[RE-wrenches] PV and Roof Flammability

[Ryan LeBlanc]

Good points all, 

Has anyone had an experience where you've seen new shingles and PV installed
at the same time, where the shingles became prematurely brittle beneath the
array, where you could say for sure it was PV's fault?  I too have tried to
keep an eye on that, but I never can pin it on PV, most are still retrofits,
not lending any credible data.  
 
As long as the PV doesn't cause the fire, due to:
- Ground-faulted or otherwise compromised wiring
- Melted cheap-o junction boxes (lowest cost import products)
- Improperly wired roof mounted combiners (reverse polarity)
- Conduit/expansion fitting errors (like the TARGET fire)
- The fact that they simply will be in the way if firefighters have to
vent...

Are we saying there is evidence that the "PV shade structure" can increase
the flammability of the roof product from combustion, due to proximity?
Trapping a combustible level of heat beneath the array that can dry out and
set fire to comp shingle? Hypothesis = 1 in a billion, necessary to look at,
sure.  Maybe 1 in a 1/2 billion for wood shake.  

Solutions I see then:
-They can be stuck to the roof, no air gap no problem.  Well, except no
possibility of removal for firefighters.
-Integrated into the roof, then maintenance and wiring is buried.
-0-5" (or whatever), no go due to too close.
-5" (or whatever) and higher, Ok, due to adequate airflow and lack of
proximity. 

So now we're going to need PV compatible roof product ratings?  PV has a
great track record ratio of installs to related fires, and this is with a
majority of installers NOT really knowing what their doing, me included.  I
hope we don't have to get more expensive as a result, let's make the roofers
tell us which ones are not compatible, and then we can just tell them to
stop installing it.  PV is too important. :o)

I have to believe that having a roof covered by PV, especially in CA, could
also Help Prevent fires from falling embers from forest and field fires, the
occasional PG&E GAS LINE EXPLOSION BLOWING UP WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS, etc. 

Most material science would indicate that shading of the roof, the
overwhelming majority of the time, will extend roofing product lifespan,
often significantly, and help keep the attic a bit cooler.

Let's not let officials overdo it, as I get more frustrated and educated
about this overly passive and tolerant society of ours, I'm beginning to
believe a little collateral damage is completely acceptable.  It obviously
is for the big boys of energy, money, automobiles, policy, etc.

*See BURNING THE FUTURE (Coal), GASLAND (Natural Gas), FLOW (For Love of
Water), all the oil movies (oil), The Cove (Dolphins)... etc.  

We could probably have a roof fire per day, and still be doing better than
these "A" for alternative holes, except we'd get blitzed by the bad guys.
Thanks again for keeping watch guys.

$.0001 

P.S. WHERE IS OUR FEED-IN TARIFF?... oh what, the PPA's have it covered, oh
yeah, they don't want one, great for us.  Is anyone watch-dogging these PV
finance guys?  They're the ones that scare me the most, you know, the ones
that get lost at the "T" for "truth-in-lending".

Thanks for your relentless service to the industry that could save America,
if only they would let us.  

Ryan J. LeBlanc
NABCEPT Certified Solar PV Installer
Cell: 707.591.1950
Direct: 707.536.9839
ryan at NaturalEnergyWorks.com
http://www.NaturalEnergyWorks.com