[RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 7, Issue 29

[Dan Fink]

Drake, Wrenches;
There have been firefighter injuries requiring a hospital visit, but no
deaths that I know of. I try to keep track,  as I train firefighters in
renewable energy safety, and teach an IREC accredited class for RE
installers on how to start a local firefighter outreach program. But mining
the NFIRS database is tricky because keywords vary so much.

The most recent firefighter injury I know of was a serious electrical
shock  resulting from rooftop EMT that became live during a rooftop fire
and contacted a chainlink fence; the firefighter was touching the fence.
Rooftop flashing, eaves, metal roofs etc can all cause what UL calls
'unexpected current paths' in their recent testing. Their results on
testing FF PPE for protection against electrical hazards were also
sobering.....it does very little, and about zero when wet, which it usually
is.

As David stated, a big issue right now is how fire commanders are forced to
change (and back off from offensive to defensive) their fire attack
strategies when PV becomes an 'unknown.' Firefighters are scared of the the
unknown, and we never assume *anything*....just like how that metal water
drum in a garage fire might actually contain diesel or used motor oil....or
magnesium  shavings. I have a whole file of incidents  with PV systems
where local fire commanders had to back off because they just didn't know.

That said, there will be a *great* panel discussion in Denver in March at
the NABCEP CE conference regarding these topics and more. The first session
involves the new UL2703 racking and fire rating standards; the second one
(on which I am honored to be a panelist) the ICC 2012 setbacks and labeling
requirements. As a firefighter and PV installer I have a big mouthfull to
say about signage......

The new law that NJ Gov Chris Christie just signed into being is very
interesting.....I'll be analyzing it before the NABCEP conference. I think
with all the stakeholders involved, a just and fair equilibrium will be
reached, and *hopefully* will be a continuously evolving dialogue between
all stakeholders.

The last thing RE installers, firefighters, AHJs, and home and business
owners want to see is the "unknown." Scares the crap out of all of us!


On Jan 22, 2014 8:48 PM, "David Brearley" <
david.brearley at solarprofessional.com> wrote:

> Drake,
>
> As far I know you are correct. There have not been any firefighter deaths
> due to solar.
>
> However, a fire chief in New Jersey did suggest that he let a warehouse
> burn down due to the presence of a PV system on the roof:
>
> http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/23313172/multiple-alarm-fire
>
>
> http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/09/why-firefighters-are-scared-solar-power/6854/
>
> That suggests to me that while there is no crisis today, there is
> certainly the potential for one down the road. Imagine the insurance
> industry's response if fire fighters make a habit of not responding to
> structural fires due to the presence of PV systems. Fire fighters want
> touch-safe PV modules. And they have a reasonable complaint. They can
> safely shut down any electrical system in a building—except for PV systems.
>
> SEIA and SEPA are the solar industry lobby. Please do engage and support
> them. SEIA even has a political action committee, the SolarPAC. Part of the
> way that I try to stay on top of evolving Code issues is by attending SEIA-
> and SEPA-sponsored events.
>
> Also, over the past 4 or 5 years, the Solar America Board of Codes and
> Standards has scheduled annual meetings that coincide with Intersolar.
> Those are very informative sessions. I think the sessions are even archived
> online at solarancs.org.
>
> David Brearley
> Senior Technical Editor, *SolarPro* magazine
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> david.brearley at solarprofessional.com
> Direct: 541.261.6545
>
>
> On Jan 22, 2014, at 8:18 PM, re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.orgwrote:
>
>
> *From: *Drake <drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org>
> *Subject: **Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown*
> *Date: *January 22, 2014 2:16:18 PM CST
> *To: *RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Reply-To: *RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>
>
> David,
>
> My sincere thanks to all of you who worked to keep the module level
> disconnect requirement out of the 2014 code cycle. That ruling would have
> amounted to a knockout punch for string and central inverters on buildings.
>
>
> What was the driving force behind this push for immediate module level
> disconnection? There has clearly *not* been a rash of firefighter deaths
> due to PV systems. Although PV needs to continue evolving safety standards
> that take into account the concerns of firefighters, there is no crisis
> that would justify thwarting one of the few growing sectors of our economy.
>
>
> The PV track record has been amazingly good. So far, I've found no
> accounts of solar related firefighter deaths or injuries. The NFPA
> statistics show that the highest cause of firefighter death is heart attack.
>
> http://www.nfpa.org/newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/2013/july-august-2013/features/firefighter-fatalities-in-the-united-states-2012
>
>
> This push for crippling regulation bears the earmark of ALEC’s extensive
> and effective war on solar. As you can read in the following links, the
> massively funded, Koch brothers-linked ALEC is lobbying heavily, on every
> level, to derail solar. All who are associated with the solar industry need
> to be aware of this powerful lobbying campaign.
>
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy
>
>
>
> http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/alec_freeriders_with_solar_panels_must_pay_for_robbing_the_system/
>
>
>
> http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2014/01/alec-gain-an-inside-track-on-colorado-solar-2490132.html
>
>
> Is there any way that the solar community can be alerted when threats to
> our industry are being put before the NEC? Although few contractors have
> the time or money to walk away from their businesses and attend code
> writing committees, a substantial number might have the time to make phone
> calls and send letters or emails to code writers.
>
> The solar industry needs a strong lobby of its own.
>
> Drake
>
>
>
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