Good points all, Has anyone had an experience where you've seen new shingles and PV installed at the same time, where the shingles became prematurely brittle beneath the array, where you could say for sure it was PV's fault? I too have tried to keep an eye on that, but I never can pin it on PV, most are still retrofits, not lending any credible data. As long as the PV doesn't cause the fire, due to: - Ground-faulted or otherwise compromised wiring - Melted cheap-o junction boxes (lowest cost import products) - Improperly wired roof mounted combiners (reverse polarity) - Conduit/expansion fitting errors (like the TARGET fire) - The fact that they simply will be in the way if firefighters have to vent...
Are we saying there is evidence that the "PV shade structure" can increase the flammability of the roof product from combustion, due to proximity? Trapping a combustible level of heat beneath the array that can dry out and set fire to comp shingle? Hypothesis = 1 in a billion, necessary to look at, sure. Maybe 1 in a 1/2 billion for wood shake. Solutions I see then: -They can be stuck to the roof, no air gap no problem. Well, except no possibility of removal for firefighters. -Integrated into the roof, then maintenance and wiring is buried. -0-5" (or whatever), no go due to too close. -5" (or whatever) and higher, Ok, due to adequate airflow and lack of proximity. So now we're going to need PV compatible roof product ratings? PV has a great track record ratio of installs to related fires, and this is with a majority of installers NOT really knowing what their doing, me included. I hope we don't have to get more expensive as a result, let's make the roofers tell us which ones are not compatible, and then we can just tell them to stop installing it. PV is too important. :o) I have to believe that having a roof covered by PV, especially in CA, could also Help Prevent fires from falling embers from forest and field fires, the occasional PG&E GAS LINE EXPLOSION BLOWING UP WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS, etc. Most material science would indicate that shading of the roof, the overwhelming majority of the time, will extend roofing product lifespan, often significantly, and help keep the attic a bit cooler. Let's not let officials overdo it, as I get more frustrated and educated about this overly passive and tolerant society of ours, I'm beginning to believe a little collateral damage is completely acceptable. It obviously is for the big boys of energy, money, automobiles, policy, etc. *See BURNING THE FUTURE (Coal), GASLAND (Natural Gas), FLOW (For Love of Water), all the oil movies (oil), The Cove (Dolphins)... etc. We could probably have a roof fire per day, and still be doing better than these "A" for alternative holes, except we'd get blitzed by the bad guys. Thanks again for keeping watch guys. $.0001 P.S. WHERE IS OUR FEED-IN TARIFF?... oh what, the PPA's have it covered, oh yeah, they don't want one, great for us. Is anyone watch-dogging these PV finance guys? They're the ones that scare me the most, you know, the ones that get lost at the "T" for "truth-in-lending". Thanks for your relentless service to the industry that could save America, if only they would let us. Ryan J. LeBlanc NABCEPT Certified Solar PV Installer Cell: 707.591.1950 Direct: 707.536.9839 r...@naturalenergyworks.com http://www.NaturalEnergyWorks.com _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org