[RE-wrenches] panel fire

[Brian White]

Jay,
 
I am assuming that you are referring to their membrane / flat roof product, the roof tile is a standard laminate with a polymer frame. The membrane product is a lamination of (PVC>DIBOND>TEDLAR>CELLS>ETFE cover sheet) with all of the required adhesives and EVA. The membranes have been manufactured in both a 450 & 225 Watt versions, and I am pretty sure that they have all utilized Sunpower cells, although I know they were testing with some other manufactures.
 
I am not sure if you were thinking that they might be the culprit for this panel fire or not, but I am 99.9% sure that the panels shown in the photos were not Open Energy product. The membranes have never been produced (that I am aware of) with a metalized frame around the lamination, although I know that some people (inexperienced self installers) do some weird things when they get product in their hands. Also, all of the membranes have a J-Box on the front of the panel, as they are intended to be mounted directly onto a flat membrane roof.
 
The ETFE cover sheet that is used, is a plastic type material, but it is not smooth like the material in the photos appeared to be, it is somewhat dimpled if you will. They have also passed a Class A fire rating test at slopes of 2:12 and less.
 
Please keep in mind that I am no longer an Open Energy employee and do not promote their product for better or worse, but I do have some personal insight to their construction I thought I would share. Also, since I left, I doubt they have a representative on this list.
 
Best Regards,
Brian C. White
Sr. Design Engineer - PV System
 
Eagle Roofing Products
120 North Auburn Street - Suite 212
Grass Valley, CA  95945
Phone: 530-273-2948
Cell: 530-575-5550
e-mail: brianw at eagleroofing.com <mailto:brianw at eagleroofing.com> 
 
 

________________________________

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org on behalf of jay peltz
Sent: Sun 2/22/2009 1:47 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] panel fire



Hi All,

I'm wondering if there has been any more news about the panel fire on 
the wind-sun site?

What are the Open Energy ( now applied solar) made with?  I know they 
are a non glass unit, but I don't know what the bottom/backing is made 
of?

thanks,

jay

peltz power
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