Solar Panel Fire Fighting

Much inaccurate information about pv and firefighter safety has been published on the internet recently even to the point of recommendations to let it burn if solar panels are spotted on a roof.

Solar panel fire fighting.

1 2 courtesy of u s. Investigations and evidence interim report pdf 2 86mb 60 pages this file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Foremost among these are the hazards posed to firefighters when a building fitted with solar panels catches fire. Fire fighting in buildings and structures involving solar power systems utilizing solar panels that generate thermal and or electrical energy with a particular focus on solar photovoltaic panels used for electric power generation.

Today in the united states demand for solar is at an all time high and the fire service must become educated and trained on the. Since solar panels are everywhere from home roofs to roadside signs to supermarkets firefighter training is intended to deal with all the challenges that may arrive when fighting fire with solar products involved. Currently the national fire incident reporting system does not detail how many structure fires included a solar array or how many firefighters have been injured fighting fires in solar powered. Fire fighter safety and response for solar power systems october 2013 this report focuses on structural firefighting in buildings with solar panels that generate thermal and or electrical energy with a particular focus on solar pv panels used for electric power generation.

The safety of fire fighters and other emergency first responder personnel depends on. Fire and solar photovoltaic pv systems. Symposium on fire protection for a changing world april 2016. Today s solar panels tend to be very strong.

In 2013 rooftop solar panels caused firefighters to change tactics while fighting a fire at a 300 000 square foot delanco new jersey meat warehouse.