Important

1
Important
The Systems, Drawings And Pictures Depicted In
This Presentation Are Used For Discussion
Purposes Only. PV Systems And Their Components
Vary In Design, And Appearance. It Is Imperative
That Your Department Become Familiar With The
Systems Installed In Your Community.
2
Coordination Between Your Fire Department And
Your Municipalities' Building And Fire Code
Officials Is Essential To Understanding
Identifying PV Systems Installed In Your
Community!
3
Solar Power Its
Impact on the Fire Service
4
Program Goals

• To Provide Firefighters with an Awareness of
  Photovoltaic Systems so Informed Fire Ground
  Decisions can be Applied for Safe Fireground
  Operations

5
Program Topics

• What is Solar Power?
• Why are People Using it?
• What is it Used For?
• Types of Systems
• Impact on The Fire Service
• Target Hazards in Your Jurisdiction

6
Currently

• New Jersey Is Second Largest Solar Energy Market
  In The United States

Note California with 4 times the population is
ranked 1
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NJ Installations
4000
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Why Does it Concern Us
2009 - Over 4,000

• Equates to About 20 Per Municipality

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Theyre in Your Town!!!!
Why Does it Concern Us
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Theyre in Your Town!!!!
Why Does it Concern Us
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Renewable Energy Sources
WHY

• State Purchase Incentives (up to 25 of cost)
• State Sales Tax Exemption
• Federal Tax Credits
• Lower or Non-Existent Energy Bills

Note Utilities Required To Buy Back Excess Solar
Energy
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Importance to New Jersey
In 2006

• 4,709,000 Megawatt Hours Used In One Month
• Only 36 Megawatt Hours Were Generated By Solar
  Energy

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Importance to New Jersey

• New Jersey also Houses the Nations
  Highest-Capacity Oldest Running Nuclear Power
  Plants

(Salem Oyster Creek)
14
Solar Energy

• Light Radiant Heat From the Sun that Influences
  Climate Weather
• Naturally Replenished - Renewable Energy Source
• Also Referred to as Solar Power Or Photovoltaic
  (PV) Solar Electricity Generated From Solar
  Radiation

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Types of Solar PV Systems
Grid Interconnected

• Power from the Solar System is Added to the
  Normal Home Power Supply Supplied by the Utility
  Company

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Types of Solar PV Systems
System Components
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Types of Solar PV Systems
System Components

• Roof Mounted Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
• DC Energy ?AC Energy Inverter
• Solar Junction Box
• Electric Meter

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Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup

• System - Similar to Previous System with the
  Addition of a Battery Bank to Store Power
  Generated from Solar Panels

Types of Solar PV Systems
19
Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup
Types of Solar PV Systems
20
Off Grid Systems

• Not Tied to Any Utility Service or Power Lines
• Main Source of Power for Building
• Can Have Wind-Power, Water-Power Back-Up
  Generators Factored in to Provide Energy at Night

Types of Solar PV Systems
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Off Grid System Components

• Roof Mounted Solar Panels
• Array DC Disconnect
• Charge Controller Prevents Overcharging

Types of Solar PV Systems
22
Off Grid System Components

• Battery Bank
• System Meter Bank Level, Panel Production, House
  Usage
• Main DC Disconnect

Types of Solar PV Systems
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Off Grid System Components

• DC Energy ?AC Energy Inverter
• Rectifier- Changes AC Energy ? DC Energy To Be
  Stored In Battery Bank
• Solar Junction Box

Types of Solar PV Systems
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Off Grid System Components

• Generator Junction Box
• Power Meter

Types of Solar PV Systems
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How Solar PV Systems Work

• Panels Contain PV Cells Made of Semi-conductive
  Materials Such as Silicon
• The Cells Form Layers/ Wafers Contain a
  Positive Side Negative Side

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How Solar PV Systems Work

• Photovoltaic Panels
• Photo Means Light
• Voltaic Means Electricity
• Also Commonly Referred to as PV Panels

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How Solar PV Systems Work

• Electric Conductors Attached to Panel Sides Form
  Electric Circuit
• Sunlight Energy Excites Electrons Knock Them
  Loose
• Conductors Capture Energy Creating an Electrical
  Current

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How Solar PV Systems Works

• Direct Current Electrical Energy is Produced
• Power Is Combined in a Combiner Box Or
  Combination Box Sent to Inverter

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How Solar PV Systems Works

• Inverter Changes DC?AC
• Information such as Power Level, Energy
  Production, Fault Messages can Usually be
  Observed Here

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How Solar PV Systems Works
How Solar PV Systems Works
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Note Always Consider This HOT
How Solar PV Systems Works
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• Alternating Current (AC) is Distributed to House
  Service Panel for Use. Excess Power is
  Transported Back Through the Utility Meter

How Solar PV Systems Works
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Solar Panel Mounting Systems

• MountingBolts

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Solar Panel Mounting Systems

• Grid Tracks

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Flat Roof Mounting Systems

• Weighted or Ballasted System

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Flat Roof Mounting Systems

• Bolted Through or Anchored System

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Integrated Roof Systems
Virtually impossible to tell from the ground.
This is why preplanning is so important.
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Preplanning is Essential

• Some Systems Unidentifiable from Street

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Preplanning is Essential

• Systems Differ

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Preplanning is Essential

• Disconnect Locations Vary

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PV Hazards

• Shock Hazards
• Batteries
• Roof Collapse
• Trip hazards
• Roof Ventilation

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Shock

• Primary Firefighter Danger
• Maximum Voltage Of A Solar Panel System 600
  Volts (Low Voltage)

Note Nearly 300 workers die yearly from low
voltage electrical incidents
PV Hazards
43
Shock

• Momentary Contact With Low DC Voltages May
  Produce
• Continuous Shock
• Thermal Injury
• Ventricular Fibrillation

Note Unlike fire, which produces burns in a
relatively predictable manner, electricity can
strike unsuspecting victims sometimes fatally!
PV Hazards
44
Inhalation

• Protect Yourselves Use Your SCBA

PV Hazards
45
Batteries

• As a Rule, Batteries Burn with Great Difficulty
• Batteries Exposed to Fire Generate Extremely
  Corrosive Fumes Gases

Note NEVER USE WATER to Extinguish lead-acid
battery fires - Use CO2 or Dry Chemical
PV Hazards
46
Roof Collapse
Approx. Weights
Normal Dwelling - 40 Panels
35 Each

• PV Panel 35 lbs
• Modules Racking Hardware 4 lbs/ft2

1,400 Pounds Total Added Dead Load to Roof System
PV Hazards
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Other Hazards

• Trip Hazards

PV Hazards
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Electrical Hazards

• PV Wiring Harness is CONSIDERED ALWAYS HOT

PV Hazards
49
Roof Operations Hazards

• During Daytime Firefighting Operations PV Panels
  Are Still Generating Electricity
• Do Not Cut Into Or Walk Across Panels
• Do Not Break Protective Glass
• All Energy In Entire System Could Be Released At
  Break Point

PV Hazards
50
Roof Ventilation Hazards

• Ventilate The Highest Point Over The Fire Without
  Cutting Through The PV Array
• Flat Roofs With Complete PV Coverage
• Horizontal With Supplemental Hydraulic Positive
  Pressure Ventilation

PV Hazards
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Firefighting Operations

• The IC Must Notify Firefighters of the Presence
  of Solar Arrays

52
Firefighting Operations

• Lock Tag Out Array at
• Inverter
• DC Disconnect
• Main Electrical Panel

53
Firefighting Operations
PV Array Fire

• Use Class C Extinguishing Agents- CO2 Or Dry
  Chemical

CAUTION SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED
54
Firefighting Operations
Roof Fire

• Use Water Fog Pattern on the PV Array

CAUTION SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED
55
Remember
!
Treat All Systems as Energized Regardless of
Time of Day
56
Remember
57
Remember
58
PV Technology Advancements
PV Integrated Shingles
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Summary

• Know Where Buildings With PV Systems Are
  Located In You District.
• Preplan Preplan Preplan
• Treat PV System Components As Always Energized
• Adjust Your Firefighting Tactics Accordingly

60
Remember
The Systems, Drawings and Pictures depicted in
this Presentation are used for discussion
purposes only. PV Systems and their Components
vary in design, and appearance. It is imperative
that Your Department become familiar with the
systems installed in your community.
61
Coordination between your Fire Department and
your municipalities' Building and Fire Code
Officials is Essential to identifying and
understanding the PV Systems installed in your
Community!
62
Acknowledgements
Corey J. Hullings Delran Fire
Department Suzanne BorekDivision of
Codes and Standards Richard Farletta
..Division of Fire Safety Ken Kandrac
Slackwood Fire Company Jerry Lax
..Advanced Solar Products NJ Board of
Public UtilitiesClean Energy Program James
McFaddenDivision of Fire Safety
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Stay Safe