Solar Panel Fire Fighting

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.

Solar panel fire fighting.

The safety of fire fighters and other emergency first responder personnel depends on. Another big concern that bothers most people is how well firefighters are capable of controlling a house fire with solar panels. Fire and solar photovoltaic pv systems. Foremost among these are the hazards posed to firefighters when a building fitted with solar panels catches fire.

Although the flames were finally extinguished after 29 hours the building was completely destroyed. 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. Today s solar panels tend to be very strong.

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. 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. 1 2 courtesy of u s. Firefighting is intrinsically dangerous and battling a blaze in a building equipped with solar panels only adds to the list of perils firefighters have to confront.

Symposium on fire protection for a changing world april 2016.