Solar Panels And Firefighter Safety

Matthew steine examines firefighter safety around thermal and photovoltaic power systems two of the most common solar power systems used with today s construction.

Solar panels and firefighter safety.

This has taken an identical approach and focuses on assembling and disseminating best practice information for fire fighters and fireground incident commanders to assist in their decision making process. 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. Firefighters get lesson on solar panel safety these questions pose a problem for modern firefighters and are some of the reasons the madison fire department applied for grants to install. Matthew steine jan 31st 2011.

Regulations must be unified and adhered to so that renewable energy companies in all fifty states are in compliance with research based federal safety recommendations. Simpson lectures nationally on handling emergencies involving railroad incidents solar energy and firefighter safety and survival and teaches fdic hot and conference sessions on the same topics. Solar panel certification labs situated across the country verify the electrical safety and performance of new solar panel technologies before they are launched in the market. Developed by the international association of fire fighters iaff and the interstate renewable energy council irec the solar pv safety for firefighters course is designed to give firefighters the knowledge necessary to feel confident and safe when responding to fires on solar pv equipped structures to better understand the potential hazards.

Firefighters arrive at the scene of a fire and then identify the solar system on the structure shut it down watch for hazards as they extinguish the flames and make sure the scene is safe when they leave. Apart from this a large number of firefighters have suggested and developed arrangements of solar installations that can be positioned on roofs in a way that does not intrude with firefighting work. On the surface the process seems simple however there are many steps required to ensure safety. Solar power systems fire fighter safety and emergency response for electric drive and hybrid electric vehicles fprf.