | No |
| Flashing possible? | No — tiles are nailed together | Not needed — IPX8 seal |
| Waterproofing | Lead flashing (impractical) | IPX8 — 8.2× safety margin |
| Load on slate | Present | Zero — all force to rafter |
| MCS 012 3.0 certified | Varies | Yes (Certificate BBA 7460) |
| Install time | Varies | Under 60 seconds per mount |
FAQ
Common Questions
Yes. The SolVe Mount is MCS 012 3.0 certified (Certificate BBA 7460) for Cambrian interlocking slate. No tiles are removed. A 28mm diamond core bit creates the working hole, and the expansion seal creates an IPX8-rated watertight barrier inside the core hole.
Yes. Cambrian interlocking slate is a specialist interlocking profile not covered by most standard solar mounting certifications. The SolVe Mount holds MCS 012 3.0 certification and BBA Certificate BBA 7460 specifically for Cambrian interlocking slate, with no adjustments required out of the box.
Cambrian slates are nailed together and interlock via a side channel system. This prevents installers from sliding flashing underneath or removing tiles without causing damage. Traditional roof hooks and flashing on Cambrian interlocking slate require tile removal — dramatically increasing labour cost, causing unexpected delays, and risking tile damage.
Position within the 0–70mm mounting zone from the overlapping tile edge. Avoid the join and channel — move left or right of the join. This ensures the expansion seal does not block the channel, which would risk damming water flow into the roof.
No — provided you follow the positioning guidance. The side channel must not be blocked by the seal, as this could dam the channel and redirect water into the roof. Positioning the mount to the left or right of the join/channel avoids this entirely. With a 0–70mm mounting zone, there is ample flexibility to find a clear position.
A drill, a 28mm diamond core bit, and a spanner. The drill guide is included with every SolVe Mount. No specialist roofing knowledge is required.
No. SolVe Mount provides a lower profile installation and does not affect the fire rating of the roof covering.
Related
Technical
Does the SolVe Mount Require Drilling Through Slate?
The difference between coring and drilling — and why it matters for slate and Cambrian interlocking slate.
Roof Compatibility
Solar Panels on a Slate Roof — Everything You Need to Know
MCS 012 3.0 certified for natural and composite slate. No tiles removed, IPX8 sealed.
Installation
Do You Need a Roofer to Install Solar Panels?
Who can install the SolVe Mount — and what MCS 012 3.0 actually requires of the installer.
Tools
SolVe Rafter Finder
Locate every rafter through the tiles using just your phone. No guesswork, no removal.