PV systems are exposed to all kinds of weather conditions. But is a solar system a risk for your single-family home? We will address this question in this article.
Does a PV system on the roof increase the fire risk?
If installed correctly and high-quality, CE-certified components are used, a PV system on the roof does not increase the risk of fire. It is important that all connections, including lightning and surge protection, are made correctly.
In addition, annual maintenance of the solar system is recommended. This way, defects and potential risks can be identified and rectified at an early stage. In addition, regular cleaning the PV system the risk of fire, especially if it is located near trees. Here, resin, which is highly flammable, can contaminate the solar modules.
What are the risks of a fire in a photovoltaic system?
If a photovoltaic system catches fire, two major risks arise:
- Photovoltaic systems cannot simply be switched off. Disconnecting from the grid switches off the inverters for safety reasons. However, PV modules and cables remain live during daylight hours. If the system is undamaged, there is no danger when fighting the fire. There is a risk if the firefighters come across damaged cables in the building. This could lead to an electric shock.
- During a fire brigade operation the photovoltaic system can hinder access to the roof. The solar modules prevent the roof covering from being removed quickly. This can delay or hinder firefighting. Maintenance routes are important both for maintaining the PV system and for firefighting.
- The Solar panel panes can burst in a fire, which poses a risk of injury and damages the fire hoses.
Fires in PV systems are very rare (RioPatuca Images / stock.adobe.com)
Can a fire ever be extinguished?
The fire service is trained in firefighting and is obliged to put out fires. For this reason, the regulations for firefighting in electrical systems have been revised and tightened in recent years. For example, in flooded areas exposed to extinguishing water, contact with areas of the PV system must be avoided at all costs due to the voltage present. A minimum distance of one meter should be maintained.
In an emergency, you don't have to worry about a controlled burn-down of your house. Such situations have never happened. These rumors were spread by misunderstood reporting and published as big headlines in the daily and specialist press.
Who is liable in the event of a fire?
If a PV system catches fire, the insurance company is normally liable. The prerequisite is that you have taken out PV insurance. Otherwise, you are liable for the damage yourself. However, if the fire can be proven to have been caused by a defect in the solar system, the PV company you commissioned is liable.
How can the risk of fire be reduced?
The VDE application rule VDE-AR-E 2100-712, which came into force in May 2013, regulates measures for the safe planning and installation of photovoltaic systems on buildings. These measures aim to prevent dangerous contact voltages in the event of a failure of the protective insulation. As part of this regulation, the PV system must be marked with an appropriate sign.
The application rule describes:
- Measures to laying of PV direct current cables in a building. This includes fire-protected installation under plaster or in fire protection ducts. It also includes touch-safe installation on elevated cable routes and always laying the cables outside the building;
- shutdown measures, such as the fire brigade switch, can react automatically in the event of a fire or can be triggered manually from a central location. In the event of a fire, this device can quickly interrupt the flow of electricity from the solar system to the inverter. The functionality of these switches is often controversial, as there are no standardized specifications and product guidelines.
distance from the neighbor
In terms of fire protection, you should consider your neighbors when installing a photovoltaic system. The minimum distances to neighboring buildings are between 0.5 and 1.25 m, depending on the state building regulations. If your system is non-flammable, 0.5 m is usually sufficient.
create a fire brigade deployment plan
For large installations, you should create a PV site plan to make firefighting easier. The plan should show the location of the generator field, main cables and inverters with DC disconnects on a site plan. This helps the fire department to quickly switch off the inverters and understand the layout of the installation.
