PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE
Marc Van de Velde
Vice President
Centre of Excellence
Property Risk Engineering / GAPS
NFPA Conference
April 2016, Munich - Germany
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Objectives
 Introduction
 Cells, modules, panels, frames, combustibility
 System types
 Fire loss history - Germany
 Panels, cables, connectors, cable management
 Loss History – German insurers
 Firefighter issues
 Summary
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Photovoltaic (PV) installations – Europe
JRC Science and Policy Reports = PV Status Report 2014, page 14
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC92477/pv%20status%20report%202014%20online.pdf (Link checked 2016-03-16)
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PV – panel types
 Photovoltaic (PV)
 Crystalline
 Thin film
 Concentrator PV systems (CPV)
 Optical system such as mirrors
and lenses to concentrate the light
onto high efficiency cells
images sources: courtesy of DOE/NREL
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PV - types
Stand-off
Courtesy - Dennis Schroeder / NREL
Courtesy - DOE/NREL
Roof
integrated
Building
integrated
Courtesy - DOE/NREL
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PV – ground mounted
 Fixed
courtesy DOE/NREL – Jamie Keller
 With tracking
 Single axis
 Dual axis
Courtesy: Tom Stoffel - NREL
Courtesy: Warren Gretz - NREL
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Solar energy
 Solar hot water
 Parabolic trough collector systems
Parabolic mirrors concentrate light onto a tube
filled with a heat transfer fluid (HTF)
solar hot water
HTF heats water to
steam that drives a
turbine that generates
electricity
images sources: courtesy of DOE/NREL
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PV - Main system components
solar panel array
solar panel array
cables and connectors
junction boxes with fuses,
over current protection
DC side
circuit breaker
inverter
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AC system side to users,
public utility, storage
system
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PV - fire losses - Germany
Fraunhofer Institute Study 2011-2013
 Approx. 420 fire and heat related losses with PV systems involved
 48% fires caused by a photovoltaic system component
Damage to
System Type Involved
Fire Cause
10%
6%
22%
28%
35%
1%
31%
11%
37%
51%
18%
15%
35%
Roof mounted (Aufdach)
Flat roof (Flachdach)
Building integrated
Component
PV system
Roof integrated
Building
Building lost
Ground mounted
Product defect
Planning mistake
Installation mistake
Outisde influence
 No split up between industrial and domestic
 No loss values
Charts based on: Schadenprisma 2014/2 (http://www.schadenprisma.de/pdf/sp_2014_2_1.pdf) and Leitfaden PV TUV Fraunhofer 2015 Chapter 3.3
(http://www.pv-brandsicherheit.de/fileadmin/downloads_fe/Leitfaden_Brandrisiko_in_PV-Anlagen_V01.pdf)
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PV panels – standards
 Qualification and safety standards
 EN / IEC 61xxx series
 Life expectancy of a system is 20 years or more
 Performance capability under prolonged exposure to standard climates
Third party certification is important
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Rigid PV panel combustibility
Testing requirements differ between standards.
IEC 61730 – 2: MST-23 - fire test specification to USA – ANSI / UL 790
EN 61730 – 2: MST-23 – Note indicates European fire test is under consideration
Offset systems
 Classification to EN 13501-1: A  F
 Tests showed fire propagation on
backside of panel and roof
 prEN50xxx - External fire exposure to
roofs in combination with
Photovoltaic arrays – test methods
Roof integrated systems
 Classification to EN
13501-5: Broof (t1)
 Tests to CEN TS 1187
http://www.pv-brandsicherheit.de/fileadmin/downloads_fe/Leitfaden_Brandrisiko_in_PV-Anlagen_V01.pdf chapter 5.2
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DC cabling
 Cabling standardization long time neglected
 Older installations may have less suitable cables installed
 Cables should be:
 UV and Ozone resistant
 Weather and moisture resistant,
 Temperature resistant (minimum +90C better +125C
 Flame retardant (IEC 60332-1-2) no halogen (EN 50267-2-2)
 Acid and alkaline resistant (EN 60811-2-1)
 Not yet an official IEC / EN standard
 TÜV specification: 2Pfg 1169/08.2007 OR VDE E PV 01:2008-02 OR
German DKE/VDE AK 411.2.3
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Cable connectors
 Prefabricated or field assembled
 UV resistance, moisture ingress, temperature
 Contact resistance
 Low plug in, high pull out force; interlocking
system
 Force required to rip connector from cable
 NO IEC standard at present
 EN 50521 - Connectors for photovoltaic systems – safety
(Germany also as DIN VDE 0126-03)
Phoenix Contact - Photovoltaic connectors – Product Overview 2016 – 2017 Catalogue, Page 6
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Cable management
http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/Files/proceedings/PhotoVoltaicBrooks.pdf , p43 -44
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Cable management
 The installation of PV installations on combustible roofs and or roof coverings is
not recommended
 If installed, cables should not be directly laid on the roof and when larger
accumulations occur be installed in noncombustible cable trays or metal conduit
offset of the roof.
 Cabling should be run as much as possible on the outside of buildings
 Cabling should not run over parapets of fire walls
 Cables should not be run in the immediate vicinity or over plastic illumination
bands / skylights.
 Special cables or protection might be required where exposed to possible attack
by rodents.
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Loss history – German insurers (2004-2007)
Loss cause
Number of incidents (%)
Damage cost (%)
Snow
14
12
Storm
9
25
Hail
2
3
Fire
2
26
Overvoltage
26
14
Theft
2
8
Deliberate
3
1
Miscellaneous
42
11
Damage cost: natural elements: 40%
Data Source: GDV Publication Renewable Energies March 2010 (Page 166)
http://www.gdv.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Renewable_Energies_2010.pdf (link checked 2016-03-16)
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Proof of stability (Statics)
 “PV system” and “building” design
 PV securing elements adequate for location - wind, snow
 Ballasted versus secured systems – different challenges
 Building design – can additional load be supported
 Roof drainage systems – panels
 Hail exposure – tests vary by standard
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Fire Department Intervention
 Traditional: fire – fire department arrives – cut off power - intervention
 Issue with PV: when light – electricity is produced – can be over 1000 V DC
 Electric shock - Damaged electrical cables or panels
 Lack of access to roof , walking on roof, slipping, cutting holes
 Falling glass, panels
No / limited Fire Department intervention can mean small loss versus total loss!
De-energize up to reduce voltage to a safe level
 Maximum array sizes – distance between arrays - pathways
Discussions between Fire Department and property owner/operator !!!
 Existing installations – familiarization – intervention plans
 New Installations – involvement already starting in planning stage
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Short summary
 Use the latest codes, standards, guidelines
Appears easy to install
“Plug and play” mentality
Lack of know-how
Several disciplines involved
 Use quality, certified components
 Use qualified, certified installers
 Initial acceptance of installation (EN 62466)
 Service contract / supervision of system
 Regular maintenance, inspection by qualified personnel
 Disposal of damaged or end of life panels
 System statics and roof statics
 Natural hazards: wind, storm, ice, snow, hail, earthquake, flood, landslide
 Lightning and surge protection
 Fire safety issues: roof construction, components, routing of cables …
 Potential firefighter issues
 Potential insurance type issues
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Installation guidelines
 Many disciplines are involved in a successful installation
 Lack of comprehensive all covering guidelines in many countries
 GAPS Guidelines - GAP.2.1.8 – Photovoltaic Systems
http://xlcatlin.com/insurance/insurance-coverage/property-risk-engineering/gaps-guidelines
 FM DS 1-15 – Roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels
 FM DS 7-106 – Ground mounted solar photovoltaic panels
 NFPA - Commercial Roof-mounted Photovoltaic System Installation Best Practices
Review and All Hazard Assessment
http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/research/research%20foundation/research%20foundation%20reports/building%20and%20life%20safety/rfcommercialroofmountedphotovoltaicsy
steminstallation.pdf
 VDS 3145 (German):
http://vds.de/fileadmin/vds_publikationen/vds_3145_web.pdf
 Germany: RAL GZ-966 (German)
 In approx 100 pages are covered components, installation, initial acceptance,
service an maintenance http://www.ralsolar.de/download/RAL-GZ_966_Juni_2011.pdf
DOE/NREL link: http://images.nrel.gov/
Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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THANK YOU
Questions?
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About XL Catlin
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