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

Thu Jan 23 09:13:43 PST 2014

Dan,

I believe you are referring to the Sedona fire when you talk of the
energized fence. I believe the fire department was in error when they
reported that the rooftop EMT energized the fence. It is pretty clear from a
review of the facts that the ac service drop burned free from the house and
landed on the fence energizing it. The PV got blamed for it. Further
evidence that the fire department was in error is that the PV array was
consumed by the time the firefighter touched the fence.

Unfortunately, the fire department version was reported by NFPA as fact when
it was in error.

Bill.

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dan Fink
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 11:21 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 7, Issue 29

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
<mailto: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-sca
red-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 <http://solarancs.org> .

David Brearley

Senior Technical Editor, SolarPro magazine

NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional

david.brearley at solarprofessional.com
<mailto:david.brearley at solarprofessional.com> 

Direct: 541.261.6545 <tel:541.261.6545> 

On Jan 22, 2014, at 8:18 PM, re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org
wrote:

From: Drake <drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org
<mailto: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
<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> >

Reply-To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto: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/f
eatures/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-assau
lt-clean-energy 

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/alec_freeriders_with_solar_panels_must_pay_f
or_robbing_the_system/ 

http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2014/01/alec-gain-an-inside-track-on-co
lorado-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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