I must jump on my soap box, as I have so many time in the past, and
follow up Glenn's comment here. We worry so much about details of PV
arrays, while batteries are serious safety hazards that no one
(including the NEC) ever wants to address. Not only can they not be
de-energized, they have amazing short circuit potential (unlike PV) and
they can explode as well. Meanwhile in normal operation, they off gas
poisonous fumes.
The whole industry is looking at energy storage now, as well, so this
isn't just confined to the off grid fringe anymore.
Further, many industrial complexes have large battery banks for UPS
systems and electric forklifts.
Why is the NEC still not making any real changes on battery storage?
There have been some fairly interesting fires from utility scale battery
systems, seems its more than about time.
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 1/23/2014 5:49 AM, Glenn Burt wrote:
"They can safely shut down any electrical system in a
building---except for PV systems."
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Brearley <mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com>
Sent: ?1/?22/?2014 22:48
To: RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 7, Issue 29
Drake,
As far I know you are correct. There have not been any firefighter
deaths due to solar.
However, a fire chief in New Jersey did suggest that he let a
warehouse burn down due to the presence of a PV system on the roof:
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/23313172/multiple-alarm-fire
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/09/why-firefighters-are-scared-solar-power/6854/
That suggests to me that while there is no crisis today, there is
certainly the potential for one down the road. Imagine the insurance
industry's response if fire fighters make a habit of not responding to
structural fires due to the presence of PV systems. Fire fighters want
touch-safe PV modules. And they have a reasonable complaint. They can
safely shut down any electrical system in a building---except for PV
systems.
SEIA and SEPA are the solar industry lobby. Please do engage and
support them. SEIA even has a political action committee, the
SolarPAC. Part of the way that I try to stay on top of evolving Code
issues is by attending SEIA- and SEPA-sponsored events.
Also, over the past 4 or 5 years, the Solar America Board of Codes and
Standards has scheduled annual meetings that coincide with Intersolar.
Those are very informative sessions. I think the sessions are even
archived online at solarancs.org <http://solarancs.org>.
David Brearley
Senior Technical Editor,/SolarPro/magazine
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
david.brear...@solarprofessional.com
<mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com>
Direct: 541.261.6545
On Jan 22, 2014, at 8:18 PM, re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
*
From:*Drake <drake.chamber...@redwoodalliance.org
<mailto:drake.chamber...@redwoodalliance.org>>
*Subject:**Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown*
*Date:*January 22, 2014 2:16:18 PM CST
*To:*RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>>
*Reply-To:*RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>>
David,
My sincere thanks to all of you who worked to keep the module level
disconnect requirement out of the 2014 code cycle. That ruling would
have amounted to a knockout punch for string and central inverters on
buildings.
What was the driving force behind this push for immediate module
level disconnection? There has clearly_not_been a rash of firefighter
deaths due to PV systems. Although PV needs to continue evolving
safety standards that take into account the concerns of firefighters,
there is no crisis that would justify thwarting one of the few
growing sectors of our economy.
The PV track record has been amazingly good. So far, I've found no
accounts of solar related firefighter deaths or injuries. The NFPA
statistics show that the highest cause of firefighter death is heart
attack.http://www.nfpa.org/newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/2013/july-august-2013/features/firefighter-fatalities-in-the-united-states-2012
This push for crippling regulation bears the earmark of ALEC's
extensive and effective war on solar. As you can read in the
following links, the massively funded, Koch brothers-linked ALEC is
lobbying heavily, on every level, to derail solar. All who are
associated with the solar industry need to be aware of this powerful
lobbying campaign.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy
http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/alec_freeriders_with_solar_panels_must_pay_for_robbing_the_system/
http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2014/01/alec-gain-an-inside-track-on-colorado-solar-2490132.html
Is there any way that the solar community can be alerted when threats
to our industry are being put before the NEC? Although few
contractors have the time or money to walk away from their businesses
and attend code writing committees, a substantial number might have
the time to make phone calls and send letters or emails to code writers.
The solar industry needs a strong lobby of its own.
Drake
[The entire original message is not included.]
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