PV system make firefighter busy

I am not a firefighter, but I have often meet with them to discuss PV solar, and the impact that solar installations have on house fires. Around 2008, the number of installations in the US, particularly here in California, grew quickly. Installation permits are controlled at the municipal level, so it getting regional or national standards established were important. The National Electric Code (NEC) was busily improving the standards for PV, as were many of the greener organizations. Designers were getting better, and training through NABCEP and other organizations were gaining ground. So things were getting better everywhere, and it was a time when more improvements were welcomed.

I am on the product development side. 2008 was a time where new innovations to improve safety, idiot proofing the products so that it would be difficult to improperly do a system design or installation, was widely supported. I developed self grounding systems, integrated racking with grounding, and brought UL listed AC modules to market. These designs virtually ensured that hazards from poor grounds and DC arcing would never occur.

Firefighters are also normally organized by municipalities, with some communications ties at regional and national levels. They saw the need to get involved with some of the PV design, installation, NEC type discussions as well. Many of the PV installations on homes were done in ways that made it impossible for firefighters to react in their traditional ways, so some of the design rules needed changing. Firefighters being able to fight PV related fires was paramount to the growth of the PV industry.

I was involved in educating PV system designers, installers, inspectors, and firefighters on system designs and product safety. I also introduced them to some of the then innovative safety features on my products. The products got many accolades along the way for innovation and safety, and many other companies have taken a similar approach towards safer products.