What is a photovoltaic fire protection panel

What is a photovoltaic (PV) panel?

Photovoltaic (PV) panels (also called solar electric panels) convert energy from the sun into electricity. PV panels (or modules as they are sometimes called) are composed of a number of PV cells (or solar cells) containing a photovoltaic material (Pester & Thorne, 2011), and these can be in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Are PV panels a fire hazard?

All electrical installations, by their nature, will carry some degree of fire risk. Although fires caused by PV panels are rare, any fire involving a building with a PV array can present an increased risk to occupants and fire-fighters.

How to minimise fire risk from solar PV systems?

The solar industry welcomes clarity on how to minimise fire risk from solar PV systems, which in absolute terms is extremely low. “The core way to mitigate any risk is to ensure the highest possible quality in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of solar systems.

Can a solar panel fire damage a building?

Planning and design issues can also add to the risk of solar panel fires, causing damage to not just the PV installation, but the building on which they are mounted. An example of this would be a PV system being installed on a combustible/partially combustible roof, with no fire-resistant covering.

Are photovoltaic power systems causing fires?

Over the past few years, there have been a number of media reports linking photovoltaic power systems (PV) with fire. With the prevalence of PV systems now in the UK, an increase in incident reports is to be expected.

Can PV systems be used to fight fires in the UK?

Notwithstanding these regimes for installers and products, there is currently no national UK guidance specific to fighting fires involving PV systems, despite PV systems presenting new risks to firefighters, especially from the risk of electric shock and electrocution.