These flexible zip joints allow for vertical expansion and contraction; critical for applications where a tree or other shadow causing element, like chimney’s or roof lines, may partially shade the collectors as the sun’s angle changes. Flexible joints eliminate stresses caused by natural temperature variances between panel sections by allowing the panels to move along the joint freely.

Additionally, unlike traditional bonding methods – actual welding of the plastic that can pinch or puncture the absorber surface – there are no manufacturing variances with Hi-Tec’s flexible joints.