The considerable increase in occurrences of fires in photovoltaic systems, mainly on the roofs of homes and businesses, has attracted the attention of Brazilian authorities.
In February this year, for example, the Canal Solar told the story of a shoe factory, in Patos de Minas (MG), which caught fire after a probable incorrect installation of the technology, according to the Police. The fire affected approximately 600 of the project's 2,3 m².
For reasons like these, the Fire Department sent this week to ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), the entity responsible for developing technical standards in Brazil, a letter signed by Lieutenant Colonel Alysson Krüger Figueira, president of the Conaci (National Fire Fighting Committee), calling for urgency in the development of safety standards that help reduce the risk of fires in solar plants.
According to the document, the sustainable agenda and the use of photovoltaic systems are of fundamental importance and have brought evolution to society, with a growing number of individuals seeking energy independence through the generation of their own energy through solar systems.
“Unfortunately, the advent of this important technology, if not properly designed and implemented, presents a potential risk of causing and worsening fires, as well as making fighting them more dangerous,” the letter highlighted.
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“Several fire brigades in Brazil have reported occurrences of early fires and large fires in buildings, associated with photovoltaic systems. In particular, many occurrences of fires were observed in the circuits between the photovoltaic panels and the inverters, which operate on direct current”, added the document.
Conaci also highlighted that there are currently more than 600 thousand buildings in the country with photovoltaic systems, whose growth continues to increase exponentially. “Therefore, the number of occurrences like these should grow, and a set of mitigating measures should be adopted as soon as possible to prevent these events from occurring.”
Among the measures highlighted and suggested are:
- Normative and regulatory developments to require the inclusion of additional protection devices for these circuits;
- The use of appropriate materials and commissioning and inspection procedures to reduce the number of these events and reduce levels of risk to people, should they occur.
Also according to the entity, it was identified that in most buildings that have photovoltaic systems, the technology in these systems employs a direct current circuit that connects the photovoltaic panels to the inverter.
This circuit is normally made up of long cables, which leave the modules installed on the roof and enter the building to the inverter – which is normally located in a sheltered location within the building, in a place far from the modules.
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“In these cases, this direct current circuit remains energized even after the alternating current circuit is de-energized if the fire occurs during the day. Additionally, during a fire, the fire can reach these direct current conductors of photovoltaic systems and eliminate their insulating layer, which can cause short circuits.”
Worry
In this sense, Conaci reported that what “concerns is that almost all of the photovoltaic systems existing in Brazil do not have the means to de-energize the aforementioned direct current circuits that can be activated in places easily accessible by firefighters. Therefore, firefighting activities in these buildings become very dangerous for the professionals who are fighting the fire”, highlighted the document.
Therefore, the agency understands that a set of procedures, standards and regulations must be implemented to guarantee safety and reduce the risks of fire and explosions. “Retraining and training military firefighters in fighting fires in energy generating systems with photovoltaic panels is one of the ways we can protect our professionals”, highlights the corporation.
Another way, even more effective, according to Conaci, would be to promote normative and regulatory evolution, with a priority focus on fire protection and the safety of professionals who fight fire, following the example of developed countries, which have already adopted normative parameters with this approach.
“Some countries have already identified these factors and updated their regulatory criteria, as a result of the various accidents and deaths that have occurred in events of this nature.”
In the United States, for example, the Department of Homeland Security has sponsored several projects to identify and understand the risks for firefighters responding to fires in buildings covered with photovoltaic panels.
To Leandro Martins, president of Ecori Energia Solar, it is high time to regulate the mandatory use of safety devices in solar energy equipment. “This is a concern that has been going on since the beginning of Ecori, when we chose to work with APsytems microinverters, with SolarEdge and more recently with Huawei. Over the years we have raised the safety flag in various normative and regulatory forums, actively participating in the committees of ABNT, INMETRO, among others”, he commented.
Understand
“Our engineers have already trained and provided clarifications to the leadership of the Fire Department in Brasília and other battalions of the corporation, we have provided training, written articles and promoted several events on the topic. It is a very important moment for the entire market and especially for us, as we have security in our DNA. For Ecori, this is an inalienable value”, concluded the executive.
Answers of 8
I believe that CAU and CREA should monitor that they are only installed by trained professionals. The fire department does not have the manpower to check each solar panel installed.
Hello. I understand that you need to install a photovoltaic system.
It should only be done by an accredited professional.
Good morning everyone, as we know, renewable energy generation is a necessity today and investments are high. However, we must not forget preventive conduct, as in solar and wind energy generation, preventive systems are scarce, often remaining with the insurance coverage to which they are linked. Of course, the Fire Departments are not prepared for this type of occurrence due to several factors, training, qualification and knowledge of energy generating parks, knowledge of the fire loads that exist there. Therefore, it is evident that there is a concern for a conduct that allows the possibility that these corporations may have the technical and material conditions to be successful in this regard.
Unfortunately, there is no standard that requires technical and/or higher education in the electrical field to become a photovoltaic electricity generator installer! Today here in Brazil, anyone can take a course and start installing an electricity generator! Even if you are not qualified, trained in the area!!! Which is utter nonsense!
When deciding which technology to choose for my company at the beginning of its formation in 2019, I understood through ECORI, which has been a school for me and my employees, the issue of safety in facilities, especially in residential facilities. Microinverter technology met my decision for safety, and we do not and will not give up this safety for the sake of our customers.
Eng. Marco Antônio Barros dos Santos
DayLight Solar Energy
São José dos Campos SP
In most countries there are Standards, Technical Regulations and Guidelines, which provide guidelines for the good development of Photovoltaic Systems with SOLAR PANEL; But in many cases they are not in the account and it is not easy to do so.
Each country has the obligation to have a RETIE Electrical Installation Technical Regulation, the purpose of which is to ensure that any installation complies with the highest levels of Electrical Quality and Safety.
Particularly in Colombia, the NTC 2050 Standard stands out, which is the same Colombian Electrical Code, the NTC 4552 on Protection of Structures against RAYO, the RETIE Technical Regulation of Electrical Installations and all Professionals without any exception: Engineers, Technologists, Technicians , you must have your corresponding Professional Card and comply with the Code of Ethics established for each Profession.
What depends on the responsibility that is assumed at the time of development of this type of project?
Good day.
I am an electrical technician, a few months ago I had already commented on Off with colleagues about these “details”, as the professional who works in the area has no way of turning off the system before the inverters, leaving him exposed, vulnerable, as the panels even without being connected to the inverters already have generation, that is, they already carry high voltages into the property and any carelessness could put not only the system at risk but also the property itself could be lost.
It turns out that today there are many courses aimed at this practice where people who are not from the area are included in the market, solely with the intention of making money.
The electrical engineer creates the project, mentions the brands of equipment to be installed and most of the time whoever executes it does not comply and only goes after prices, forgetting about quality and safety.
I have a point of view in relation to reducing these types of accidents, which would be to install a small cubicle to house equipment with quick access to the location, or have devices that can be activated remotely, in case of emergency.
The system using micro inverters can also solve a large part of the accidents, since they act directly outside the building, on the panels themselves.
It could now be possible to request a fire department inspection and training for installers