[RE-wrenches] CA Fire code

[Dan Fink]

Wow Lars.....
setbacks and signage are ICC 2012, and auto rooftop discos NEC2014, where
did this Class A bus you got thrown under come from? It's not ICC or NEC
from what I can read.
Is there an SEIA person on this list?
Pretty much every install I do here in Colorado is wildland/urban
interface. We dont do many roof mounts as rural folks generally have lots
of land for a ground mount, but wow. As a firefighter, who also makes a
living teaching solar power firefighter safety classes, requiring class A
doesn't make sense and provides no safety benefits to firefighters or
homeowners. Analyzing incident reports and going on service jobs, I see the
combination of physical movement of conductors against rough services (heat
expansion and contraction, wind etc) and debris buildup (pine needles,
leaves) under rooftop PV mounts as the big issue, with animal damage coming
in 2nd.
Most homes burn down 0.5-3 days AFTER the flame front has moved through,
thanks to windblown firebrands (embers) lodged in wooden nooks and crannys
of the home. A plain plywood exterior wall can  withstand a 100 foot high
flame front 100 feet away without igniting. This is all proven, tested and
videotaped. If the roof starts to burn from a firebrand......the fire
rating of the PV modules themselves is meaningless.

Arrrrgh. I'm thankful for this list, please keep it in the loop here or
email me personally. I am making major changes to my firefighter safety /
outreach class this spring and need all the info I can get.

I hope BIll Brooks saw your posting and responds.

Dan Fink,
Executive Director;
Otherpower
Buckville Energy Consulting
Buckville Publications LLC
NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
970.672.4342




On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 9:55 AM, Lars Ortegren <lars at cal-solar.com> wrote:

> 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 <http://www.californiasolarco.com>
>
> .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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