Fire at German home with photovoltaic roof tiles injures firefighter

What happened

A fire broke out at a single-family home in Gütersloh, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which has photovoltaic roof tiles integrated into its roof structure. When the first fire crews arrived, flames had already spread beneath the roof. According to the city's fire department, the solar tile roof significantly hampered firefighting, particularly access to concealed fire sources beneath the roof covering. Firefighters from high-angle rescue teams manually dismantled parts of the roofing to reach hidden hotspots and prevent re-ignition.

Operations were carried out under strict safety protocols because of the risk of falls and the live electrical current from the modules. During the operation a firefighter was accidentally given an electric shock by a photovoltaic module. Emergency medical staff treated the firefighter on site and took him to hospital for further evaluation. Initial information said the injuries were not life-threatening. The fire department reported that the operation was completed at about 8:00 p.m.

Contributing factors

Integrated PV roof tiles made roof ventilation and the removal of roof sections considerably more difficult, which slowed access to concealed fire sources. Photovoltaic modules can keep producing electricity in daylight or ambient light even during an emergency, creating a shock risk during roof-level work. The cause of the fire was not reported.

Lessons learned

1. Fire services should treat integrated PV roofs as live from the outset and plan for both shock and fall hazards, because modules can generate power in ambient light.
2. Installers and building owners should record the location of PV roof circuits and isolation points and make them known to responders.
3. Where a roof is integrated with PV, tactical ventilation and cutting plans should be prepared in advance, since conventional roof access methods may be compromised.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Source

pv magazine (pv-magazine.com)