Important The Systems Drawings And Pictures Depicted In

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. !

Coordination Between Your Fire Department And Your Municipalities' Building And Fire Code Officials Is Essential To Understanding &Identifying PV Systems Installed In Your Community! !

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

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

Currently… New Jersey Is Second Largest Solar Energy Market In The United States Note: California with 4 times the population is ranked #1

NJ Installations 2001 =6 2006 = 12+ 2009 = 4000+ 2011 =>9000

Why Does it Concern Us 2011 - Over 9, 000… Equates to About 15 Per Municipality

They’re in Your Town!!!! Why Does it Concern Us

They’re in Your Town!!!! Why Does it Concern Us

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

Importance to New Jersey In 2006 4, 709, 000 Megawatt Hours Used In One Month Only 36 Megawatt Hours Were Generated By Solar Energy

Importance to New Jersey also Houses the Nation’s Highest-Capacity & Oldest Running Nuclear Power Plants (Salem & Oyster Creek)

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

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

Types of Solar PV Systems System Components

Types of Solar PV Systems System Components Roof Mounted Photovoltaic (PV) Panels DC Energy ►AC Energy Inverter Solar Junction Box Electric Meter

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

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

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

Off Grid System Components Roof Mounted Solar Panels Array DC Disconnect Charge Controller: Prevents Overcharging Types of Solar PV Systems

Off Grid System Components Battery Bank System Meter: Bank Level, Panel Production, House Usage Main DC Disconnect Types of Solar PV Systems

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

Off Grid System Components Generator Junction Box Power Meter Types of Solar PV Systems

How Solar PV Systems Work Panels Contain PV Cells Made of Semiconductive Materials Such as Silicon The Cells Form Layers/ “Wafers” & Contain a Positive Side & Negative Side

How Solar PV Systems Work Photovoltaic Panels Photo Means Light Voltaic Means Electricity Also Commonly Referred to as PV Panels

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

How Solar PV Systems Works Direct Current Electrical Energy is Produced Power Is Combined in a “Combiner Box” Or “Combination Box” & Sent to Inverter

How Solar PV Systems Works Inverter: Changes DC to AC Information such as Power Level, Energy Production, & Fault Messages can Usually be Observed Here

Combiner Box How Solar PV Systems Works

Combiner Box Conduit to Inverter Note: Always Consider This HOT How Solar PV Systems Works

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

Solar Panel Mounting Systems Mounting Bolts

Solar Panel Mounting Systems Grid Tracks

Flat Roof Mounting Systems Weighted or Ballasted System

Flat Roof Mounting Systems Bolted Through or Anchored System

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

Preplanning is Essential Some Systems Unidentifiable from Street

Preplanning is Essential Systems Differ

Preplanning is Essential Disconnect Locations Vary

PV Hazards Shock Hazards Batteries Roof Collapse Trip hazards Roof Ventilation

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

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

Inhalation Protect Yourselves – Use Your SCBA PV Hazards

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 CO 2 or Dry Chemical PV Hazards

Roof Collapse Approx. Weights PV Panel – 35 lbs Modules & Racking Hardware – 4 lbs/ft 2 Normal Dwelling - 40 Panels 35# Each 1, 400 Pounds Total Added Dead Load to Roof System PV Hazards

Other Hazards Trip Hazards PV Hazards

Electrical Hazards PV “Wiring Harness” is CONSIDERED ALWAYS HOT PV Hazards

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

Roof Ventilation Ventilate The Highest Point Over The Fire Without Cutting Through The PV Array (other side of the roof) Flat Roofs With Complete PV Coverage Horizontal With Supplemental Hydraulic & Positive Pressure Ventilation PV Hazards

Firefighting Operations The IC Must Notify Firefighters of the Presence of Solar Arrays

Firefighting Operations Lock & Tag Out Array at Inverter DC Disconnect Main Electrical Panel

Firefighting Operations PV Array Fire Use Class “C” Extinguishing Agents. CO 2 Or Dry Chemical CAUTION: SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED

Firefighting Operations Roof Fire Use Water Fog Pattern on the PV Array CAUTION: SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED

Remember ! Treat All Systems as Energized Regardless of Time of Day

Remember You Cannot Effectively Block All The Sunlight With Salvage Covers, Foam, or Tarps During Day Time Operations and Declare The PV System “Safe” !

Remember Use of spotlights during an evening operation may be bright enough to generate electricity from the PV system !

PV Technology Advancements PV Integrated Shingles

Summary Know Where Buildings With PV Systems Are Located In You District. “Preplan” Treat PV System Components As Always Energized Adjust Your Firefighting Tactics Accordingly Additional Information: www. nfpa. org/assets/files/PDF/Research/FFTactics. Solar. Power. pdf

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. !

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! !

Acknowledgements Corey J. Hullings ………… Delran Fire Department Suzanne Borek…………………Division of Codes and Standards Richard Farletta ………………. . Division of Fire Safety Ken Kandrac …………Slackwood Fire Company Jerry Lax ……………. . Advanced Solar Products NJ Board of Public Utilities……Clean Energy Program James Mc. Fadden………………Division of Fire Safety