Beyond the Flames — Solar Panels Create Number of Fire Hazards

As flames tore through the 250,000 square-foot Dietz & Watson Warehouse in Delanco last week, over 400 firefighters from Burlington, Mercer, Camden, Gloucester, and Atlantic counties, as well as numerous departments from across the Delaware in Pennsylvania, got their first taste of the troubles with some of America’s most popular new technologies – solar power.
The Dietz & Watson building was covered in solar panels on its roof – over 7,000, to be exact, and the panels created a number of fire hazards for those attempting to get a handle on the blaze.
While the factory fire itself could serve as a catalyst for change in regulations regarding the use and placement of solar panels on commercial buildings, your department should become aware of the current hazards that solar panels present.
Initially, solar panels were most commonly found in rural areas, where homeowners usually had detached solar panels that sat in close proximity to their home in order to generate enough power to be self-sufficient.
However, the recent rise in popularity of green energy has resulted in a large increase in the amount of solar use in across the country, both residential and commercial, with owners looking to capitalize on the ability to sell energy back to area utility companies.
One of the most difficult portions of dealing with solar panels for firefighters initially is identifying the type of solar panels that are being used, or determining if there is any type of solar panels at all. There are currently solar panels used specifically to generate hot air for heat, hot water generation, natural light (skylight) generation, and electricity generation.
In addition to the various types of panels, there are also various ways for the panels to be disguised, including new panels that now look similar to roof shingles, making them increasingly difficult to identify.
Only electricity generation causes a major threat to firefighters, but it may be difficulty to determine which solar panels are being used for which utility. Therefore, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends treating all solar panels as though they are providing live electricity.
Normally, utility services will pull the main electrical meter and attempt to shut off the main breaker in order to de-energize the house in the event of a fire. This is not always successful with the use of solar panels, as panels can remain energized even after the electrical circuits have been shut off for the house. Therefore, the possibility exists that all electrical outlets are still energized and should be treated as live.
To aid in the de-energizing of the house, firefighters can attempt to locate the central electrical system control panel in the house that is incorporated into most solar systems, and disengage the breakers for the system. Again, this does not guarantee the disabling of energy, and all outlets and electrical sources should still be considered live.
Other hazards for departments to keep in mind when dealing with solar panels are focused on the placement and access to the solar panels. If the panels are placed on the roof of the structure, they present an added collapse potential for the building due to the additional weight on a roof that could be weakened due to heat.
Panels will not support the weight of firefighters or firefighting equipment, and should be avoided by personnel. Also, under no circumstance should axes or roof saws cut into solar panels, as panels could still contain dangerous levels of energy that could electrocute or otherwise injure firefighters during the ventilation process. Ventilation should be moved to a different location on the building.
Many solar panel systems now offer a 24/7 service contact number, which will put homeowners or emergency personnel in contact with trained solar personnel who would be able to respond to the scene and assist in the de-energizing of the building.
Each department may wish to treat solar panels differently, and should develop their own Standard Operating Guidelines regarding encounters with such new technology. Inform your firefighters of the hazards, and help to prevent unnecessary injury from the world of ever-changing technology. Stay safe.
Knoll, 21, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at beyondtheflames@cmc @gmail.com. He is a student at Rowan University.