Hi David,
Can you elaborate on the mounting system(s?) that would minimize fire
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
that fire ratings are determined for PV systems. To date, modules have
received a fire classification. However in the installed environment,
fire propagation has more to do with the mounting system than with
module construction. Therefore, fire classification tests in the
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 Class C or
Class A rating will no longer have that rating. The mounting system will carry
the fire rating. Modules will have specific “types” based on their
construction. This way a rack manufacturer can get a fire rating on modules of
a particular module construction type and not have to rerate their rack with
every module that has that same construction.
All these changes in the UL1703 standard are going to require education so that
fire officials and building code enforcement officials understand how 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
running ahead of the development of the applicable UL standard. It's
safe to say that working groups at SEIA and SolarABCs are very
interested in tracking these types of issues. The SolarABCs has had
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.brear...@solarprofessional.com
<mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com>
Direct: 541.261.6545
On Feb 6, 2014, at 12:20 PM, re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
*From:*William Korthof <wkort...@gmail.com <mailto:wkort...@gmail.com>>
*Subject:**[RE-wrenches] Solar Module fire ratings*
*Date:*February 6, 2014 10:56:05 AM CST
*To:*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>>
I've just been informed by a city (our own City in fact) that is
asking for minimum Class-B fire-rated solar modules, citing rules
newly adopted Jan 1, 2014. The expert behind the counter made
reference to IRC section 902.4, which seems to call for solar
installations to meet the same fire rating standard as the roofing on
which they are installed. It was the end of the day. Most roofing is
B or A rating apparently, and my official was adamant that this meant
only a B or A rated panel would be allowed.
As far as I know, virtually every solar panel I've ever handled going
back to the mid 90's was Class C rated. The only Class A I remember
(and the only one I noticed from web searching) was the obnoxiously
unwieldy glass-on-glass 300-watt series that got absorbed by Schott
and probably discontinued many years ago. I have one of those
antiques in my shop for fun, and I encountered exactly one
installation that used the product (from another installer), and
there were "issues" with the panels within the first 10 years.
Is this Class A/B requirement issue true? Did the state fire marshall
adopt a policy at the start of this year that basically bans all
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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