Solar Buying Guide · Mounting Systems
Schletter is the German-engineered mounting system that most large UK installers reach for when a roof is complicated. This guide walks you through every roof type Schletter supports — pantile, slate, plain tile, standing-seam metal, trapezoidal sheet and direct-to-timber — with the exact components you need for each, an interactive kit builder, torque specs and a full parts index built from live in-stock inventory.
Written for UK installers, self-builders and specifiers. All prices shown are AIZO Quality Heating retail; volume and trade quotes are case-by-case.
On this page
Why Schletter
Schletter has been designing PV mounting hardware in Bavaria since 1985 and has one of the deepest roof-type catalogues in the industry. The system is engineered around three principles that show up on every job:
Click-in engagement. The Solo and ProfiPlus rails accept KlickTop attachments and KlickIn nuts, so a rail seats onto a hook or a hanger bolt with an audible click — no tool needed for the primary connection. This cuts assembly time on a typical 12-panel array by 30 to 45 minutes compared with bolt-only competitors, and gives an installer a positive confirmation the rail is engaged before any load is applied.
Component depth. Where most mounting brands sell one hook per tile type, Schletter typically has two or three variants covering standard, high-load and heritage cases. The Rapid2+ hook family alone runs from the ProLine 35 mm hook for standard concrete tile to the RapidA Pro 45 Max for exposed sites with high wind and snow loads — same fitting method, different structural capacity.
Certification. Schletter mounting is calculated to Eurocode 1 Part 1-4 (BS EN 1991-1-4) for wind actions and the equivalent snow-load code. Their published design tables cover every UK postcode region, and the manufacturer will issue project-specific structural sign-off on request — useful for planning applications, building control, and MCS handover packs.
Installation types
Schletter's catalogue spans six distinct roof-attachment methods. Identify yours first — the rest of the BOM (rails, clamps, fasteners) is largely the same across all six.
TYPE 01
Pantile & concrete interlocking
The most common UK roof. Hooks slide under the tile above, sit on the batten, and clear the tile profile below. Rapid2+ series is the go-to.
Rapid2+ · RapidATYPE 02
Slate
Thin, flat, brittle. Use the Rapid2+ Slate125 with a replacement metal slate, or the Solar Slate Plate Z bracket to avoid breaking the course.
Rapid2+ Slate125 · Z-BracketTYPE 03
Plain tile
Traditional UK small flat tile. Standard hooks won't span the profile — use the Eric Tile C or the 109019-series hook with a sheet-metal replacement tile.
Eric Tile C · 109019 seriesTYPE 04
Standing-seam metal
KalZip and similar. The seam clamp grips the rolled seam with no roof penetration — the cleanest attachment on a metal roof. Certified for wind uplift.
Seam Clamp 503 · 510 ALTYPE 05
Trapezoidal / corrugated sheet
Profiled metal on light industrial or agricultural roofs. SingleFix Pro screws onto the crest with EPDM sealing, or use FixPlan for a fully-sealed plate.
SingleFix Pro · FixPlanTYPE 06
Direct-to-timber (hanger bolt)
For fibre-cement, older corrugated, or where you need maximum pull-out into a rafter or purlin. M10 or M12 depending on load; KlickTop or plate adapter on top.
Hanger Bolt · KlickTopKit builder
Enter your roof type, panel count and orientation. The tool returns a full Schletter BOM with SKUs and quantities — copy it into a quote request or add each item to cart individually.
Schletter kit builder
v1 · live inventoryThe kit builder assumes UK inland conditions and standard roof pitches (15°–45°). For coastal, exposed or high-altitude sites, or pitches outside this range, request a structural review before ordering.
Roof hooks — tile & slate
Every Schletter hook attaches to the rafter with a wood screw, sits over the tile batten, and passes an M10 stud up to the rail. Choose by tile type first, then by load rating.
For pantile and concrete interlocking tile
The Rapid2+ family is the default. All three share the same click-in KlickTop head and screw base — the difference is in the top-arm length, adjustment range and base plate size.
| Hook | Best for | Adjustment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid2+ 35 ProLine | Standard concrete pantile | 35 mm | Most common UK pick. Ships with pre-fitted KlickTop. |
| Rapid2+Pro 45 | Deeper tile profile, mixed-age roofs | 45 mm | Extra 10 mm clears drifted tiles without spacer plate. |
| RapidA Pro 45 Max | Exposed / high wind / snow | 45 mm | Larger base plate spreads load across two rafters. |
| Eco A 45 Max | Budget standard install | 45 mm | Pair with RapFix (109008-003) for KlickTop upgrade. |
| Universal | Non-standard / heritage roofs | Slotted | Stainless steel. Works with third-party rails. |
For slate
Slate is thin and brittle. You cannot slide a standard pantile hook under a slate without cracking it. Two solutions: replace one slate with a metal equivalent that the hook lives on top of (Rapid2+ Slate125), or bridge over the slate with a Z-bracket that fixes to the rafter and swings out above the slate line.
SSP-SLATE-PLATE-Z-500-250
Solar Slate Plate Z Bracket (Schletter-compatible)
£33.00 Inc. VAT · £27.50 Exc.
For UK plain tile
Plain tile is a small flat tile fixed in double-lap course. Standard interlocking-tile hooks span more than one tile so cannot follow the profile. The two working approaches are the Eric Tile C hook, which fixes to the rafter and drops between tiles, or the 109019-series with a full sheet-metal replacement tile.
SSP-ERIC-TILE-C
Eric Tile C Roof Hook (Plain Tile, Schletter-compatible)
£23.00 Inc. VAT · £19.17 Exc.
SLT-109016-009
Sheet Metal Replacement Tile 170 × 380mm (UK Plain Tile)
£13.00 Inc. VAT · £10.83 Exc.
Spacers for out-of-plane tiles
Metal-roof attachments
Metal roofs split into two families: standing-seam (KalZip, Kingspan RW, most modern industrial cladding) where a rolled seam projects above the sheet, and trapezoidal / corrugated where the sheet has a repeating trough-and-crest profile.
Standing-seam clamps
The clamp grips the seam with a stainless grub screw — no roof penetration, no gasket to fail. It is the fastest attachment method Schletter offers, and the only one with zero fastener risk.
Trapezoidal and corrugated sheet
The SingleFix Pro screws through the crest of the sheet with a self-drilling stainless fastener and seals with an integrated EPDM footprint. For high-integrity waterproofing on a lightweight sheet, the FixPlan sealing plate is the alternative — larger footprint, dedicated pre-cut EPDM.
Hanger bolts & adapters
The hanger bolt is the workhorse for direct-to-timber attachment: through a corrugated fibre-cement sheet into a purlin, into a rafter on a lightweight metal roof, or as a heavy-duty alternative to a hook where pull-out is the limiting factor. Wood-thread lower half, machine-thread upper half, sealing EPDM washer.
SLT-110212-300
Hanger Bolt Kit M12 × 300 Assembled (Wood Purlins)
£9.90 Inc. VAT · £8.25 Exc.
Rails, connectors & end caps
The rail runs across the hooks and carries the panel through mid and end clamps. Schletter's Solo Mounting Rail is the standard extruded aluminium profile — anodised finish, KlickIn nut compatible along the top channel, self-locating drainage slots.
Rail connectors
Rails join in-line with an internal splice — the connector sits inside the extrusion and clamps with self-drilling screws or a pre-assembled bolt.
SLT-129002-002
Rail Connector Solo5, Solo05 Light, ProfiPlus, FixZ-7 & FixZ-15
£5.50 Inc. VAT · £4.58 Exc.
End caps
SLT-129011-900
Plastic Rail End Cap, Solo Profi05 (Grey / Black)
£0.55 Inc. VAT · £0.46 Exc.
Module clamps
Mid clamps sit between two panels and hold both frames; end clamps sit at the outermost edge and hold one. Choose Rapid16 for click-in speed on framed panels 30–40 mm thick, or Classic Wide for the traditional bolt-through fit. Both are stocked in silver (mill finish) and black (anodised) to match your panels.
| Clamp | Panel thickness | Torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Clamp Rapid16 | 30–40 mm | 12 Nm on M8 | Click-in KlickIn nut. Fastest on repeat panels. |
| Mid Clamp Classic Wide | 30–40 mm | 14–16 Nm on M8 | Wider footprint — better for thin-frame panels. |
| End Clamp Rapid16 | 30–40 mm | 12 Nm on M8 | Height set by panel — no shims needed. |
| End Clamp V Classic Wide | 30–40 mm | 14–16 Nm on M8 | V-profile grips the frame edge cleanly. |
Fasteners & small parts
The consumables that hold everything together. All Schletter fasteners are stainless steel A2 or A4 — never galvanised on the critical connections — and are matched to the aluminium extrusions and roof material to avoid bimetallic corrosion.
Bolts
Wood screws
Sheet-metal and self-drilling screws
Nuts & washers
Companion products
The Schletter kit gets the panels on the roof — these products get the array wired up, weatherproofed and pigeon-proofed.
Bird deterrent — mesh, clips and spikes
The 100–150 mm gap between panel and tile is prime pigeon nesting territory. Fitted at install, mesh clips onto the panel frame without any additional roof penetration. Fitted later, it needs a scaffold visit and often costs three to four times more.
Our full bird deterrent range covers both BirdBlocker mesh and EnviroGuard mesh systems.
Solar cables & connectors
Once the array is mounted, you need to wire it. See our solar cables, battery cables and connectors range for MC4 patch leads, DC main cables, and battery interconnects sized for the inverter you are pairing.
Sealants and flashings
For any roof penetration on the mounting side, a high-performance neutral-cure sealant is required over and above the EPDM gaskets on the fasteners. C-Tec CT1 TRIBRID (available in our general fixings range) is the trade default — bonds to wet substrates, high UV stability, non-slump on a slope. For flashing around cable entries, use a Dektite pipe flashing sized to the DC cable bundle.
MC4-compatible connectors and inline safety
Schletter's mounting system is inverter-agnostic. Whatever inverter you choose, pair the rail with an appropriately rated DC isolator (see our fire safety devices) and a compliant rapid shutdown device where the panel exceeds MCS reference conditions.
Wind & snow loading
Every Schletter kit sold in the UK should be calculated to BS EN 1991-1-4 (Eurocode 1 Part 1-4, wind actions) with the site's postcode-specific wind zone and any relevant local topography factor. Snow load follows BS EN 1991-1-3.
| Site type | Default hooks/panel | Rail configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland, sheltered, ≤45° pitch | 4 | 2 horizontal rails, landscape | Standard UK default. |
| Suburban, moderate exposure | 4 | 2 rails, panel-count-limited spans | Rapid2+ 35 works; consider Rapid2+Pro 45 for tile drift. |
| Coastal (<5 km from sea) | 6 | 2 rails, shorter panel-count per row | Step up to RapidA Pro 45 Max. Request wind calc. |
| Exposed rural / hilltop | 6 | 2 rails, oversize hook base | RapidA Pro 45 Max mandatory. Request wind calc. |
| Highland / heavy snow zone | 6 | Reduce panel-count per row to 6–8 | Add snow-load calc; consider Solo rail over EcoLight. |
AIZO Quality Heating holds MCS Certification (Cert MCS IK0251). Our technical team can run a structural review with Schletter's design software as part of any quote — send us the postcode, roof geometry and panel model.
Get a costed BOM
Send us your roof dimensions, panel model and postcode. We'll return a fully-costed Schletter BOM with structural sign-off, VAT and delivery to your postcode.
Request a custom quoteInstaller? Earn on every referral
The AIZO Partner Program pays commission on projects you refer, including Schletter mounting orders. Ongoing relationship, transparent margin.
Join the Partner ProgramFrequently asked questions
Which Schletter roof hook fits my tile?
Use the Rapid2+Pro 45 for interlocking pantile and concrete tile — it has a wide adjustment range and integrates directly with Schletter's Solo and ProfiPlus rails. For plain tile in the UK, the Eric Tile C hook or the Schletter 109019 series with sheet-metal replacement tile is correct because standard interlocking hooks cannot follow the flat tile course. For slate, use the Rapid2+ Slate125 with its replacement slate tile, or the Solar Slate Plate Z bracket if you cannot break the slate course. Heavy wind or snow sites should specify the RapidA Pro 45 Max, which has an extended base plate.
Can I mix Schletter hooks with other rail brands?
Not recommended. Schletter's KlickTop and KlickIn connection profile is proprietary to their Solo, Solo05, ProfiPlus, FixZ-7 and FixZ-15 rails. If you use a Renusol or Fastensol rail with a Schletter hook you lose the click-in engagement, and you also lose any structural warranty from either manufacturer. The Universal roof hook is the one exception — its slotted top plate can drive a bolt-clamped M10 rail from most systems, but check the rail supplier's certification before you rely on it.
How many hooks per panel do I need?
The default is four hooks per panel — two per rail, one at each panel edge — for typical UK inland sites at 15° to 45° pitch. Coastal, high-altitude or exposed sites should step up to six per panel (three per rail). Very lightweight panels or steep pitches over 45° also benefit from an extra hook per rail. The kit builder on this page applies four per panel by default and calls out when a wind-load review is warranted.
What is the difference between the Rapid2+ 35 and the Rapid2+Pro 45?
Both are Schletter's second-generation interlocking-tile hook. The 35 (ProLine) is the standard version with a 35 mm vertical adjustment range and is the right choice for most concrete pantile roofs. The Pro 45 has a longer top arm and 45 mm adjustment, so it clears deeper tile profiles and slightly-out-of-plane rafters without needing a spacer plate. If you are quoting an older roof where tile heights have drifted, specify the Pro 45.
Do I need the SingleFix or a hanger bolt on a trapezoidal metal roof?
That depends on the corrugation and the purlin. On a sandwich panel or a lightweight trapezoidal sheet on close-spaced purlins, the SingleFix Pro (or the SingleFix-V Solo kit for very short arrays) attaches directly to the sheet high point and carries load through the EPDM-sealed footprint. On a heavier corrugated sheet where you can reach a timber or steel purlin behind the profile, use a hanger bolt kit — an M10 x 200 for standard timber, M12 x 300 for extra pull-out. The hanger bolt is stronger, but requires roof penetration into structure and a Klick-Top or mounting plate on top.
What does the KlickTop do?
The KlickTop is Schletter's tool-free rail attachment. It sits on top of a hanger bolt or a compatible foot and accepts a Solo or ProfiPlus rail with a downward push — the click engages a spring-loaded jaw that locks the rail without any bolts on the rail itself. It saves time on repetitive fastening and gives a positive audible confirmation that the rail is seated. If you prefer bolted attachment for auditability, the Mounting Plate (119002-000) is the alternative.
How long a rail do I need?
The rule of thumb is panel width times panel count in the row, plus a 150–250 mm end overhang each side, then round up to whole rails. The Solo Mounting Rail is 3.55 m as stocked; longer runs join with the rail connector (129002-002) which sits inside the extrusion and is fastened with self-drilling screws. Two rails run horizontally per row of panels in a landscape layout, or vertically per panel in a portrait layout. The kit builder does this calculation for you.
Is Schletter compatible with all-black panels?
Yes. The Mid Clamp Classic Wide and End Clamp V Classic Wide are available in both mill-silver and anodised black finishes, so black-framed panels can be mounted without any visible silver aluminium at the clamp line. Rails remain mill-finish silver, so if you want a fully-black roof, cover-strip solutions or the black end-cap (129011-900) are the closest match. Discuss options with our team on your quote.
What torque should I use on the module clamps?
Follow Schletter's most recent installation manual, but as a working default: mid clamps and end clamps on the Rapid16 profile torque to 12 Nm on the M8 screw, Classic Wide clamps torque to 14–16 Nm on the M8. Rail-to-hook M10 fasteners torque to 20 Nm. Standing-seam clamps torque to 15 Nm on the seam grub screw. Always cross-check with the panel manufacturer's clamp force limit — some frames specify a maximum of 4000 N and a lower torque may be required.
Does Schletter cover wind and snow loading?
Yes, Schletter provides structural calculations to BS EN 1991-1-4 (Eurocode 1 Part 1-4, wind actions) on request. For any coastal, exposed or high-altitude installation, a project-specific load calculation is strongly recommended. Our technical team can run this against your postcode and roof geometry as part of the quote — contact us with the roof dimensions, pitch and panel model.
Do I need bird protection with a Schletter array?
It is not mandatory but strongly advised in urban and suburban sites. Pigeons nest in the 100–150 mm gap between panel and tile, and the resulting droppings can etch tiles, block gutters and create a fire and hygiene risk. We install BirdBlocker or EnviroGuard mesh around the array perimeter using standard clips that grip the panel frame — no additional roof penetration. This is best fitted at the time of the original installation because retrofitting through a scaffold-out visit is significantly more expensive.
Can I request a trade discount?
Yes. Volume and trade pricing is quoted case-by-case rather than through a fixed tier system, because the discount available depends on the mix of Schletter parts, stock availability, and whether you are ordering alongside panels, inverters or batteries. Send us a full BOM through the custom quote page and we'll respond with a landed price. If you are an installer looking for an ongoing relationship, the AIZO Partner Program pays commission on projects you refer, which is often a better long-term arrangement than one-off discounting.