8/3/2019 Safety Alert 64 Solar Panels (NSW PW)

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/safety-alert-64-solar-panels-nsw-pw 1/2

NSW PUBLIC WORKS

No. 64

Fire Initiated by Spark Generated from Solar Panels

BackgroundAn incident occurred on a project where a fire was initiated whilst installing asolar power photovoltaic (PV) system. The insulation on the solar panelcabling coiled in preparation for connection to inverters ignited due to an arcforming across the ends of the cables. The arcing was caused by a highopen-circuit DC voltage produced by a circuit or multiple circuits of solarpanels under full sun. The solar panels had been terminated using atemporary arrangement which proved to be unsafe.

The fire continued to re-ignite even when treated with fire extinguishers untilthe electrician safely isolated the solar panels from the arc by temporarilydisconnecting the ends. This temporary disconnection was effected by safelycutting the cables and terminating them, using appropriately rated connectors.

The pictures below shows the extent of the damage

Inverter tower damaged by the fire which occurred beneath the platform

8/3/2019 Safety Alert 64 Solar Panels (NSW PW)

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/safety-alert-64-solar-panels-nsw-pw 2/2

NSW PUBLIC WORKS

DC cables where the fire and arc originated

Current Situation

There is significant uptake in solar power PV systems on State and LocalGovernment building sites, particularly in schools. When installed correctly,solar power PV systems will operate safely for in excess of 30-40 years. Fewelectricians have experience in working with high DC voltages produced bysolar panel circuits, therefore the Federal Government requires all solar powerPV systems to be designed and installed by Clean Energy Council accredited

personnel in order to be eligible for financial incentives.

Risk ControlsOn projects where the installation of a solar power PV system is to be carriedout, NSW Public Works should remind principal contractors that there is a realrisk of fire or electrocution being caused when DC cables are leftunterminated in open circuit.

Controls put in place as a result of the incident include

1. All solar panel DC cabling work should be carried out by Clean Energy

Council accredited installers.2. All DC cabling should be run “dead” i.e. not connected to solar panels

until the ends of cables are safely terminated in appropriately rated DCfuse boxes, isolators or circuit breakers.

Note: Accredited installers can be found through the Clean Energy Councilwebsite www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au 

Any questions please contact your Project Safety Advisor or Wayne MamoPM OHS on 9372 8863 or Paul Bradley Senior PM (IR/OHS) on 9372 8868

Wayne MamoProject Manager (OHS) 22.11.10