Important
The Systems, Drawings And Pictures
Depicted In This Presentation Are
Used For Discussion Purposes Only.
PV Systems And Their Components
Vary In Design, And Appearance. It Is
Imperative That Your Department
Become Familiar With The Systems
Installed In Your Community.
!
Coordination Between Your Fire
Department And Your
Municipalities' Building And Fire
Code Officials Is Essential To
Understanding &Identifying PV
Systems Installed In Your
Community!
!
Program Goals:
To Provide Firefighters
with an Awareness of
Photovoltaic Systems so
Informed Fire Ground
Decisions can be Applied
for Safe Fireground
Operations
Program Topics:
What is Solar Power?
Why are People Using it?
What is it Used For?
Types of Systems
Impact on The Fire Service
Target Hazards in Your
Jurisdiction
Currently…
Sussex
Passaic
Bergen
Warren
Morris
Essex
New Jersey Is Second
Largest Solar Energy
Market In The United
States
Hudson
Union
Hunterdon
Somers et
Middlesex
Merc er
Burlington
Gloucester
Note: California with 4 times
the population is
ranked #1
Camden
Salem
Atlantic
Cumberland
Cape
May
Monmouth
Oc ean
NJ Installations
2001
Sussex
=6
Passaic
Bergen
Warren
Morris
Essex
Hudson
Union
2006
Hunterdon
= 12+
Somers et
Middlesex
Merc er
2009
= 4000+
Burlington
Gloucester
Camden
Salem
Atlantic
Cumberland
2011
=>9000
Cape
May
Monmouth
Oc ean
Why Does it Concern Us
Sussex
2011 - Over 9,000…
Passaic
Bergen
Warren
Morris
Essex
Hudson
Union
Equates to
About 15 Per
Municipality
Hunterdon
Somers et
Middlesex
Merc er
Burlington
Gloucester
Camden
Salem
Atlantic
Cumberland
Cape
May
Monmouth
Oc ean
They’re in Your Town!!!!
Why Does it Concern Us
They’re in Your Town!!!!
Why Does it Concern Us
Renewable Energy Sources
WHY
State Purchase Incentives
(up to 25% of cost)
State Sales Tax Exemption
Federal Tax Credits
Lower or Non-Existent
Energy Bills
Note: Utilities Required To Buy Back Excess Solar Energy
Importance to New Jersey
In 2006
4,709,000 Megawatt
Hours Used In One
Month
Only 36 Megawatt
Hours Were
Generated By Solar
Energy
Importance to New Jersey
New Jersey also
Houses the Nation’s
Highest-Capacity &
Oldest Running
Nuclear Power Plants
(Salem & Oyster Creek)
Solar Energy
Light & Radiant Heat From the Sun
that Influences Climate & Weather
Naturally Replenished - Renewable
Energy Source
Also Referred to as Solar Power Or
Photovoltaic (PV) Solar: Electricity
Generated From Solar Radiation
Types of Solar PV Systems
Grid Interconnected
Power from the Solar
System is Added to the
Normal Home Power Supply
Supplied by the Utility
Company
Types of Solar PV Systems
System
Components
Types of Solar PV Systems
System Components
Roof Mounted
Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
DC Energy ►AC Energy
Inverter
Solar Junction Box
Electric Meter
Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup
System - Similar to Previous System with
the Addition of a “Battery Bank” to Store
Power Generated from Solar Panels
Types of Solar PV Systems
Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup
Types of Solar PV Systems
Off Grid Systems
Not Tied to Any Utility Service or Power
Lines
Main Source of Power for Building
Can Have Wind-Power, Water-Power &
Back-Up Generators Factored in to
Provide Energy at Night
Types of Solar PV Systems
Off Grid System Components
Roof Mounted Solar
Panels
Array DC Disconnect
Charge Controller:
Prevents
Overcharging
Types of Solar PV Systems
Off Grid System Components
Battery Bank
System Meter: Bank
Level, Panel Production,
House Usage
Main DC Disconnect
Types of Solar PV Systems
Off Grid System Components
DC Energy ►AC Energy
Inverter
Rectifier- Changes AC
Energy ► DC Energy To
Be Stored In Battery Bank
Solar Junction Box
Types of Solar PV Systems
Off Grid System Components
Generator Junction Box
Power Meter
Types of Solar PV Systems
How Solar PV Systems Work
Panels Contain PV
Cells Made of Semiconductive Materials
Such as Silicon
The Cells Form Layers/
“Wafers” & Contain a
Positive Side &
Negative Side
How Solar PV Systems Work
Photovoltaic Panels
Photo Means Light
Voltaic Means Electricity
Also Commonly
Referred to as PV Panels
How Solar PV Systems Work
Electric Conductors
Attached to Panel
Sides Form Electric
Circuit
Sunlight Energy
Excites Electrons &
Knock Them Loose
Conductors Capture
Energy Creating an
Electrical Current
How Solar PV Systems Works
Direct Current
Electrical Energy is
Produced
Power Is Combined
in a “Combiner Box”
Or “Combination
Box” & Sent to
Inverter
How Solar PV Systems Works
Inverter: Changes DC
to AC
Information such as
Power Level, Energy
Production, & Fault
Messages can
Usually be Observed
Here
Combiner Box
How Solar PV Systems Works
How Solar PV Systems Works
Combiner Box
Conduit to Inverter
Note: Always Consider
This HOT
How Solar PV Systems Works
Alternating Current (AC) is
Distributed to House Service
Panel for Use. Excess Power
is Transported Back Through
the Utility Meter
How Solar PV Systems Works
Solar Panel Mounting Systems
Mounting
Bolts
Solar Panel Mounting Systems
Grid Tracks
Flat Roof Mounting Systems
Weighted or
Ballasted
System
Flat Roof Mounting Systems
Bolted
Through or
Anchored
System
Integrated Roof Systems
Virtually impossible to tell from the ground.
This is why preplanning is so important.
Preplanning is Essential
Some
Systems
Unidentifiable
from Street
Preplanning is Essential
Systems
Differ
Preplanning is Essential
Disconnect
Locations
Vary
PV Hazards
Shock Hazards
Batteries
Roof Collapse
Trip hazards
Roof Ventilation
Shock
Primary Firefighter Danger
Maximum Voltage Of A
Solar Panel System: 600
Volts (Low Voltage)
Note: Nearly 300 workers die yearly
from low voltage electrical
incidents
PV Hazards
Shock
Momentary Contact With Low
DC Voltages May Produce:
Continuous Shock
Thermal Injury
Ventricular Fibrillation
Note: Unlike fire, which produces burns in
a relatively predictable manner,
electricity can strike unsuspecting
victims — sometimes fatally!
PV Hazards
Inhalation
Protect
Yourselves –
Use Your
SCBA
PV Hazards
Batteries
As a Rule, Batteries Burn
with Great Difficulty
Batteries Exposed to Fire
Generate Extremely
Corrosive Fumes & Gases
Note: NEVER USE WATER to
Extinguish lead-acid battery
fires - Use CO2 or Dry
Chemical
PV Hazards
Roof Collapse
Approx. Weights
PV Panel – 35 lbs
Modules & Racking
Hardware – 4 lbs/ft2
Normal Dwelling - 40
Panels
35# Each
1,400 Pounds
Total Added Dead
Load to Roof
System
PV Hazards
Other Hazards
Trip Hazards
PV Hazards
Electrical Hazards
PV “Wiring
Harness” is
CONSIDERED
ALWAYS HOT
PV Hazards
Roof Operations Hazards
During Daytime Firefighting Operations
PV Panels Are Still Generating Electricity
Do Not Cut Into Or Walk Across Panels
Do Not Break Protective Glass
All Energy In Entire System Could Be
Released At Break Point
PV Hazards
Roof Ventilation
Ventilate The Highest Point Over The
Fire Without Cutting Through The PV
Array (other side of the roof)
Flat Roofs With Complete PV Coverage
Horizontal With Supplemental
Hydraulic & Positive Pressure
Ventilation
PV Hazards
Firefighting Operations
The IC Must Notify
Firefighters of the
Presence of Solar Arrays
Firefighting Operations
Lock & Tag Out Array at
Inverter
DC Disconnect
Main Electrical Panel
Firefighting Operations
PV Array Fire
Use Class “C”
Extinguishing AgentsCO2 Or Dry Chemical
CAUTION: SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED
Firefighting Operations
Roof Fire
Use Water Fog Pattern
on the PV Array
CAUTION: SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED
Remember
!
Treat
All Systems
as Energized
Regardless of Time
of Day
Remember
You Cannot Effectively Block
All The Sunlight With
Salvage Covers, Foam, or
Tarps During Day Time
Operations and Declare The
PV System “Safe”
!
Remember
Use of spotlights during an
evening operation may be
bright enough to generate
electricity from the PV
system
!
PV Technology Advancements
PV Integrated Shingles
Summary
Know Where Buildings With PV Systems Are Located
In You District.
“Preplan” “Preplan” “Preplan”
Treat PV System Components As Always Energized
Adjust Your Firefighting Tactics Accordingly
Additional Information:
www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Research/FFTacticsSolarPower.pdf
Remember
The Systems, Drawings and Pictures
depicted in this Presentation are used
for discussion purposes only. PV
Systems and their Components vary
in design, and appearance. It is
imperative that Your Department
become familiar with the systems
installed in your community.
!
Coordination between your Fire
Department and your
municipalities' Building and Fire
Code Officials is Essential to
identifying and understanding the
PV Systems installed in your
Community!
!
Acknowledgements
Corey J. Hullings …………………… Delran Fire Department
Suzanne Borek…………………Division of Codes and Standards
Richard Farletta ………………..Division of Fire Safety
Ken Kandrac ……………………Slackwood Fire Company
Jerry Lax ………………………..Advanced Solar Products
NJ Board of Public Utilities……Clean Energy Program
James McFadden………………Division of Fire Safety