Glossary

The vocabulary of canopies and charging, in plain English.

Every term we use on this site, defined in a sentence or two. Structural, code, incentive, and charging terms are grouped together because on a real project they arrive together.

Solar carport
A steel canopy over parking that carries a photovoltaic array on its roof. Also called a solar canopy or PV canopy. Provides shade and generation on the same footprint.
Semi-cantilever (LETO)
An L-shaped canopy with a column line at the back of the stall and a beam cantilevered forward over one row of parking. Covers two spaces per 18-foot bay.
T-cantilever (TITAN)
A T-shaped canopy with a single central column line and beams cantilevered both ways over two rows of parking nose to nose. Covers four spaces per bay.
Purlin
The secondary steel member that spans between canopy beams and carries the modules. Slide-in solar purlins accept framed modules without separate racking.
HSS
Hollow Structural Section: square or rectangular steel tube, here ASTM A36 grade, used for canopy columns and beams in the structural-steel system.
Box steel
Light-gauge galvanized formed steel sections, here 10 gauge, used for columns and beams in the manufacturer's standard canopy system.
G90
A galvanizing designation: 0.90 ounces of zinc per square foot of sheet, both sides. The standard corrosion protection for canopy steel and purlins.
Hot-dip galvanizing
Immersing fabricated steel in molten zinc for a thick coating. Specified for coastal and marine exposures beyond the standard G90 sheet coating.
Caisson (drilled pier)
A deep cylindrical reinforced-concrete foundation drilled into the soil. The standard canopy foundation in Southern California, typically 24 to 36 inches in diameter and 8 to 15 feet deep.
Spread footing
A shallow, wide reinforced-concrete pad foundation used where drilling is impractical: shallow water, shallow rock, utilities below, or weak deep soils.
Base template
A manufacturer-supplied jig that sets anchor bolts at the exact pattern the column base plate requires while the foundation concrete is wet.
Tilt
The slope of the canopy roof and array, typically 0, 5, or 10 degrees. Tilt affects production, drainage, and which edge of the canopy is taller.
Clearance
The vertical distance from pavement to the underside of the canopy beam, 8 feet 6 inches to 15 feet on standard systems. Sets which vehicles can park beneath.
ASCE 7
The American Society of Civil Engineers' standard for minimum design loads, including the wind and seismic loads a canopy is engineered to resist.
UL 2703
The safety standard for mounting systems, clamping, and grounding of PV modules. The canopy's module mounting is listed to it.
Title 24, Part 6
California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Section 140.10 of the 2025 edition requires PV and battery systems on most new nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings of three or more stories.
SARA
Solar Access Roof Area: the unshaded roof area able to support PV, used to size the Title 24 requirement. Includes the roofs of carports and covered parking.
CALGreen
The California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11). The 2025 edition sets EV Ready and installed-charger requirements for new multifamily and nonresidential parking.
EV Ready
A parking space served by a complete circuit terminating in a receptacle or charger, ready for a vehicle to plug in without further electrical work.
EV Capable
A parking space with the raceway and panel capacity reserved for a future circuit, but no conductors or charger installed.
SB 49
A 2023 California law (Chapter 379) that directs Caltrans to evaluate renewable energy, storage, and transmission on state highway rights-of-way. A 5 percent state tax credit for solar canopies was added to the bill in mid-2023 and removed before it was enacted.
Section 73 solar exclusion
California Revenue and Taxation Code section 73: a new active solar energy system is not treated as new construction, so its value is not added to the property's assessed value. Under current law it covers solar construction completed before January 1, 2027.
Section 48E
The federal clean electricity investment tax credit, 30 percent of eligible cost for commercial solar. Projects beginning construction after July 4, 2026 must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.
Elective pay
The federal mechanism that lets tax-exempt entities such as cities and school districts receive the value of the investment tax credit as a direct payment.
Level 2 charging
AC charging at 208 or 240 volts, roughly 7 to 19 kW per port. Suits parking where vehicles stay for hours.
DC fast charging
Direct-current charging at 50 to 350 kW and above, delivered by chargers with their own power electronics. Suits short stops: fleets, corridors, dealerships.
NACS / SAE J3400
The North American Charging Standard, Tesla's connector design, standardized by SAE as J3400 and adopted by most automakers from the 2025 model year.
CCS1
The Combined Charging System connector used by most non-Tesla EVs sold in North America before J3400 adoption. Remains on millions of vehicles.
J1772
The AC Level 2 connector used across North America. Teslas use it with an included adapter; the Universal Wall Connector includes a built-in adapter.
OCPP
Open Charge Point Protocol: the open standard that lets charging hardware work with any compatible network software, so an owner can change networks without changing posts.
Load management
Software control that shares a fixed electrical capacity among several chargers so the combined draw never exceeds the circuit or service rating.
Make-ready
Utility programs that pay for electrical infrastructure from the transformer to the parking space, leaving the owner to buy the chargers.
Interconnection
The utility's review and approval allowing a solar system to operate in parallel with the grid. Usually the critical path on a commercial canopy project.
Supercharger
Tesla's DC fast-charging network, owned and operated by Tesla and hosted on third-party properties under site host agreements.
Supercharger for Business
Tesla's program, launched in September 2025, that sells white-labeled Supercharger posts to businesses. The owner hires the installer, sets prices, and keeps revenue; Tesla operates and services the site.
Destination Charging
Tesla's program for Level 2 Wall Connectors at hotels, restaurants, and retail, listed in Tesla navigation. Hosts own and install the units.
DSA
California's Division of the State Architect, which reviews structural plans for K-12 and community college construction, including canopies.
LADBS
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, which issues the building and electrical permits for canopies in the City of Los Angeles.
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