solar energy and the fire service presentation

ImportantImportant

!

The Systems, Drawings And Pictures Depicted In This Presentation Are Used For Discussion Purposes Only. PV Systems And Their Components Vary In Design, And Appearance. It Is Imperative That Your Department Become Familiar With The Systems Installed In Your Community.

!

Coordination Between Your Fire Department And Your Municipalities' Building And Fire Code Officials Is Essential To Understanding &Identifying PV Systems Installed In Your Community!

Program Goals:Program Goals:To Provide Firefighters with an Awareness of Photovoltaic Systems so Informed Fire Ground Decisions can be Applied for Safe Fireground Operations

Program Topics:Program Topics:What is Solar Power?Why are People Using it?What is it Used For?Types of SystemsImpact on The Fire ServiceTarget Hazards in Your Jurisdiction

Currently…Currently…New Jersey Is Second Largest Solar Energy Market In The United States

SussexPassaic

Bergen

WarrenMorris

EssexHudson

Union

Hunterdon

Somerset

Middlesex

Mercer Monmouth

OceanBurlington

Camden

Atlantic

Gloucester

Salem

Cumberland

CapeMay

Note:Note: California with 4 times California with 4 times the population is the population is ranked #1ranked #1

NJ InstallationsNJ Installations

2001 = 6

2006 = 12+

2009 = 4000+

2011 =>9000

SussexPassaic

Bergen

WarrenMorris

EssexHudson

Union

Hunterdon

Somerset

Middlesex

Mercer Monmouth

OceanBurlington

Camden

Atlantic

Gloucester

Salem

Cumberland

CapeMay

SussexPassaic

Bergen

WarrenMorris

EssexHudson

Union

Hunterdon

Somerset

Middlesex

Mercer Monmouth

OceanBurlington

Camden

Atlantic

Gloucester

Salem

Cumberland

CapeMay

2011 - Over 9,000…

Why Does it Concern UsWhy Does it Concern Us

Equates to About 15 Per Municipality

They’re in Your Town!!!!They’re in Your Town!!!!

Why Does it Concern UsWhy Does it Concern Us

Renewable Energy SourcesRenewable Energy SourcesWHY

State Purchase Incentives (up to 25% of cost)State Sales Tax ExemptionFederal Tax CreditsLower or Non-Existent Energy Bills

Note: Utilities Required To Buy Back Excess Solar Energy

Importance to New JerseyImportance to New Jersey

4,709,000 Megawatt Hours Used In One Month Only 36 Megawatt Hours Were Generated By Solar Energy

In 2006

Importance to New JerseyImportance to New JerseyNew Jersey also Houses the Nation’s Highest-Capacity & Oldest Running Nuclear Power Plants

(Salem & Oyster Creek)

Light & Radiant Heat From the Sun that Influences Climate & WeatherNaturally Replenished - Renewable Energy SourceAlso Referred to as Solar Power Or Photovoltaic (PV) Solar: Electricity Generated From Solar Radiation

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Types of Solar PV SystemsTypes of Solar PV Systems

Power from the Solar System is Added to the Normal Home Power Supply Supplied by the Utility Company

Grid Interconnected

Types of Solar PV SystemsTypes of Solar PV SystemsSystem Components

Types of Solar PV SystemsTypes of Solar PV SystemsSystem Components

Roof Mounted Photovoltaic (PV) PanelsDC Energy ►AC Energy InverterSolar Junction BoxElectric Meter


Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup

System - Similar to Previous System with the Addition of a “Battery Bank” to Store Power Generated from Solar Panels


Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup

Off Grid SystemsOff Grid SystemsNot Tied to Any Utility Service or Power Lines Main Source of Power for Building Can Have Wind-Power, Water-Power & Back-Up Generators Factored in to Provide Energy at Night


Roof Mounted Solar Panels

Off Grid System ComponentsOff Grid System Components


Array DC Disconnect

Charge Controller: Prevents Overcharging

Battery Bank



System Meter: Bank Level, Panel Production, House Usage

Main DC Disconnect

DC Energy ►AC Energy Inverter



Rectifier- Changes AC Energy ► DC Energy To Be Stored In Battery Bank

Solar Junction Box

Generator Junction Box



Power Meter

How Solar PV Systems WorkHow Solar PV Systems WorkPanels Contain PV Cells Made of Semi-conductive Materials Such as SiliconThe Cells Form Layers/ “Wafers” & Contain a Positive Side & Negative Side

How Solar PV Systems WorkHow Solar PV Systems Work

Photovoltaic Panels Photo Means LightVoltaic Means Electricity

Also Commonly Referred to as PV Panels

How Solar PV Systems WorkHow Solar PV Systems WorkElectric Conductors Attached to Panel Sides Form Electric CircuitSunlight Energy Excites Electrons & Knock Them Loose Conductors Capture Energy Creating an Electrical Current

How Solar PV Systems WorksHow Solar PV Systems WorksDirect Current Electrical Energy is Produced

Power Is Combined in a “Combiner Box” Or “Combination Box” & Sent to Inverter

How Solar PV Systems WorksHow Solar PV Systems WorksInverter: Changes DC to AC

Information such as Power Level, Energy Production, & Fault Messages can Usually be Observed Here

How Solar PV Systems WorksHow Solar PV Systems WorksCombiner Box

How Solar PV Systems WorksHow Solar PV Systems Works


Combiner Box

Conduit to Inverter Note: Always Consider Note: Always Consider

This This HOTHOT


Alternating Current (AC) is Distributed to House Service Panel for Use. Excess Power is Transported Back Through the Utility Meter

MountingBolts

Solar Panel Mounting SystemsSolar Panel Mounting Systems

Grid Tracks

Solar Panel Mounting SystemsSolar Panel Mounting Systems

Flat Roof Mounting SystemsFlat Roof Mounting Systems

Weighted or Ballasted System

Flat Roof Mounting SystemsFlat Roof Mounting Systems

Bolted Through or Anchored System

Integrated Roof SystemsIntegrated Roof Systems

Virtually impossible to tell from the ground. This is why preplanning is so important.

Preplanning is EssentialPreplanning is Essential

Some Systems Unidentifiable from Street


Systems Differ


Disconnect Locations Vary

PV HazardsPV HazardsShock Hazards

Batteries

Roof Collapse

Trip hazards

Roof Ventilation

ShockShockPrimary Firefighter Danger

Maximum Voltage Of A Solar Panel System: 600 Volts (Low Voltage)

PV Hazards PV Hazards

Note: Nearly 300 workers die yearly from low voltage electrical incidents

ShockShock


Note: Unlike fire, which produces burns in a relatively predictable manner, electricity can strike unsuspecting victims — sometimes fatally!

Momentary Contact With Low DC Voltages May Produce:

Continuous ShockThermal Injury Ventricular Fibrillation

InhalationInhalation


Protect Yourselves – Use Your SCBA

BatteriesBatteries


Note: NEVER USE WATER to Extinguish lead-acid battery fires - Use CO2 or Dry Chemical

As a Rule, Batteries Burn with Great DifficultyBatteries Exposed to Fire Generate Extremely Corrosive Fumes & Gases

Roof CollapseRoof Collapse


PV Panel – 35 lbs

Modules & Racking Hardware – 4 lbs/ft2

Normal Dwelling - 40 Panels35# Each

1,400 PoundsTotal Added Dead Load to Roof System

Approx. Weights

Other HazardsOther Hazards


Trip Hazards

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards


PV “Wiring Harness” is CONSIDERED ALWAYS HOT

Roof Operations HazardsRoof Operations Hazards


During Daytime Firefighting Operations PV Panels Are Still Generating ElectricityDo Not Cut Into Or Walk Across PanelsDo Not Break Protective Glass

All Energy In Entire System Could Be Released At Break Point

Roof VentilationRoof Ventilation


Ventilate The Highest Point Over The Fire Without Cutting Through The PV Array (other side of the roof)

Flat Roofs With Complete PV CoverageHorizontal With Supplemental Hydraulic & Positive Pressure Ventilation

Firefighting OperationsFirefighting OperationsThe IC Must Notify Firefighters of the Presence of Solar Arrays

Firefighting OperationsFirefighting OperationsLock & Tag Out Array at

InverterDC DisconnectMain Electrical Panel

Firefighting OperationsFirefighting Operations

Use Class “C” Extinguishing Agents- CO2 Or Dry Chemical

PV Array Fire

CAUTION: SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED

Firefighting OperationsFirefighting OperationsRoof Fire

CAUTION: SYSTEM IS ENERGIZED

Use Water Fog Pattern on the PV Array

RememberRemember

Treat All Systemsas Energized

Regardless of Timeof Day

!

RememberRemember

!

You Cannot Effectively Block All The Sunlight With Salvage Covers, Foam, or Tarps During Day Time Operations and Declare The PV System “Safe”

RememberRemember

!Use of spotlights during an evening operation may be bright enough to generate electricity from the PV system

PV Technology AdvancementsPV Technology AdvancementsPV Integrated Shingles

SummarySummaryKnow Where Buildings With PV Systems Are Located In You District.

“Preplan” “Preplan” “Preplan”

Treat PV System Components As Always Energized

Adjust Your Firefighting Tactics Accordingly

Additional Information:www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Research/FFTacticsSolarPower.pdf

RememberRemember

!

The Systems, Drawings and Pictures depicted in this Presentation are used for discussion purposes only. PV Systems and their Components vary in design, and appearance. It is imperative that Your Department become familiar with the systems installed in your community.

!

Coordination between your Fire Department and your municipalities' Building and Fire Code Officials is Essential to identifying and understanding the PV Systems installed in your Community!

AcknowledgementsCorey J. Hullings …………………… Delran Fire Department

Suzanne Borek…………………Division of Codes and Standards

Richard Farletta ………………..Division of Fire Safety

Ken Kandrac ……………………Slackwood Fire Company

Jerry Lax ………………………..Advanced Solar Products

NJ Board of Public Utilities……Clean Energy Program

James McFadden………………Division of Fire Safety

solar energy and the fire service presentation

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