[RE-wrenches] Solar Module fire ratings

[Bill Loesch]

Hi David,

Can you elaborate on the mounting system(s?) that would minimize fire=20
propagation?

TIA,

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094

On 06-Feb-14 1:11 PM, David Brearley wrote:
> William,
>
> There are few Class A fire-rated PV modules on the market today:
>
> http://www.trinasolar.com/us/product/PDG5.html
>
> http://www.silicon-energy.com/products/modules
>
> The broader context is that UL is in the process of revising the way=20
> that fire ratings are determined for PV systems. To date, modules have=20
> received a fire classification. However in the installed environment,=20
> fire propagation has more to do with the mounting system than with=20
> module construction. Therefore, fire classification tests in the=20
> future will be based more on the mounting method.
>
> As Bill Brooks explained here on January 8th:
>
> UL 1703 has been substantially changed as to how modules are fire rated. =
Basically, modules will no longer receive a direct fire rating unless they =
are installed in a fire-rated mounting system. A current module with a Clas=
s C or Class A rating will no longer have that rating. The mounting system =
will carry the fire rating. Modules will have specific =E2=80=9Ctypes=E2=80=
=9D based on their construction. This way a rack manufacturer can get a fir=
e rating on modules of a particular module construction type and not have t=
o rerate their rack with every module that has that same construction.
>
> All these changes in the UL1703 standard are going to require education s=
o that fire officials and building code enforcement officials understand ho=
w to enforce the new building code rules in light of the new version of the=
 UL standard.
>
> Arguably, enforcement of fire rating requirements in the I-codes is=20
> running ahead of the development of the applicable UL standard. It's=20
> safe to say that working groups at SEIA and SolarABCs are very=20
> interested in tracking these types of issues. The SolarABCs has had=20
> fire classification ratings on its radar for several years now:
>
> http://www.solarabcs.org/current-issues/fire_class_rating.html
>
> David Brearley
> Senior Technical Editor,/SolarPro/magazine
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> david.brearley at solarprofessional.com=20
> <mailto:david.brearley at solarprofessional.com>
> Direct: 541.261.6545
>
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 6, 2014, at 12:20 PM, re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org=20
> <mailto:re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> *From:*William Korthof <wkorthof at gmail.com <mailto:wkorthof at gmail.com>>
>> *Subject:**[RE-wrenches] Solar Module fire ratings*
>> *Date:*February 6, 2014 10:56:05 AM CST
>> *To:*re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org=20
>> <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>> *Reply-To:*RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org=20
>> <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
>>
>>
>> I've just been informed by a city (our own City in fact) that is=20
>> asking for minimum Class-B fire-rated solar modules, citing rules=20
>> newly adopted Jan 1, 2014. The expert behind the counter made=20
>> reference to IRC section 902.4, which seems to call for solar=20
>> installations to meet the same fire rating standard as the roofing on=20
>> which they are installed. It was the end of the day. Most roofing is=20
>> B or A rating apparently, and my official was adamant that this meant=20
>> only a B or A rated panel would be allowed.
>>
>> As far as I know, virtually every solar panel I've ever handled going=20
>> back to the mid 90's was Class C rated. The only Class A I remember=20
>> (and the only one I noticed from web searching) was the obnoxiously=20
>> unwieldy glass-on-glass 300-watt series that got absorbed by Schott=20
>> and probably discontinued many years ago. I have one of those=20
>> antiques in my shop for fun, and I encountered exactly one=20
>> installation that used the product (from another installer), and=20
>> there were "issues" with the panels within the first 10 years.
>>
>> Is this Class A/B requirement issue true? Did the state fire marshall=20
>> adopt a policy at the start of this year that basically bans all=20
>> panels with C rating?
>> Are there any class B or A rated modules on the market?
>> Who's brilliant idea was this?
>>
>> /wk
>> --
>> William Korthof <http://www.sustainsp.com/images/SSP_Logo_RGB_email.jpg>
>> 714.875.3576 and 800.524.2970
>> Sustainable Solutions Partners
>> (also dba: EE Solar)
>>
>>
>
>
>
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