Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
"It's an emerging challenge," Willette said. "We're seeing more of these panels installed in places that we have not seen them before."
Among the risks are shocks from panel wires that might be sliced when firefighters cut into a roof. Those wires also could come into contact with metal roofing material, causing injuries far from the roof cut, according to studies conducted by Underwriters Laboratories.
Those experiments, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, have shown that the light emitted by fire equipment can generate enough electricity in the panels that a firefighter who inadvertently touches an energized wire might not be able to let go, a phenomenon known as "lock on."
Unable to access roofs, firefighters sometimes switch goals - from actively trying to save a building to preventing flames from spreading to neighboring properties - a practice known as defensive firefighting, said Bert Davis, an engineer who performs forensic examinations at fires and studied solar markets at Carnegie Mellon University.
"I've talked to a lot of guys, and they're saying, 'We've never run into it, but if we do, we're going to fight it defensively,'" Davis said.
Solar panels are DC, so when you are electrocuted by Direct Current, it causes your hand to close, and holds it closed. The energy is also constant so it burns you faster, it does not send out a peek charge that sends you flying.
Now that's something I never thought of, the additional weight on the roof is probably another concern becsue there would be more potential for collapse.
I know they take into consideration these things for fire places, I wonder if these home owners can expect their fire insurance to go up. Certainly no reason others should be paying for it.
There was a grease fire in a house near here, they have solar panels and fire fighters didn't let their house burn...
I would like to see something where fire fighters let a residential home burn down because it had solar panels.
What it says at the end is that there is no procedures and training required, so local agencies are left to decide. Those that have the training can deal with it just fine. The article seems to say less that the panels are to blame, but that leadership is being slackers in training their people to deal with the new technology.
I was a volunteer firefighter for 12 years, ran into a similar problem with electric and hybrid cars. Normally, procedure for extraction of someone injured in a car accident where the jaws of life are used, the first thing is to disconnect the battery to prevent any air bags that haven't deployed from going off and creating further injury, and to prevent shocks to firefighters. and to prevent sparks from igniting spilled fuel.
The new hybrids and electrics have their battery packs usually in the rear of the vehicle. with heavy power cables running under the passenger compartment. It can be very difficult to access, and even if you do, the amperage carried in those cables can be fatal if not cut right.
While we could train firefighters to handle these problems, it increased the time necessary to stabilize the car and safely extract the victim.
New tech like solar panels have their uses, but they do pose new dangers to emergency rescue personnel and in the case of a house fire, may mean the house will burn instead of being saved simply because the firefighters may not be able to access the fire to put it out.
It isn't a matter of training, or leadership, it is a matter of not making more casualties when trying to save lives first, structures and property second.
Something to think about when you decide to put up a solar array. Maybe it would be wiser to put them on the garage instead of the house perhaps
As far as my knowledge is concerned I think the related Solar Panel Roofs have all the assetful significances along with this. But the same can be considered as the firefighters is something one have to be careful to be known. I think this information is required and will be very informative for the various individuals as well.
Imagine the cost of re-shingling a roof covered with solar panels!
If you don't have a new roof when the panels are installed you are in for a big surprise when your roof begins to leak and needs new shingles and plywood panels.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Re: Warning about Solar Panel Roofs
