Solar Panel Safety

[FTR]

After doing some more research, I have these two questions:

1) What is the fire risk of solar panels? I have read about some fires that supposedly started in solar panels. Is there truly a fire risk, or is the risk similar to any type of electrical work you have done (if it's not done properly, it's dangerous)?

2) Do solar panels attract lighting to your roof? And if they do, do they act like a lighting rod, to attract it and then take it safely to ground without setting your house on fire?

[SunEagle]

After doing some more research, I have these two questions:

1) What is the fire risk of solar panels? I have read about some fires that supposedly started in solar panels. Is there truly a fire risk, or is the risk similar to any type of electrical work you have done (if it's not done properly, it's dangerous)?

2) Do solar panels attract lighting to your roof? And if they do, do they act like a lighting rod, to attract it and then take it safely to ground without setting your house on fire?

Solar panels are not really a fire risk. There is always a chance of a short circuit if the installer does a poor job wiring the panels or combiner box. Not properly torquing the wire terminations could cause an over heating issue. But fire issues would be due to the electrical wiring work and not because there are solar panels.

Lighting will hit just about anything. I don't believe solar panels increase the chance of a lightning strike. Any metal object installed on a roof can attract lightning like a weather vane, old TV antenna or lightning rod but IMO solar panels being mounted flush to the roof will not necessarily increase the chance of a strike. The best you can do to reduce damage is to have the proper size equipment ground wire installed across all of the panel frames and racking.

[diogenes]

I have read that roof installed solar panels can prevent firemen from chopping a hole in your roof to vent the fire. thus increasing the probability of a fire destroying your house.

If this is a concern, have you considered a ground mount?

[FTR]

I have read that roof installed solar panels can prevent firemen from chopping a hole in your roof to vent the fire. thus increasing the probability of a fire destroying your house.

If this is a concern, have you considered a ground mount?

I'd love a ground mount but here in the NYC area, there isn't enough land for that.

[FTR]

Solar panels are not really a fire risk. There is always a chance of a short circuit if the installer does a poor job wiring the panels or combiner box. Not properly torquing the wire terminations could cause an over heating issue. But fire issues would be due to the electrical wiring work and not because there are solar panels.

Lighting will hit just about anything. I don't believe solar panels increase the chance of a lightning strike. Any metal object installed on a roof can attract lightning like a weather vane, old TV antenna or lightning rod but IMO solar panels being mounted flush to the roof will not necessarily increase the chance of a strike. The best you can do to reduce damage is to have the proper size equipment ground wire installed across all of the panel frames and racking.

Thanks. So nothing inherently problematic with solar. Like everything else, the key is making sure it's done right.

[SunEagle]

Thanks. So nothing inherently problematic with solar. Like everything else, the key is making sure it's done right.

A proper installation that meets all local, city and national building & electrical codes will be much safer then IMO some of the DIY installations.

[SolarFamilyGuy]

After doing some more research, I have these two questions:

1) What is the fire risk of solar panels? I have read about some fires that supposedly started in solar panels. Is there truly a fire risk, or is the risk similar to any type of electrical work you have done (if it's not done properly, it's dangerous)?

2) Do solar panels attract lighting to your roof? And if they do, do they act like a lighting rod, to attract it and then take it safely to ground without setting your house on fire?

My grandpa had a HUGE 10ft tall, 10ft wide antenna on his roof for over 40 years and it was never struck by lighting. Could it have been hit, sure. This thing was HUGE!

[SunEagle]

My grandpa had a HUGE 10ft tall, 10ft wide antenna on his roof for over 40 years and it was never struck by lighting. Could it have been hit, sure. This thing was HUGE!

Like I said. Lightning will decide when and where to strike for just about any reason. You can do everything possible to prevent it or nothing. Sort of do what you want but take your chances.

Although lifting that #7 iron over your head on a golf course during a storm would not be smart.

[SolarFamilyGuy]

I have read that roof installed solar panels can prevent firemen from chopping a hole in your roof to vent the fire. thus increasing the probability of a fire destroying your house.

If this is a concern, have you considered a ground mount?

If your house has built-in vents along the ridge like most new construction is required to add, then the vents act as the smoke exhaust vent if your house catches fire. Meaning the fire department does not have to cut a hole into your roof. In Washington State solar panels have to be 3ft from the ridge of a home unless there are vents installed. If vents are installed into a roof, the panels can be installed right up to the ridge line.

[azdave]

I have read that roof installed solar panels can prevent firemen from chopping a hole in your roof to vent the fire. thus increasing the probability of a fire destroying your house.

Some fire departments are re-thinking routinely venting residental fires. Fireman are falling through the roof too often and why risk death or severe injury if just to save a little bigger portion of a home that can be replaced? That doesn't mean the local setback codes are going to change anytime soon of course. I like the setback on mine so I can easily walk around my roof for inpections and repairs if nothing else.