[RE-wrenches] CA Fire code

Fri Jan 10 11:45:49 PST 2014

We met with the Nevada County AHJ and the local CalFire Chief yesterday to discuss details about the new Title 24 regs. So far, their official policy on PV mod fire rating is this:

"Modules shall be tested, listed, and identified with the fire classification based on the specific type of building construction. (See CBC Table 1505.1 for specific classification requirements)."

Basically, we can install Class C rated modules on buildings of Type 2B, 3B, and 5B construction. Anything else requires a Class A or B module. That's the latest word from Nevada County.

Special thanks to Lars et al. at Cal Solar for keeping the rest of us up here in the Gold Country in socks and groceries. Flowers are on their way.

Eric Stikes
SunHarvest
001.530.798.3738 (Cell)

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Brooks 
  To: findsolar at herzfeld.org ; 'RE-wrenches' 
  Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2014 5:17 PM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] CA Fire code

  Martin,

  Regarding your reference to installations west of I-280 requiring Class A, I did not find that in Palo Alto's materials. The City of Woodside fire department was very involved in the CalFire Guidelines and I would not be surprised if they implemented such a requirement. If you can find a specific document with the wording, I would love to see it. I will likely be working with SEIA to draft some educational materials on the new standards and how to apply them.

  Bill.

  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Martin Herzfeld
  Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2014 4:13 PM
  To: RE-wrenches
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] CA Fire code

  1.  In addition to the thoughts shared, for instance, for one AHJ:

  (A) I think "Photovoltaic Installations west of Interstate 280 require PV modules to have a minimum Class A fire rating" - requirements and 'additional information' since 2009 were revised and updated here ....?

  http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/utl/residents/resources/pcm/pv_permitting_and_interconnection.asp

  (B) Also ground-mount options - not only just rooftops - CSFM Guidelines Section 5.0, ...

  http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/34052
  http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/informationbulletin/pdf/2012/IB_12-004_FireApparatusAccessRoadsPhotovoltaicFacilities.pdf
  http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/pdf/Photovoltaics/Fire%20Ops%20PV%20lo%20resl.pdf

  You may first check with the specific jurisdiction for more information ... 

  2.  In addition, you may want to join or attend the IAEI meetings in California, there's good information on this and other topics at the monthly meetings and CEUs.

  http://www.iaei.org

  3.  By the way, I attended at the very last stakeholder meeting in SF and the publications here for new changes and updates ....

  http://www.solarabcs.org/about/publications/reports/flammability-testing/index.html

  4. Wildland Hazard/Building Codes

  http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fire_prevention_wildland_zones.php

  We'll check it out on an install, if in the area ...

  Martin Herzfeld
  California Contractor License  #833782 
  UL Certified PV Installer #17, OSHA 30
  Certified Technical Classroom Trainer (CTT+)
  OSHA-Authorized Construction Trainer

  Wrenches,
  If you are in a wild land fire zone in CA, it looks like we are all in for a rude awakening. Our local AHJ is requiring not only set backs for ventilation of roofs, but also THAT ALL PANELS ON THE ROOF CARY A CLASS A FIRE RATING! It doesn't take allot of research to realize that this pretty much eliminates roof-top solar as an option, as if you can eve find a class A panel, they are cost prohibitive. I'm wondering a couple things. One, has anyone had luck using the local political process to postpone the enforcement of the class A requirement? and two, has anyone found readily available Class A modules?
    This issue seems to have caught the industry with it's pants down, as industry lobby doesn't even seem to be aware that the the local AHJ's would have this interpretation. Is this the end of roof top solar in 60% of California? What are y'all doing to deal with this issue?

  --

  Lars Ortegren

  President

  California Solar Electric Company

  .PO Box 480

  149 E.Main St

  Grass Valley, CA 95945

  Phone : (530)274-3671 Fax: (530)274-7518

   California C-10 Electical Contractor #779624

  Certified NABCEP Continuing Education Provider

  Certified NAPCEP Technical Sales and Installation Profesional 

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