Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and Solar Safety
In this report, fire hazards associated with lead acid batteries are identified both from a review of incidents involving them and from available fire test information.
As PV deployments have become commonplace around the world, codes and standards bodies have worked with the fire services and the PV industry to develop guidelines to address the potential hazards to firefighters working near energized PV systems.
Although rare, there have been fire incidents involving PV systems in countries such as the United States, Germany, and Japan. In cases where a PV system was not the source of the fire, the PV system may still have had an impact by limiting firefighter access in operations.
As main activities to improve firefighters' safety, the German guidelines explain the importance of recognizing PV systems, installation methods of DC wires to lower electric shock risks for firefighters, and a specific firefighting operation flow for fires involving PV systems.
The relative simplicity of PV systems makes hazards easier to predict and avoid. New technologies need to be demonstrated to be effective under the conditions in which the PV system is improperly installed or damaged. The damage that makes a PV array potentially hazardous to a firefighter might also render any new technologies inoperative.
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