Rooftop Solar Panels Are Great For The Planet But Terrible For Firefighters

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An interesting article in "Wired" magazine this month:

 

Quote

 

When first responders arrived to the burning home on Eugene Street in Manchester, New Hampshire just after 2 am on January 27, half the home was already up in flames. It was a big fire, but relatively routine: Working in the dark, the firefighters made sure the two residents got out unharmed, and got to work.

 

Once they reached the roof, though, they ran into trouble. This home was covered in rigid, electrified solar panels—making it difficult for the firefighters to cut holes in the roof to let smoke and heat escape

 

.......But it’s hard to evaluate a solar-paneled house from the ground. Panels can get in the way of cutting ventilation holes, like they did on Eugene Street. First responders also rely on the ability to turn off the electricity pulsing through a structure—but photovoltaic panels can make their own power. Electrified panels can cause burns, or even blow responders off a roof

 

 

Full article: https://www.wired.com/2017/05/rooftop-solar-panels-great-planet-terrible-firefighters/

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A friend and I were discussing the new Tesla solar roof tiles recently (The website is https://www.tesla.com/solarroof for anyone that wants to take a closer look).  But our discussion of cost versus benefit turned to firefighting tactics as we realized some hard facts about the newer solar technology that is out there.  There are four things that stuck out to me that are going to hinder us at structure fires in the near future, especially as solar power companies start to mimic the Tesla Roof:

 

1.  The panels are damn near indestructible.  They have a Class 4 FM 4473 hail rating, which is the highest rating on the market.  This means that the panels can withstand a 2 inch diameter ice ball with an impact speed of 100mph.  This is coupled with the Class F ASTM D3161  wind rating, also the highest at 110mph.

 

2.  The panels are Class A UL 790 rated....the highest fire rating.  This means that they can withstand 1400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.  These things are going to absorb a lot of heat energy during a fire, which may result in runoff electrical production (increased amperage).

 

3.  The panels are INVISIBLE!!!  That's right.  Just go to the website above and take a look for yourself.  You're not going to know that it's a solar roof until you're already at the roof.  This is even more dangerous as they are covered in coated glass, which is slippery even before it gets wet.

 

4.  The last issue that is going to hinder us is the addition of home batteries.  Tesla markets that you should add the Tesla Power Wall with your solar roof, which means the house is going to remain energized as we work (that's right, not just the solar panels, but the whole house!).

 

So, what are we left with?  The need to train.  We need to learn our districts and know which homes and structures have solar panels.  We need to learn about the solar systems, especially as to how to shut them down.  And we need to start re-thinking vertical ventilation, as it may not be possible.