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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif">"They can safely shut down any electrical system in a building—except for PV systems."<BR><BR>Not completely true, as batteries are stored energy systems and while they may be disconnected, are still energized regardless of the state of other systems.</DIV></DIV>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From: </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif"><A href="mailto:david.brearley@solarprofessional.com">David Brearley</A></SPAN><BR><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent: </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif">1/22/2014 22:48</SPAN><BR><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To: </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif"><A href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A></SPAN><BR><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject: </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif">Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 7, Issue 29</SPAN><BR><BR></DIV>Drake,
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<DIV>As far I know you are correct. There have not been any firefighter deaths due to solar. </DIV>
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<DIV>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:</DIV>
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<DIV><A href="http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/23313172/multiple-alarm-fire">http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/23313172/multiple-alarm-fire</A></DIV>
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<DIV><A href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/09/why-firefighters-are-scared-solar-power/6854/">http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/09/why-firefighters-are-scared-solar-power/6854/</A></DIV>
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<DIV>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.</DIV>
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<DIV>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. </DIV>
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<DIV>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 <A href="http://solarancs.org">solarancs.org</A>.</DIV>
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<DIV>David Brearley</DIV>
<DIV>Senior Technical Editor,<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><I>SolarPro</I><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>magazine</DIV>
<DIV>NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:david.brearley@solarprofessional.com">david.brearley@solarprofessional.com</A></DIV>
<DIV>Direct: 541.261.6545</DIV>
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<DIV>On Jan 22, 2014, at 8:18 PM, <A href="mailto:re-wrenches-request@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-request@lists.re-wrenches.org</A> wrote:</DIV><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline>
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<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(127,127,127)"><B><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline>From:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Drake <<A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="mailto:drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org">drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org</A>><BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(127,127,127)"><B>Subject:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><B>Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown</B><BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(127,127,127)"><B>Date:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">January 22, 2014 2:16:18 PM CST<BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(127,127,127)"><B>To:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">RE-wrenches <<A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>><BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(127,127,127)"><B>Reply-To:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">RE-wrenches <<A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>><BR></SPAN></DIV><BR><BR>David,<BR> <BR>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.<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR>What was the driving force behind this push for immediate module level disconnection? There has clearly<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><U>not</U><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>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. <SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR>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.<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.nfpa.org/newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/2013/july-august-2013/features/firefighter-fatalities-in-the-united-states-2012">http://www.nfpa.org/newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/2013/july-august-2013/features/firefighter-fatalities-in-the-united-states-2012</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR>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.<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR><A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR><A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/alec_freeriders_with_solar_panels_must_pay_for_robbing_the_system/" eudora="autourl">http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/alec_freeriders_with_solar_panels_must_pay_for_robbing_the_system/</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR><A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2014/01/alec-gain-an-inside-track-on-colorado-solar-2490132.html">http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2014/01/alec-gain-an-inside-track-on-colorado-solar-2490132.html</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR>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.<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR>The solar industry needs a strong lobby of its own.<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR> <BR>Drake<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR><BR></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV><BR>
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