administered by

RC62: Recommendations for

fire safety with photovoltaic panel
installations

Version 1 Published 2016

Acknowledgement: Front cover image courtesy of SolarUK Ltd
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This document has been developed through
RISCAuthority and published by the Fire
Protection Association (FPA). RISCAuthority
membership comprises a group of UK
insurers that actively support a number
of expert working groups developing
and promulgating best practice for the
protection of people, property, business
and the environment from loss due to fire
and other risks. The technical expertise for
this document has been provided by the
Technical Directorate of the FPA, external
consultants, and experts from the insurance
industry who together form the various
RISCAuthority Working Groups. Although
produced with insurer input it does not
(and is not intended to) represent a pan-
insurer perspective. Individual insurance
companies will have their own requirements
which may be different from or not reflected
in the content of this document.
FPA has made extensive efforts to check
the accuracy of the information and
advice contained in this document and
it is believed to be accurate at the time
of printing. However, FPA makes no
guarantee, representation or warranty
(express or implied) as to the accuracy or
completeness of any information or advice
contained in this document. All advice and
recommendations are presented in good
faith on the basis of information, knowledge
and technology as at the date of publication
of this document.
Without prejudice to the generality of
the foregoing, FPA makes no guarantee,
representation or warranty (express or
implied) that this document considers all
systems, equipment and procedures or
state-of-the-art technologies current at the
date of this document.
Use of, or reliance upon, this document, or
any part of its content, is voluntary and is
at the user’s own risk. Anyone considering
using or implementing any recommendation
or advice within this document should rely
on his or her own personal judgement or, as
appropriate, seek the advice of a competent
professional and rely on that professional’s
advice. Nothing in this document replaces
or excludes (nor is intended to replace or
exclude), entirely or in part, mandatory and/
or legal requirements howsoever arising
(including without prejudice to the generality
of the foregoing any such requirements
for maintaining health and safety in
the workplace).
Except to the extent that it is unlawful
to exclude any liability, FPA accepts no
liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or
consequential loss or damage arising in any
way from the publication of this document
or any part of it, or any use of, or reliance
placed on, the content of this document or
any part of it.
Contents

1 Introduction ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3

2 Scope ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4

3 Synopsis ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4

4 Definitions ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5

5 Recommendations����������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
5.1 Compliance with legislation ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5

5.2 Business continuity������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7

5.3 Fire safety management����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7

5.4 Design ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8

5.5 Installation ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10

5.6 Maintenance��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12

5.7 Security ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13

5.8 Provisions for the fire and rescue service��������������������������������������������������������������14

6 Checklist ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17

7 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 1

Summary of Key Points
This document has been developed through RISCAuthority and published by the Fire Protection Association (FPA).
RISCAuthority membership comprises a group of UK insurers that actively support a number of expert working groups
developing and promulgating best practice for the protection of people, property, business and the environment from loss
due to fire and other risks. The table below summarises the key points of the document.

Plan ahead • Review the existing fire risk assessment at the planning stage to identify and eliminate
fire hazards that may be introduced with the installation and use of PV panels.
• Also review any assessment carried out in compliance with the Dangerous
Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) as some elements
of the PV installation represent potential sources of ignition. This may impact on the
identified hazard zones in the premises.

The design • Although economics may require the largest possible coverage of a roof with
PV panels, maintain a sufficient area of roof free of panels to allow access and
maintenance work to be carried out safely.
• Where designs of new build premises include the integration of PV panels into the
fabric of the building, take care that the fire-related properties of the elements of
structure remain compliant with building legislation.

Safety • Provide a switch in a prominent location readily accessible to firefighters to isolate the
DC side of the PV system near the panels to ensure the safety of firefighting personnel.
• Be aware that PV panels produce DC current from daylight and other light sources,
including street lighting and any floodlights, even if the AC side of the circuit is isolated
from the mains electrical supply.

Following the installation
• Do not allow hot work such as welding, flame cutting and similar activities to be
undertaken during the installation process or in the vicinity of PV panels following
installation.
• Following installation, contractors’ operations involving work on roofs where PV panels
have been installed should be subject to a permit to work.

Symbols used in this guide

Good Bad Discussion Frequently asked

practice practice topic question

2 Risk Control
 1 Introduction
• Where PV panels are to be
installed on an existing roof,
consider the additional weight
presented by the panels.
• Also consider the possible
additional weight of any build
up of snow on the roof.
Modern technology has resulted in photovoltaic (PV) panels becoming affordable and easy to
obtain. In many cases economic considerations have favoured the purchase and installation
of large scale systems on commercial properties which have large, clear, unshaded and
predominantly south-facing areas of roof. At the same time generous grants, feed-in tariffs
and economies of manufacturing scale have also led to the installation of PV panels on
numerous small and medium size business and residential properties.
Photovoltaic cells generate electricity from solar power to provide direct current (DC)
electricity, and operate in daylight, without the need for constant sunshine. An inverter is
utilised to convert the DC to an AC power source. For ease of handling and construction,
arrays of cells are formed into panels, the dimensions and form of which varies from
manufacturer to manufacturer.
The panels are thus composed of numerous cells of crystalline silicon dosed with various
inorganic salts which form photodiodes that pass current in one direction when exposed to
light energy. Originally these arrays became familiar in images of satellites with the panels
orientated to catch the sunlight. More recently the technology has been developed to be
economically available to form perhaps the most common renewable energy source. With
increasing pressure for renewable energy sources the proliferation of PV panels is likely to
become ever more intense.
Arrays tend to be retrofitted to existing buildings, normally on top of the existing roof structure
or on existing walls. Alternatively, an array can be located remotely from the building and be
connected by cable. Where PV power systems are to be installed in new buildings, roof tiles
and wall panels with integrated PV cells are now available and are likely to be widely utilised in
new developments.
In the case of the conventional installation of PV panels upon an existing roof, a study using
thermal imaging has shown additional benefits in that provided there is an open gap in which
air can circulate between the solar panels and the roof, the panels provide a passive cooling
effect on buildings during the day and also act to insulate the building at night.
Energy conversion ratios, typically in the region of 12-18% result in useful amounts of
electricity being produced by static panels, such as those on roofs, but tracking or optimal
focusing systems on large free-standing arrays maximise the time they face the sun and
results in greater efficiency. Although not dependent on sunlight to produce electricity, there
remains a difference in power output between winter and summer exposure. The power
output of photovoltaic systems installed on buildings is usually described in kilowatt-peak
units (kWp), whereas the output of the large free-standing arrays is in megawatts (MW).
Large arrays of panels have been adopted as design features integrated into some new build
projects, and future developments of lighter weight and flexible cells may result in architects
considering their use as design features as well as principal or ancillary sources of electrical
power. The hazards posed by the presence of PV panels may then not be so obvious to the
responsible person or to firefighters called to the premises.
There have been a number of fires where concerns have been raised by firefighters regarding
electrical safety when applying water onto burning roofs that are carrying PV panels. These
worries could result in defensive firefighting tactics being employed whereby the fire is
prevented from spreading to nearby properties rather than being extinguished at its source.
This could potentially result in significant increases in property losses.
Another concern is that there is a potential for early roof collapse in a severe roof fire because
of the additional loading of the panels on the structure.
Future developments will undoubtedly result in a many more installations and improved
efficiency may result in higher power production with an associated increase in fire and
electrical hazards.
In addition to these hazards, consideration has also to be given to the response of PV panels
to environmental factors such as wind, hail, snow, the formation of ice and their reaction to
lightning and voltage surges. They also have to be protected against theft and vandalism.
RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 3
 Both the quality of the installation and the electrical power produced by the system are of
utmost importance. The Department of Energy and Climate Change therefore supports the
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), an internationally recognised quality assurance
scheme which applies to electricity generating technologies with a capacity of up to 50kW. The
use of MCS recognised contractors is an eligibility requirement for the Government’s financial
incentives, which include the feed-in tariff and the renewable heat incentive.
Installations should also comply with the Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (REAL)
consumer code for supplying renewable and low carbon small-scale heat and power
generators to domestic consumers.

2 Scope
These recommendations focus on industrial, commercial or residential buildings where
consideration is being given to the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels at some time
following the completion of the original structure.
The measures are also applicable to free-standing arrays of panels located on open ground
although, despite the scale of the installations, they often pose a limited threat to nearby
properties.
Although many of the recommendations in this document, such as those relating to loading
of roofs, also have application where solar-powered water heating systems are installed, the
latter forms of installation are outside the scope of these recommendations as they do not
present the electrical hazards associated with photovoltaic panels.
These recommendations address fire and explosion hazards relating to photovoltaic panel
installations, as well as issues which may lead to other forms of loss or pose a threat to
firefighters. Requirements for electrical safety and integrity will require compliance with
standards and codes in addition to those referred to in this document.

3 Synopsis
These recommendations provide guidance and background information relating to fire
safety concerning the installation of photovoltaic panels on residential, commercial and
industrial premises.
Consideration is given to the location and fitting of the panels on buildings, and some aspects
of electrical safety, where this has an impact on the prevention of fires. It is emphasised
that installations on timber and combustible roof decks should be avoided. Mitigation of the
threat to life, property loss and business interruption are also addressed. Guidance is given
regarding the safety of firefighters, particularly from electrical hazards associated with the DC
side of the installation.
Emphasis is made on the need for systems, including free-standing arrays of panels, to
be carefully designed, properly installed by competent persons and protected by suitable
security measures where necessary.

4 Risk Control
4 Definitions
AC
Alternating current: electricity is delivered to business premises in the form of a current that
follows a sinusoidal waveform that alternates from a positive to a negative value about 50
times a second.

Arson
The deliberate setting of fires by intruders or people with legitimate access to the premises,
which is referred to as wilful fire raising in Scotland.

DC
Direct current is a unidirectional flow of electricity and is commonly associated with batteries
as well as photovoltaic panels. DC is often thought to be a greater threat to life than AC
because of be way that it causes the muscles in the body to react.

Diode
A device which allows electrical current to flow in one direction only.

Hot spots
Local overheating of groups of cells in a PV panel caused by voltage reversal as a result of
shadow or deposits of leaves or dirt.

Inverter
An inverter converts DC current to AC current in a form suitable for supply to premises and
National Grid.

Photovoltaic power panels

Abbreviated in this document to PV panels, these devices use light, normally from the sun,
to produce DC electric current which may be converted to AC current for use locally or for
feeding into the public supply grid. (This is in contrast to solar thermal systems that use
sunlight to produce heat for heating water.)

5 Recommendations
5.1 Compliance with legislation
5.1.1 A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment should be undertaken for all industrial
and commercial premises in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)
Order 2005 (or equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland) (refs 1-5).
The existing assessment should be reviewed prior to and following the installation
of PV panels to consider fire and electrical hazards associated with the system and
measures that may need to be taken to eliminate or mitigate identified risks.
5.1.2 Some elements of a photoelectric panel installation, such as the power inverter ,
represent significant potential sources of ignition and these should be addressed in an
assessment (or a review of an existing assessment) under the Dangerous Substances
and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) (ref 6) when a PV panel installation
is being planned in an area where a potentially explosive atmosphere may form. The
integrity of any existing protected zones should also be reconsidered at this time.
5.1.3 Installers must comply with building legislation, such as Approved Documents
A and B to the Building Regulations (refs 7 and 8) or the equivalent legislation in
Scotland and Northern Ireland. Local planning requirements must also be observed
(refs 9 and 10).

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 5

 5.1.4 Where installations are proposed on historic buildings, national heritage organisations
such as English Heritage, Historic Scotland and Cadw should be consulted.

The technology

Solar panels are made of a thin layer of semi-conducting

material between a sheet of glass and a polymer resin. When
exposed to daylight, the semi-conducting material produces
electricity. Each solar PV panel typically covers an area of
around 1.2 to 1.8m2, depending on the manufacturer, and will
produce about 180-250 watts of DC power.
There are four basic types of PV panel: monocrystalline,

© temis
polycrystalline (or multicrystalline), hybrid and amorphous
silicon. All are made from silicon, but differ in the way the
silicon is cut and treated.
Figure 1: Consideration
PV panels will differ in efficiency (how much of the sun’s must be given to ease of
energy is used by the system per unit area) and in price. installation and access
Monocrystalline cells tend to be more efficient than for maintenance
polycrystalline cells (13-17% efficiency compared with 11-15%
efficiency), but polycrystalline cells can be cheaper.
Hybrid cells combine crystalline cells with another cell type, thin film cells. This makes
them even more efficient (17%+) but more expensive. There are several types of thin film
cells; these are being developed rapidly and offer great versatility in their applications.
New developments also include using photovoltaic panels to charge lithium-based batteries
which provide power via an inverter when needed. This brings with it potential fire hazards
associated with the batteries. For further information see RC61: Recommendations for the
storage and use of batteries (ref. 27).
Table 1: Percentage of the maximum output

Tilt East SE South SW West The output from the panels

will depend on the direction
0 (Horizontal) 90 90 90 90 90
in which they face and their
20 88 96 98 96 87 inclination. Table 1 shows
30 86 96 100 96 86 the percentage of the
40 84 96 100 95 82 maximum output obtained
from a solar PV system with
50 80 93 97 92 78
different orientation (south,
90 (Vertical) 58 69 71 67 56
west, east) and tilt angles.
Effect of pitch and orientation on PV panel performance It is not recommended that
(From IET Code of Practice for Grid Connected Solar panels be installed on north
Voltaic Systems, ref 28) facing roofs.

6 Risk Control
5.2 Business continuity
5.2.1 Even a small fire in industrial or commercial premises can have a disproportionate
effect on a business and can result in severe disruption, with associated loss of
orders, jobs, income and profit. In some businesses a loss of power, even on a
temporary basis, can be costly as a result of disruption of normal business activities.
5.2.2 All organisations should take steps to ensure the continued smooth running of their
business by making a suitable emergency plan. Guidance for this is set out in Business
resilience: A guide to protecting your business and its people (ref 11). The
emergency plan should address the implications of a fire, flood, loss of electric power or
other perceived disaster on all facets of the business model. It should indicate the lines
of communication that should be followed, the provision of alternative sources of power,
where necessary, and contact details for specialist assistance, providers of alternative
accommodation and suppliers of manufacturing plant.
5.2.3 When complete, the emergency plan should be tested by means of a tabletop
exercise, with the results being assessed and amendments made to the plan as
necessary.
5.2.4 Consideration may be given to applying commercially available computer
programmes, such as the ROBUST software (Resilient Business Software Toolkit)
that is available free of charge (ref 12), or other appropriate product, to develop and
check the adequacy of the plan.
5.2.5 As an aid to ensuring business continuity, carefully drafted quality assurance
measures must be applied at the design, installation, start-up and operating stages of
PV systems, as well as when programming servicing and maintenance or replacement
of panels. Regular maintenance will also assist in ensuring the highest efficiency of the
PV systems.

5.3 Fire safety management

5.3.1 During the installation process, all waste materials should be swept up and removed
at the end of each working period.
5.3.2 At the commissioning stage, the nominated operator of the system should have the
function and control of the system explained to them by the installer and full details of
the system and its operation handed over in writing. The installer should explain:
• the objectives of regular visual inspections;
• the nature of damage that might be seen following a gale or thunderstorm;
• the cleaning and day-to-day maintenance of the system; and
• the need for vigilance to identify damage to cable insulation and overheating of
components.
5.3.3 Windblown litter and leaves should not be allowed to accumulate, especially around or
beneath PV panels.
5.3.4 All installation engineers should receive suitable instruction when they arrive at the
premises as to the sound of the fire alarm and the actions that they should take if
hearing the alarm or discovering a fire.
5.3.5 The possibility of deliberate fire raising from outside the building by intruders or from
within by staff should not be forgotten. Further advice is provided in RC48: The
protection of premises from deliberate fire raising (ref 13).
5.3.6 Unless completely unavoidable, hot work such as welding, flame cutting and similar
activities should not take place during the installation process or in the vicinity of PV
panels following installation. If for justified reasons hot work has to be undertaken,
it should only be conducted under an effective Permit to Work system and in strict
accordance with the RISCAuthority document RC7: Recommendations for hot
work (ref 14).
5.3.7 As well as the hazards directly associated with hot work, other contractors’ operations
involving work on roofs where PV panels have been installed should be subject to a
permit to work due to the increase in risk to the property and business operations if

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 7


• Do not allow mounting systems
for PV panels to straddle
heat expansion joints or fire
compartment walls.
• Take care when designing large
free-standing arrays that the
land selected is not prone to
flooding in poor weather.
8 Risk Control
allowed to proceed without suitable management controls.
5.3.8 Automatic smoke detection should be installed in an area inside a building in which
electrical control equipment for PV panels is located. This is particularly important in
the case of a loft or other area that is normally unoccupied. A fire alarm sounder may
also need to be installed to alert engineers working in the area if the fire alarm there
would otherwise be insufficiently audible.
5.3.9 A suitable number of appropriate portable fire extinguishers should be available
adjacent to the control and switchgear and be immediately accessible in the case of a
fire. Such portable extinguishers should be approved and certified by an independent,
third party certification body and be installed in accordance with BS 5306-8 (ref 15)
and inspected and maintained in compliance with BS 5306-3 (ref 16).
5.3.10 Although in most cases the installation of water sprinklers is beneficial for the
protection of property, such an installation will not be designed for the protection of
the photovoltaic panels.
5.3.11 Care should be taken that obstructions and stored materials do not reduce the level
of ventilation provided for the inverters, which produce significant heat during normal
operation.
5.3.12 PV panel installations should be serviced and maintained in accordance to the
installer’s instructions. The schedule of maintenance should be in compliance with the
service contract, warranty conditions and/or performance guarantees.
5.4 Design
5.4.1 PV panels may be located on roofs, walls or at ground level. For maximum benefit,
panels should face approximately south. The power produced will depend on the
angle of the panels and the geographical location of the site; it will also depend on the
array being unshaded. For efficiency and safety reasons, care should be taken that
trees do not grow so as to shade or allow significant deposits of twigs and leaves to
fall onto the panels.
5.4.2 The style of panels is usually dictated by circumstances, with most retrofit installations
involving a number of individual panels on the roof. With new build schemes,
however, the option of fully integrated PV roof tiles or wall panels may be practical and
economically attractive but in all cases due consideration must be given to ease of
installation, access for maintenance and ease of removal and replacement in the event
of damage or fault.
5.4.3 While ease of maintenance involves access being gained to the roof, the economics
of PV installations demand that as great an area of the roof as possible be covered in
panels. It must therefore be ensured at the design stage that a sufficient area of roof
remains free of panels to allow access and maintenance work to be carried out safely.
5.4.4 A comprehensive survey of the site of the intended installation should be undertaken
by a qualified surveyor at the initial design stage. This should include a study to ensure
that the stability of the structure will not be compromised and aerodynamic effects will
not impact on other parts of the building or neighbouring premises.
5.4.5 The survey report should address issues concerning the means for ensuring that
the thermal insulation and fire protection properties of the roof are maintained
following the installation and that the roof remains watertight. Care must be taken that
warranties concerning the water or corrosion resistance of roofs are not invalidated.
5.4.6 Where designs of new build premises include the integration of PV panels into the
fabric of the structure, care must be taken that the products selected are such
that the fire-related properties of the elements of structure remain compliant with
the requirements of Approved Document B to the Building Regulations (ref 8) or
equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland (refs 9 and 10).
5.4.7 Careful consideration should be given when it is proposed to site PV panels on
combustible roofs, such as timber roofs and roof decks incorporating a combustible
roof overlay. Wherever possible this should be avoided.
5.4.8 If consideration is being given to panels of a type that also allow them to serve as
elements of glazing, specialist advice should be sought.
 5.4.9 Mounting systems should not interfere with other functions of a structure and thus
should not straddle heat expansion joints or fire compartment walls.
5.4.10 Panels should conform to BS EN 61215 (ref 15) or BS EN 61646 (ref 18) in conjunction
with BS EN 61730-1 and BS EN 61730-2 (refs 19 and 20) so that they may withstand
inclement weather conditions. The panels should be certified by a company with third
party accreditation to BS EN 17025 (ref 21).
5.4.11 The layout of the panels on the roof should be such that areas of panels are separated
by panel-free areas so that effective firefighting is possible. This will allow firefighters
to open the roof to allow both internal and external attack on a fire. Separating panels
into clearly defined areas will also assist in limiting damage in the event of a fire as well
as having advantages at times of maintenance, cleaning and repairs.
5.4.12 Panels should be securely fixed using suitable mounting systems that are securely
GDV – German Insurers

fastened to the supporting structure. Panels should not be held in place by ballast.
5.4.13 Where the panels to be installed are of a type that has micro-inverters mounted
behind each unit, the means of providing access to these components should be
addressed at the design stage, especially in the case of panels located in the middle
of roof.
5.4.14 Where PV panels are to be installed on an existing roof, consideration should be given to
Figure 2: Roof collapse resulting the additional weight presented by the panels. An average panel weighs approximately
from the combined load of PV 15kg/m2, thus there will be a significant increase in the dead load on the structure.
panels and snow
5.4.15 While modern trussed rafter roofs are engineered to maximise the balance of strength
and economy and may be able to carry a degree of additional load, the quality of the
original build and the wear and tear since the building was constructed may introduce
problems. A structural engineer or roofing specialist should therefore be consulted at
the planning stage regarding the proposed extra loads.
5.4.16 While older roofs may be less finely engineered and potentially more robust because
of the quality of the timber and craftsmanship, they may have become weakened
through age. The handmade nature of older roofs also mean that on these structures
it may be harder to find easy, predicable fixing centres for attaching the panels.
5.4.17 In the winter, the panels on the roof provide a place for snow and ice to lodge, and
this can build up significantly, leading to additional imposed loading. During the
subsequent thaw, an additional hazard is that snow and ice can pose a danger if it
were to fall from a high level. Where this may occur, a low protective mesh barrier
should be fitted to the eaves. A structural engineer or roofing specialist should be
consulted to confirm that the anticipated combined weight of panels and snow/
ice would not compromise the design load for the roof for the anticipated weather
conditions based on the buildings location.
5.4.18 The positioning of many installations creates a cavity below the panels which is open
on all sides and can introduce lateral wind forces resulting in uplift. The panels may
also interact with eddies and vortices produced by complex geometry of adjacent
areas of roofing or nearby structures. These possibilities should be considered at the
design stage.

Free standing arrays

5.4.19 Care should be taken when designing large free-standing arrays. The land selected
should not be prone to flooding in poor weather and should not be made available for
grazing animals or for commercial crops. Undergrowth should be controlled manually,
by the planting of specially selected grasses or by the use of non-chlorate-based
weed killers.
5.4.20 Arrays of photovoltaic panels on agricultural premises should be sited so as not
to be exposed to substances such as ammonia from cowsheds that can lead to
premature aging of the panels.
5.4.21 Long runs of high value cable should be buried to deter theft. (Other aspects of
security for these systems are set out in section 7.)
5.4.22 Where necessary, ground mounted panels and control equipment should be
protected from damage by vehicles by kerbs or bollards.

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 9

 5.5 Installation
5.5.1 Effective coordination of all specialists involved in the design, planning, installation and
commissioning stages is essential.
5.5.2 Domestic and light commercial (up to 50kW) PV panel systems should be manufactured
and installed by a competent organisation recognised by the Microgeneration
Certification Scheme (MCS). Following the commissioning of the equipment a
completion certificate should be obtained from the MCS recognised installer.
A schematic diagram of a typical commercial installation is shown in Figure 6.
5.5.3 Appropriate panels should be selected for the application and be mounted in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The mounting system should be
used for the intended panels without modification of the mounts or the panels.
5.5.4 Mounting systems which hold the panels parallel to the angle of the roof are preferred
over those which increase this angle. Where the latter have to be used, careful
planning should be undertaken to formulate a strategy for protecting the roof from any
additional loading from the effects of wind or an increased build up of snow or ice.
5.5.5 Sufficient space should be available to access the roof area to allow panels to
be taken up and installed. Clear routes to the roof, or space to install scaffolding
should be available. Where necessary, alternative fire escape routes may need to be
designated, signed and made known to staff before work commences.
5.5.6 The location should be away from aggressive fumes and dust outlets and in a position
where PV panels will not be exposed to sources of steam or heat (other than the sun).
• What is a thermographic
They should be maintained clear of deposits from stack pipes, flues, vents and ducts,
examination and what are the
especially those which may be ventilating cooking areas and possibly carry particles
benefits of carrying this out on
of cooking oil or fat. Areas prone to a build up of leaves, dirt and bird droppings
a PV panel installation?
should also be avoided. Panels should also be positioned such that they do not affect
• How often do I have to have the
the efficiency of natural smoke vents or hinder access to, or maintenance of ductwork
PV panel installation serviced
or plant.
and who can do this?
5.5.7 In order to prevent the spread of fire, PV panels and unprotected cables must not be laid
over a fire compartment wall. If the laying of cables over or through a fire compartment
wall is unavoidable then the cables should be protected using cable ducts that extend
at least 1m each side of the wall and provide the same degree of fire resistance as the
compartment wall over or through which they pass. In order to maintain their protective
function the material from which the ducts are manufactured must be suitable for
external use and resistant to UV rays and the effects of the weather.
5.5.8 Ancillary switchgear within the building should be kept clear of all storage. Control
units should be located in cabinets providing at least 60 minutes’ fire resistance and
where necessary be protected from damage by trolleys and vehicle movements by
suitable bollards or guard rails.
5.5.9 Installations should incorporate power inverters that comply with BS EN 62109
(ref 22). Products should be selected and installed to ensure that the installation has a
sufficiently long work life with a high efficiency of power conversion.
5.5.10 Components may be required to operate effectively at temperatures over 35oC.
Suitable components should therefore be specified and installed in accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions. Power inverters and control switchgear should be:
• mounted on non-combustible board and not be directly mounted on composite
panels;
• positioned so that the prescribed ambient temperature limits for the item may be
observed. (The coldest possible location should be selected as high operating
temperatures shorten the life-span of the component);
• mounted so as to be protected from flammable and acidic vapours and in a dry
and dust-free environment in order to avoid corrosion and the occurrence of
current leakage and associated damage;
• shielded from direct sunlight when mounted out doors;
• installed above any possible flood level;

10 Risk Control
 • selected to have at least an IP20 rating for use indoors or an IP54 rating for use
outdoors;
• sited so as not to be shielded from cooling by local air movement;
• protected from the effects of frost and condensation;
• selected so that the maximum open-circuit voltage of the PV panels does not
exceed the permitted voltage limit of the inverter.
In the case of installations to be connected to the grid, the grid operator’s conditions
should also be observed.
5.5.11 Power inverters represent a potential fire hazard in an area where a potential explosive
atmosphere may form and this should be acknowledged in the hazard zones
identified when the DSEAR assessment for the premises is undertaken or reviewed.
5.5.12 The wiring and other elements of the electrical installations should be designed, installed
and periodically tested by an electrician competent in working on DC as well as AC
installations, and in accordance with the current edition of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring
Regulations) (ref 23). Correctly specified cables are not only important for life safety
purposes but also to prevent overloading and fire risks. Inspections should be carried
out on a risk assessed basis as recommended in the Periodic Inspection Report.
5.5.13 Ground fault detection units should be installed to prevent short circuits which are a
leading cause of fires.
5.5.14 Selection of cables, housings and junction boxes should follow consideration of the
• What are the criteria for environmental conditions, especially on agricultural premises where corrosive gases
determining how and when PV such as ammonia may be released from slurry pits and the like.
panels should be cleaned and
5.5.15 Panels and wiring should be located where they are not likely to be damaged by
by whom? (See 5.6.7)
rodents. In agricultural premises where this is a particular problem consideration
• How can a large array of panels
should be given to laying wiring in closed ducts, with care being taken to seal up any
be secured against the threat of
access points. To reduce the likelihood of attack by rodents, cables should also be laid
theft and vandalism? (See 5.7.4)
as closely as possible to the mounting system, avoiding sagging and hanging wires.
In circumstances where the adoption of these precautions is not possible, mineral
insulated copper sheathed cable, or a similar product, may need to be employed.
5.5.16 Components of low voltage control and switchgear circuits should comply with the
relevant parts of BS EN 61439 (ref 24). Generator junction boxes on the DC side of
the installation should incorporate sufficient protective insulation to protect against the
maximum open circuit voltage of the panel array.
5.5.17 A load break switch that is suitable for isolating DC voltages must be provided on
the DC side of the circuit unless this facility is pre-installed in the current inverter. This
double pole isolator switch should be installed in case of power failure and so as to
allow safe maintenance work to be carried out on the inverter. A further double pole
isolation switch should be installed to allow the inverter to be isolated from the AC
mains electricity supply necessary for its operation. (Also see 5.8.6.)
5.5.18 Particular care should be taken to ensure that AC isolator switches are not mistakenly
installed in DC circuits as this can lead to a build up of heat within the switch
enclosure and subsequently a fire.
5.5.19 Prominent notices must be displayed on the DC side of the installation warning that
components may still be live even after disconnection from the current inverter.
5.5.20 Particular care should be exercised with the DC side of the installation as protection
against overload by the use of some forms of conventional circuit breakers is
ineffective. Consideration should therefore be given to installing an electrical arc
detection facility as this provides a more rapid form of protection than conventional
over current protection devices.
5.5.21 Long runs of DC wiring should be secured so as to place minimum stress on
connections from wind and thermal effects. DC wiring should not be laid through
premises where highly combustible materials such as hay and straw may be handled
or stored. Routing cables through voids in walls of other hidden areas should be
avoided. The installation should be as neat as possible. Cables should be carried in
metal cable trays, intumescent conduit or be securely fixed using metal fixings.

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 11


© Marina Lohrbach
Figure 3: PV panels should be
cleaned regularly
12 Risk Control
5.5.22 Care must be taken to avoid damage to cables by abrasion or pulling across sharp edges.
5.5.23 The PV installation should not compromise the effectiveness of an existing lightning
protection system. All areas of the PV panels must therefore be located within the
lightning protection zone and sufficient spacing must be maintained between the
elements of the lightning protection and the PV installations. Further information is set
out in RC35: Protection of buildings against lightning strike (ref 25).
5.5.24 Cables and wiring on the AC side of the installation must be protected by suitable
surge protection devices such as circuit breakers or preferably residual current
devices. Special consideration may need to be given to agricultural premises where
supply systems may differ from those commonly found in commercial and industrial
premises. The selection and positioning of surge protection and residual current
devices should be determined by a competent person.
5.5.25 All extraneous metal components should be adequately bonded and earthed. This
includes metal components of the mounting system for the panels and metal conduit
and trays use for running cables. The sizing of the bonding and earthing cables should
be determined by a competent person.
5.5.26 Wiring should be protected from the affects of sunshine and the elements. It should
also be compatible with the maximum temperature that is reached by the surface on
which it is laying.
5.5.27 Following the installation, checks should be made to ensure that all holes around
cables passing through fire compartment walls, floors and ceilings in the building are
suitably fire stopped.
5.5.28 The commissioning of the system should only be undertaken by trained, competent
personnel because immediately cables are connected to a PV panel, a DC current
will be produced, with associated dangers of electric shock and arcing. The final
connection to the PV panels therefore represents a situation where working on a live
system is necessary.
5.6 Maintenance
5.6.1 All maintenance should be undertaken strictly in accordance with the installer’s
instructions on an annual basis by competent electricians (such as those recognised
by the NICEIC, the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) or Select in Scotland) who
are familiar with the form of installation and with appropriate access equipment.
5.6.2 Serious consideration should be given to carrying out a thermographic examination of
the panels in order to identify hot spots in the panels at the time of each service visit.
Thermographic examination should also be made of the inverters and other relevant parts
of the installation.
5.6.3 Some manufacturers claim a 25-year life for their PV panels (but it should be noted
that the life of the costly inverter will be significantly less than this). It is therefore
necessary that as well as an initial inspection following the installation, periodic safety
examinations of the structure be carried out according to a risk assessment which
should consider, amongst other criteria, the age and form of construction of the
structure, and location of the installation.
5.6.4 For safety, devices should be installed to isolate the current inverter from the DC
supply and the converted AC current in order to permit safe maintenance or exchange
of the inverter. A suitable disconnection device may be fitted in the panel junction
box to isolate the DC current, but if current inverters can be installed on the panels or
directly beneath the point where the DC wiring enters the building this has the benefit
of minimising the scale of the DC circuitry within the premises. (See also 5.8.6.)
5.6.5 Bypass diodes should be fitted in the panel junction boxes but these bypass diodes
can fail as a result of frequent occurrences of shadow (for example by dirt or leaves),
insufficient elimination of heat in the junction box, lightning flashover and polarity reversal
of the module. It is thus important that the choice of PV panels is of a type that allows
the bypass diodes to be changed. Maintenance schedules should include checking the
bypass diodes, which should be changed as necessary by a competent electrician.

Figure 4: A large external array
of PV panels with security
measures including welded
mesh fencing and CCTV
5.6.6 A PV generation meter should be connected inside the building to provide a real-time
indication of how much electricity the system is generating. The meter also measures
the amount of electricity exported to the grid (where applicable), and thus provides the
basis for any feed-in tariff payment.
5.6.7 The efficiency of PV panels can be reduced by up to 8% by just a small amount of
dirt. Thus wherever possible, installations should be located in areas which are not
prone to accumulations of leaves, dust, grime and bird droppings. Panels may be
cleaned by jet washing but this should only be undertaken by specialist personnel
using equipment supplied from a socket protected to an IP55 or IP56 level of ingress
protection in accordance with BS EN 60529 (ref 26).
5.6.8 Dirt and debris may also accumulate beneath the panels, and may encourage the
growth of lichen and moss. The cavity beneath the panels, however, should not be
enclosed as this may have a detrimental effect both on the condition of the roof and
the operation of the panels.
5.6.9 Redundant and damaged panels should be disposed of by a licensed waste carrier as
some components contain traces of heavy metals.
5.7 Security
5.7.1 PV systems on unused or isolated buildings are particularly at risk; stores of system
components are also an attractive target for thieves. Marking all panels with
non-removable serial numbers which are recorded by the owner or with the post code
of the installation is a cost-effective deterrent.
5.7.2 The security risk assessment for the premises should focus on denial of access to
the site as a whole. This is particularly important in the case of large external arrays of
panels. Following this, consideration should be given to the security threat to individual
building(s). Decisions should then be taken on the basis of the assessment as to the
extent of the protection required. This will have the dual benefit of reducing the risk of
theft and of arson.
5.7.3 Access to roofs and to ladders and other climbing aids should be denied to intruders.
5.7.4 In most cases, effective security will comprise a combination of measures, typically
involving a blend of physical protection and electronic security systems, such as
intruder alarms and security lighting, tailored to the needs of the individual premises
or site concerned. For high security premises, measures may include total perimeter
fencing and on-site or patrolling security guards. Closed circuit television (CCTV)
equipment may need to be considered for other reasons as well as protecting the PV
panel installations. Consideration may also be given to roof protection devices and
anti-climb paints.
5.7.5 Due to the value of PV panels and their attractiveness to the criminal fraternity, there is
an increasing need for the adoption of some form of physical protection that prevents
panel removal; this includes the use of security fasteners and system monitoring tools
and alarms.
5.7.6 Non-return or ‘tighten-and-break’ anti-theft screw heads should be used to fasten
panels to mounting frames. Simple to install, these are cost-effective security
measures. In the case of the latter product, when the applied tightening torque
reaches a critical value, the hexagonal head breaks off, leaving an exposed cone that
provides no grip for spanners or other tools. If replacement of the panels is needed,
the fixings have to be drilled out to free the frame clamps. Such fixings are particularly
useful on easily accessible flat roofs and small ground-mounted systems.
5.7.7 Some installations tend to be inherently secure as a result of their size and location,
for example, installations on the roofs of high rise buildings. Generally if located two
storeys high or more, scaffolding or ladders would be necessary to access the panels
and there would be a likelihood of intruders being seen in an urban environment while
removing panels. Careful attention, however, needs to be given to protecting systems
in vulnerable, remote and rural locations. These include panels that may be accessed
via flat roofs. In these cases, as well as for large and costly installations, CCTV and/or
on-site security guards may need to be considered to assure their security.
5.7.8 In some cases, such as small remote systems powering batteries for environmental
RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 13
 monitoring equipment and road signs, equipment is especially vulnerable and
its location in the countryside gives thieves more time to remove it without being
observed. In these cases the use of ‘tighten-and-break’ fittings have limited
application and monitored alarms may be necessary.
5.7.9 Further options, in the case of large installations, include building a reinforced
concrete wall around the panel mountings, so preventing access to the supporting
structure and its bolts. The only accessible part of the array is then the upper glass
side of the PV modules and access for maintenance is via a door in the wall.
5.7.10 Connecting PV panels into an array is a solution that has been used as a security
feature in remote and urban installations. Cutting the linking cables during a robbery,
causing a loss of current, may be arranged to trip an alarm or send a signal to a
monitoring centre. Similarly, forms of fibre cable alarms are available that can actuate
an alarm signal if bent during an attempted theft.

5.8 Provisions for the fire and rescue service

5.8.1 Arrangements should be made to provide prompt access to the site on the arrival
of the fire and rescue service. The firefighters should be met by security personnel
or another designated member of staff who should have the gates or barriers open
awaiting their arrival.
5.8.2 Externally, a clear route should be maintained to allow high reach vehicles and
pumping appliances to gain suitable access to all buildings and suitable turning places
should be available as set out in Approved Document B to the Building Regulations
(ref 8) and equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland (refs 9 and 10).
Where necessary, liaison should be established with the fire and rescue service.
5.8.3 Information should be provided for the fire and rescue service at a prominent location,
such as the gatehouse, to include:
• the layout of the site, including plans of large buildings showing the locations of the
PV panels and control equipment;
• the location of isolation switches for PV panels;
• the location of the main electrical intake(s) and consumer units;
• the location of the indicator panel for the automatic fire detection and alarm
installation;
• details of any automatic fire suppression system(s) and the location of their controls
or valves;
• details of ventilation systems;
• the nature and location of any hazardous substances on the premises;
• contact details for staff who may need to be consulted; and
• the location of hydrants, rising mains or other sources of water on site or nearby for
firefighting purposes.
5.8.4 In the case of large installations, firefighters should be invited to visit the premises to
familiarise themselves with the property and the locations of PV panels on the site.
5.8.5 PV panels on the roof can prevent the dissipation of heat and smoke and thus smoke
build-up in the building may be more rapid than otherwise would have been the case.
In addition, the spread of the fire may be accelerated by a chimney effect beneath the
panels, especially on pitched roofs, and heat being radiated back onto the roof from
the underside of the panels. The position of the panels may also hinder the opening of
the roof to allow ventilation.
5.8.6 On each installation a switch should be provided in a prominent position readily
accessible to firefighters to isolate the DC side of the PV system (a ‘fire service switch’)
to ensure the safety of firefighting personnel. Operation of the switch should as a
minimum make the DC side of the wiring inside the building voltage-free. The switch
should be tested during routine maintenance visits, with the results being recorded.
(Also see 5.5.17.)

14 Risk Control
 5.8.7 As well as operating the fire service switch, fire service personnel should also
disconnect the installation from the mains electricity at the intake so as to render the
AC side of the installation voltage-free.
Fire and rescue service personnel should be aware that PV panels produce DC
current from daylight and other light sources, including any floodlights used to
illuminate the fire ground, even if the AC side of the circuit is isolated from the mains
electrical supply. This continuing production of DC voltage may have to be addressed
in the risk assessment undertaken before firefighting commences. In many existing
Figure 5: Sign indicating installations a disconnection point for the DC cables (referred to here as a ‘fire service
the presence of a PV switch’) on the roof is not provided.
panel installation 5.8.8 The presence of a PV system on a building is not always obvious from ground level,
thus a sign that indicates the presence of a PV system on a building or structure
should be prominently displayed for the information of the fire and rescue service. The
sign, measuring at least 100mm x 100mm shown in Figure 5, should be displayed at
the consumer units or supplier’s cut-out.

Fear of electrocution and collapse forced fire chief to pull back crews
A massive fire that destroyed an American food company’s main distribution centre was
finally contained more than a day after it broke out. The fire, which broke out at about
13:30 on a Sunday, caused the roof, lined with thousands of solar panels, to collapse
within hours. Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from the facility from miles away.
On Monday morning the blaze was continuing to burn as water availability, the threat of
electrocution and other factors hindered firefighting efforts. Although some 200 firefighters
were able to contain the blaze by early Monday evening it continued to smoulder for the
next few days.
Earlier in 2010, the company installed more than 7,000 solar panels, which officials claimed
would reduce the facility’s energy use by nearly 20%. Fire officers said that the fire was
focused between the trusses and solar panels on the roof.
Around 17:00 on Sunday, fire officers were concerned that the water and foam used to
fight the blaze would cause the roof to collapse and called all firefighters out of the building
as a precaution. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
The volume of water needed to fight the fire forced crews to bring in extra resources from
other areas. Trucked-in water was retained in large temporary pools before being pumped
to the jets. A fire boat crew also responded to set up a water pipeline from the local creek.
More than 130 people were employed at the warehouse. Senior staff were called to
reassure the public that the cost of food would not rise as a result of the incident.

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 15

 Figure 6: Schematic diagram of a typical three phase commercial installation

16
Risk Control
© Crown Copyright
 6.0 Checklist

Yes No N/A Action required Due date Sign on completion

6.1 Compliance with fire safety legislation (section 1)
6.1.1 Has a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment been undertaken in compliance with the
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (or equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern
Ireland) or been reviewed following the installation of PV panels? (5.1.1)
6.1.2 Have elements of a photoelectric panel installation, such as the power inverter, which represent
significant potential sources of ignition in an area where an explosive atmosphere may form been
addressed in any assessment carried out in compliance with the Dangerous Substances and
Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)? (5.1.2)
6.1.3 Have installers complied with building legislation, such as Approved Documents A and B to the
Building Regulations (or the equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland) and also
observed local planning requirements? (5.1.3)
6.1.4 Where installations are proposed on historic buildings, have national heritage organisations such
as English Heritage, Historic Scotland and Cadw been consulted? (5.1.4)
6.2 Business continuity (section 2)
6.2.1 Is management aware that even a small fire resulting in a loss of power, even on a temporary
basis can have a disproportionate effect on a business and be sufficiently severe to result in
severe disruption, with associated loss of orders, jobs, income and profit? (5.2.1)
6.2.2 Have steps been taken to ensure the continued smooth running of the business by making a
suitable emergency plan? (5.2.2)
6.2.3 Has the emergency plan been tested by means of a tabletop exercise, with the results being
assessed and amendments made to the plan as necessary? (5.2.3)
6.2.4 Has consideration been given to applying commercially available computer programmes to
develop and check the adequacy of the plan? (5.2.4)
6.2.5 Have carefully drafted quality assurance measures been applied at the design, installation,
start-up and operating stages of PV systems, as well as when programming servicing and
maintenance or replacement of panels? (5.2.5)
6.3 Fire safety management (section 3)
6.3.1 Are all waste materials swept up and removed at the end of each working period during the
installation process? (5.3.1)
6.3.2 At the commissioning stage, did the nominated operators of the system have the function and
control of the system explained to them by the installer and full details of the system and its
operation handed over in writing? (5.3.2)
6.3.3 Are windblown litter and leaves not allowed to accumulate, especially around or beneath PV
panels? (5.3.3)
6.3.4 Do all installation engineers receive suitable instruction when they arrive at the premises as to the
sound of the fire alarm and the actions that they should take if hearing the alarm or discovering a
fire? (5.3.4)

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations

6.3.5 Is the possibility of deliberate fire raising from outside the building by intruders or from within by
staff addressed? (5.3.5)

17
18
Yes No N/A Action required Due date Sign on completion
6.3.6 Unless completely unavoidable, is hot work such as welding, flame cutting and similar activities
prohibited during the installation process or in the vicinity of PV panels following installation?
(5.3.6)
6.3.7 If for justified reasons hot work, including operations involving hot work on roofs, has to be
undertaken, is it only conducted under an effective Permit to Work system? (5.3.7)
6.3.8 Is automatic smoke detection inside a building, especially those that are normally unoccupied, in
which electrical control equipment for PV panels is located? (5.3.8)

Risk Control
6.3.9 Are a suitable number of appropriate portable fire extinguishers available adjacent to the control
and switchgear and immediately accessible in the case of a fire? (5.3.9)
6.3.10 Is it appreciated that although in most cases the installation of water sprinklers is beneficial for the
protection of property, such an installation will not be designed to protect the photovoltaic panels?
(5.3.10)
6.3.11 Is care taken that obstructions and stored materials do not reduce the level of ventilation provided
for the inverters? (5.3.11)
6.3.12 Is the installation serviced and maintained in accordance with the installer’s instructions? (5.3.12)
6.4 Design (section 4)
6.4.1 Has consideration been given to the fact that PV panels may be located on roofs, walls or at
ground level and that for maximum benefit, they should face approximately south? (5.4.1)
6.4.2 Has care been taken that trees do not grow so as to shade or allow significant deposits of twigs
and leaves to fall onto the panels? (5.4.1)
6.4.3 Has the option of fully integrated PV roof tiles or wall panels been considered as they may be
practical and economically attractive? (5.4.2)
6.4.4 Has due consideration been given to ease of installation, access for maintenance and ease of
removal and replacement in the event of damage or fault? (5.4.2)
6.4.5 Has it been ensured at the design stage that a sufficient area of roof remains free of panels to
allow access and maintenance work to be carried out safely? (5.4.3)
6.4.6 Has a comprehensive survey of the site of the intended installation been undertaken by a
qualified surveyor at the initial design stage to ensure that the stability of the structure will not
be compromised and aerodynamic effects will not impact on other parts of the building or
neighbouring premises? (5.4.4)
6.4.7 Does the survey report address issues concerning the means for ensuring that the thermal
insulation and fire protection properties of the roof are maintained following the installation and
that the roof remains watertight? (5.4.5)
6.4.8 Where designs of new build premises include the integration of PV panels into the fabric of the
structure, is care taken that the products selected are such that the fire-related properties of the
elements of structure remain compliant with the requirements of Approved Document B to the
Building Regulations or equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland? (5.4.6)
6.4.9 Has careful consideration been given where it is proposed to site PV panels on combustible
roofs? (Wherever possible this should be avoided.) (5.4.7)
6.4.10 Where consideration is being given to panels of a type that also allow them to serve as elements
of glazing, has specialist advice been sought? (5.4.8)
6.4.11 Has it been checked that mounting systems do not interfere with other functions of a structure
and thus do not straddle heat expansion joints or fire compartment walls? (5.4.9)
 Yes No N/A Action required Due date Sign on completion
6.4.12 Do panels conform to BS EN 61215 or BS EN 61646 in conjunction with BS EN 61730-1 and
BS EN 61730-2 so that they may withstand inclement weather conditions? (5.4.10)
6.4.13 Is the layout of the panels on the roof such that areas of panels are separated by panel-free areas
so that effective firefighting is possible? (5.4.11)
6.4.14 Are panels securely fixed using suitable mounting systems that are securely fastened to the
supporting structure of the roof? (5.4.12)
6.4.15 Where the panels to be installed are of a type that has micro-inverters mounted behind each unit,
has access to these components been addressed at the design stage, especially in the case of
panels located in the middle of roof? (5.4.13)
6.4.16 Where PV panels are to be installed on an existing roof has consideration been given to the
additional weight presented by the panels? (5.4.14)
6.4.17 Has a structural engineer or roofing specialist been consulted at the planning stage regarding the
proposed extra loads? (5.4.15)
6.4.18 Have the problems associated with finding suitable fixing centres for attaching panels to older
roofs been addressed? (5.4.16)
6.4.19 Have the hazards associated with the winter build up of ice and snow by panels on the roof been
addressed by fitting low protective mesh barriers to the eaves? (5.4.17)
6.4.20 Has a structural engineer or roofing specialist been consulted to ensure that the combined weight
of the panels, snow and ice would not compromise the design load for the roof? (5.4.17).
6.4.21 Have the problems associated with cavities below panels introducing lateral wind forces resulting
in uplift been considered at the design stage? (5.4.18)
6.4.22 Has care been taken when designing large free-standing arrays that the land selected is not prone
to flooding in poor weather and not made available for grazing animals or commercial crops?
(5.4.19)
6.4.23 Is undergrowth controlled manually, by the planting of specially selected grasses or by the use of
non-chlorate-based weed killers? (5.4.19)
6.4.24 Are arrays of photovoltaic panels on agricultural premises sited so as not to be exposed to
substances such as ammonia from cowsheds that can lead to premature ageing of the panels?
(5.4.20)
6.4.25 Are long runs of high value cable buried to deter theft? (5.4.21)
6.4.26 Where necessary are ground mounted panels and control equipment protected from damage by
vehicles by kerbs or bollards? (5.4.23)
6.5 Installation (section 5)
6.5.1 Is there effective coordination of all specialists involved in the design, planning, installation and
commissioning stages? (5.5.1)
6.5.2 Have the PV panel systems been manufactured and installed by a competent organisation
recognised by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)? (5.5.2)

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations

6.5.3 Have appropriate panels been selected for the application and mounted in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions? (5.5.3)

19
20
Yes No N/A Action required Due date Sign on completion
6.5.4 Have mounting systems that hold the panels parallel to the angle of the roof been used? Where
those that increase this angle have to be used, has careful planning been undertaken to formulate
a strategy for protecting the roof from any additional loading from the effects of wind or an
increased build up of snow or ice? (5.5.4)
6.5.5 Is sufficient space available to access the roof area to allow panels to be taken up and installed?
(5.5.5)
6.5.6 Is the location of the PV panels away from outlets for dusts and fumes and in a position where
they will not be exposed to sources of heat or steam, and maintained clear of deposits, especially

Risk Control
those from cooking areas? (5.5.6)
6.5.7 Are PV panels and unprotected cables located so as not to be laid over a fire compartment wall?
If the laying of cables over or through a fire compartment wall is unavoidable then are the cables
protected using cable ducts that extend at least 1m each side of the wall and provide the same
degree of fire resistance as the compartment wall over or through which they pass? (5.5.7)
6.5.8 Is ancillary switchgear within the building kept clear of all storage and are control units located in
cabinets providing at least 60-minute fire resistance and where necessary protected from damage
by suitable bollards or guard rails? (5.5.8)
6.5.9 Do the Installations incorporate power inverters that comply with BS EN 62109 and products that
are selected and installed to ensure that the installation has a sufficiently long work life with a high
efficiency of power conversion? (5.5.9)
6.5.10 Are suitable components specified and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions, especially where they may be required to operate effectively at temperatures over
35oC? (5.5.10)
6.5.11 Are power inverters acknowledged as a fire hazard when the hazard zones are identified during
the DSEAR assessment for the premises? (5.5.11)
6.5.12 Are the wiring and other elements of the electrical installations designed, installed and periodically
tested by an electrician competent in working on DC as well as AC installations, and in
accordance with the current edition of BS 7671? (5.5.12)
6.5.13 Have ground fault detection units been installed to prevent short circuits? (5.5.13)
6.5.14 Are the cables, housings and junction boxes selected following consideration of the environmental
conditions, especially on agricultural premises where corrosive gases such as ammonia may be
released from slurry pits and the like? (5.5.14)
6.5.15 Are panels and wiring located where they are not likely to be damaged by rodents? (5.5.15)
6.5.16 Do components of low voltage control and switchgear circuits comply with the relevant parts
of BS EN 61439, with generator junction boxes on the DC side of the installation incorporating
sufficient protective insulation to protect against the maximum open circuit voltage of the panel
array? (5.5.16)
6.5.17 Is a load break switch that is suitable for isolating DC voltages provided on the DC side of the
circuit unless this facility is pre-installed in the current inverter? Is a further double pole isolation
switch installed to allow the inverter to be isolated from the AC mains electricity supply necessary
for its operation? (5.5.17)
6.5.18 Is care taken to ensure that AC isolator switches are not mistakenly installed in DC circuits as this
can lead to a build up of heat within the switch enclosure and subsequently a fire? (5.5.18)
6.5.19 Are prominent notices displayed on the DC side of the installation warning that components may
still be live even after disconnection from the current inverter? (5.5.19)
 Yes No N/A Action required Due date Sign on completion
6.5.20 Is care exercised with the DC side of the installation as protection against overload by the use
of some forms of conventional circuit breakers is ineffective? (Consideration should be given to
installing an electrical arc detection facility as this provides a more rapid form of protection than
conventional over current protection devices.) (5.5.20)
6.5.21 Are long runs of DC wiring avoided and is DC wiring laid so as to avoid being routed through
hidden areas and areas where highly combustible materials such as hay and straw may be
handled or stored? (5.5.21)
6.5.22 Is care taken to avoid damage to cables by abrasion or pulling across sharp edges? (5.5.22)
6.5.23 Is the PV installation installed so as not to compromise the effectiveness of any existing lightning
protection system? (5.5.23)
6.5.24 Are cables and wiring on the AC side of the installation protected by suitable surge protection
devices such as circuit breakers or preferably residual current devices? (5.5.24)
6.5.25 Are all extraneous metal components adequately bonded and earthed? (5.5.25)
6.5.26 Is wiring protected from the affects of sunshine and the elements? (5.5.26)
6.5.27 Following the installation, are checks made to ensure that all holes around cables passing through
fire compartment walls, floors and ceilings in the building are suitably fire stopped? (5.5.27)
6.5.28 Will the commissioning of the system only be undertaken by trained, competent personnel?
(5.5.28)
6.6 Maintenance (section 6)
6.6.1 Is all maintenance undertaken strictly in accordance with the installer’s instructions on an annual
basis by competent engineers familiar with the form of installation and with appropriate access
equipment? (5.6.1)
6.6.2 Is serious consideration given to carrying out a thermographic examination of the panels in order
to identify hot spots in the panels and at the time of each service visit? (5.6.2)
6.6.3 As well as an initial inspection following the installation, are periodic safety examinations of
the structure carried out according to a risk assessment which considers the age, form of
construction and location of the installation? (5.6.3)
6.6.4 Are safety devices installed to isolate the current inverter from the DC supply and the converted
AC current in order to permit safe maintenance or exchange of the inverter? (5.6.4)
6.6.5 Are the PV panels of a type that allows the bypass diodes to be changed? (5.6.5)
6.6.6 Is a PV generation meter connected inside the building to provide a real-time indication of how
much electricity the system is generating? (5.6.6)
6.6.7 Is the cleaning of panels only undertaken by specialist personnel using equipment supplied from
an electric socket protected to an IP55 or IP56 level of ingress protection in accordance with
BS EN 60529? (5.6.7)
6.6.8 Are the cavities beneath the panels left unenclosed? (5.6.8)
6.6.9 Are redundant and damaged panels disposed of by a licensed waste carrier as some

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations

components contain traces of heavy metals? (5.6.9)
6.7 Security (section 7)
6.7.1 Are all panels marked with non-removable serial numbers which are recorded by the owner or
with the post code of the installation? (5.7.1)

21
22
Yes No N/A Action required Due date Sign on completion
6.7.2 Does the security risk assessment for the premises focus on denial of access to the site as a
whole? Following this, is consideration given to the security threat to individual building(s)? (5.7.2)
6.7.3 Is access to roofs and to ladders and other climbing aids denied to intruders? (5.7.3)
6.7.4 Does security comprise a combination of measures, typically involving a combination of physical
protection and electronic security systems, such as intruder alarms and security lighting, tailored
to the needs of the individual premises or site concerned? (5.7.4)
6.7.5 For high security premises, do measures include total perimeter fencing and on-site or patrolling

Risk Control
security guards? (5.7.4)
6.7.6 Has some form of physical protection that prevents panel removal been adopted? (5.7.5)
6.7.7 Are non-return or ‘tighten-and-break’ anti-theft screw heads used to fasten panels to mounting
frames? (5.7.6)
6.7.8 Is careful attention given to protecting vulnerable, remote and rural systems? (5.7.7)
6.7.9 In some cases, such as small remote systems powering batteries for environmental monitoring
equipment or road signs, are monitored alarms installed? (5.7.8)
6.7.10 In the case of large installations, has a reinforced concrete wall been built around the panel
mountings, to prevent access to the supporting structure and its bolts? (5.7.9)
6.7.11 Has consideration been given to connecting PV panels in remote and urban installations into an
array as a security measure? (5.7.10)
6.8 Provisions for the fire and rescue service (section 8)
6.8.1 Have arrangements been made to provide prompt access to the site for the fire and rescue
service on their arrival? (5.8.1)
6.8.2 Are arrangements in hand for firefighters to be met by security personnel or other designated
staff? (5.8.1)
6.8.3 Is a clear external route maintained to allow high reach vehicles and pumping appliances to gain
suitable access to all buildings? (5.8.2)
6.8.4 Is suitable information provided for the fire and rescue service at a prominent location, such as the
gatehouse? (5.8.3)
6.8.5 In the case of large installations, are firefighters invited to visit the premises to familiarise
themselves with the property and the locations of PV panels on the site? (5.8.4)
6.8.6 Has consideration been given to the fact that PV panels on the roof can prevent the dissipation of
heat and smoke and thus smoke build up in the building may be more rapid than otherwise would
have been the case? (5.8.5)
6.8.7 Is a prominent switch provided in a readily accessible location on each installation to isolate
the DC side of the PV system near the panels (a ‘fire service switch’) to ensure the safety of
firefighting personnel? (5.8.6)
6.8.9 Is the isolation switch tested during routine maintenance visits, with the results being recorded?
(5.8.6)
6.8.10 As well as operating the fire service switch, are fire service personnel also able to disconnect the
installation from the mains electricity at the intake so as to render the AC side of the installation
voltage-free? (5.8.7)
6.8.11 Are signs indicating the presence of a PV panel installation prominently displayed for the fire and
rescue service? (5.8.8)
7 References
1. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, SI 2005 No 1541, The Stationery Office.
2. The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, asp 5, The Stationery Office.
3. Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, Scottish SI 2006 No 456, The Stationery Office.
4. Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, SI 2006 No 1254 (NI9), The Stationery
Office.
5. Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010, SI 2010 No 325 (NI), The Stationery Office.
6. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR), 2002 (as amended in
2015), SI 2002 No 2776, The Stationery Office.
7. Approved Document A to the Building Regulations 2000: Structure: 2004, The Stationery Office.
8. Approved Document B to the Building Regulations 2000: Fire Safety (Volume 2). Buildings
other than dwelling houses incorporating insurers’ requirements for property protection,
2008, Fire Protection Association.
9. The Building (Scotland) Regulations, 2003, 2003 asp 8, The Stationery Office.
10. The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, SI 2012 No 192, The Stationery Office.
11. Business resilience: A guide to protecting your business and its people, 2005, Fire
Protection Association.
12. The ROBUST software (Resilient Business Software Toolkit) may be found at https://robust.
riscauthority.co.uk
13. RC48: Arson Prevention: The protection of premises from deliberate fire raising, 2010, Fire
Protection Association.
14. RC7: Recommendations for hot work, 2012, Fire Protection Association.
15. BS 5306-8: 2012: Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises Selection and
positioning of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice, British Standards Institution.
16. BS 5306-3: 2009: Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises.
Commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice, British
Standards Institution.
17. BS EN 61215: 2005: Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. Design
qualification and type approval, British Standards Institution.
18. BS EN 61646: 2008: Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. Design qualification
and type approval, British Standards Institution.
19. BS EN 61730-1: 2007 + A1: 2012: Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification.
Requirements for construction, British Standards Institution.
20. BS EN 61730-2: 2007 + A1: 2012: Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification.
Requirements for testing. British Standards Institution.
21. BS EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2005: General requirements for the competence of testing and
calibration laboratories, British Standards Institution.
22. BS EN 62109-1: 2010: Safety of power converters for use in photovoltaic power systems.
General requirements, British Standards Institution.
23. BS 7671: 2008: Requirements for electrical installations (IET Wiring Regulations), British
Standards Institution.
24. BS EN 61439: Low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies (several parts), British
Standards Institution.
25. RC35: Protection of buildings against lightning strike, 2009, Fire Protection Association.
26. BS EN 60529: 1992 + A2: 2013: Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code),
British Standards Institution.
27. RC61: Recommendations for the storage, handling and use of batteries, 2014, Fire
Protection Association.
28. Code of practice for grid connected solar voltaic (PV) systems, 2015, The Institution of
Engineering and Technology.

RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations 23

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