A fire destroyed part of a supermarket in Nova Monte Verde (MT), this Tuesday (19). According to preliminary information from the Fire Department, the fire started near a “transmission box” connected to the site's solar energy system.
Videos shared on social media show a dense cloud of smoke coming from the roof of the establishment and give an idea of the extent of the damage caused by the fire. According to the corporation, the flames were controlled and there were no injuries reported.
The spread of the fire was accelerated by the presence of fireworks stored at the site. To fight the fire, three water trucks from the city itself and a support vehicle sent from Alta Floresta (MT) were used.
Regardless of the causes of the incident — which will only be officially revealed after technical reports — the case reignites, once again, an old debate in the solar energy sector: the importance of training of professionals and companies in the sector.
Thiago Farias, engineer at CS Consulting, explains that strictly following good installation, commissioning and preventive maintenance practices is essential to guarantee the safety, reliability and useful life of electrical systems.
"During the installation phase, it's essential to verify that all components have been manufactured and tested in accordance with Brazilian-recognized technical standards. Furthermore, it's recommended to prioritize manufacturers with proven quality and pay attention to the correct sizing of equipment, always in accordance with good engineering practices, design characteristics, and current standards," he said.
During commissioning, Farias explains that care must include operational tests on the protection devices, detailed visual inspections and retightening of connections using the torque specified by the manufacturer.
"Another essential point is the insulation resistance test, which can identify electrical insulation faults that, if left uncorrected, can develop into short circuits. For commissioning the photovoltaic system, the testing recommendations of the ABNT NBR 16.274: 2014”, He stated.
Finally, he emphasized that preventive maintenance must be an indispensable part of the project lifecycle. This includes periodic visual inspections, cleaning, checking, and retightening connections, as well as the use of thermographic inspection to identify "hot spots” before they turn into failures and even fires.
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Comments (2)
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It's a very complicated scenario. The best companies charge more, and the client will always look for the cheapest option. Some pen-and-ink engineers sign projects for extremely low prices and don't even visit the installation sites. They're ART salespeople. Irresponsible. They should be banned by CREA (Brazilian Association of Construction and Renewable Natural Resources). But the council fails to monitor their activity as it should.
It all comes down to hiring competent professionals, from design to execution and maintenance. Technical standards and laws are in place, so it's not for lack of them. Electrical engineer, professor, master of science in electrical engineering, designer in solar generation, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle charging stations, including a Carport for solar generation.