Drake, As far I know you are correct. There have not been any firefighter deaths due to solar.
However, a fire chief in New Jersey did suggest that he let a warehouse burn down due to the presence of a PV system on the roof: http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/23313172/multiple-alarm-fire http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/09/why-firefighters-are-scared-solar-power/6854/ That suggests to me that while there is no crisis today, there is certainly the potential for one down the road. Imagine the insurance industry's response if fire fighters make a habit of not responding to structural fires due to the presence of PV systems. Fire fighters want touch-safe PV modules. And they have a reasonable complaint. They can safely shut down any electrical system in a building—except for PV systems. SEIA and SEPA are the solar industry lobby. Please do engage and support them. SEIA even has a political action committee, the SolarPAC. Part of the way that I try to stay on top of evolving Code issues is by attending SEIA- and SEPA-sponsored events. Also, over the past 4 or 5 years, the Solar America Board of Codes and Standards has scheduled annual meetings that coincide with Intersolar. Those are very informative sessions. I think the sessions are even archived online at solarancs.org. David Brearley Senior Technical Editor, SolarPro magazine NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional david.brear...@solarprofessional.com Direct: 541.261.6545 On Jan 22, 2014, at 8:18 PM, re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org wrote: > > From: Drake <drake.chamber...@redwoodalliance.org> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown > Date: January 22, 2014 2:16:18 PM CST > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Reply-To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > > > David, > > My sincere thanks to all of you who worked to keep the module level > disconnect requirement out of the 2014 code cycle. That ruling would have > amounted to a knockout punch for string and central inverters on buildings. > > What was the driving force behind this push for immediate module level > disconnection? There has clearly not been a rash of firefighter deaths due to > PV systems. Although PV needs to continue evolving safety standards that take > into account the concerns of firefighters, there is no crisis that would > justify thwarting one of the few growing sectors of our economy. > > The PV track record has been amazingly good. So far, I've found no accounts > of solar related firefighter deaths or injuries. The NFPA statistics show > that the highest cause of firefighter death is heart attack. > http://www.nfpa.org/newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/2013/july-august-2013/features/firefighter-fatalities-in-the-united-states-2012 > > > This push for crippling regulation bears the earmark of ALEC’s extensive and > effective war on solar. As you can read in the following links, the massively > funded, Koch brothers-linked ALEC is lobbying heavily, on every level, to > derail solar. All who are associated with the solar industry need to be aware > of this powerful lobbying campaign. > > http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy > > > http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/alec_freeriders_with_solar_panels_must_pay_for_robbing_the_system/ > > > http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2014/01/alec-gain-an-inside-track-on-colorado-solar-2490132.html > > > Is there any way that the solar community can be alerted when threats to our > industry are being put before the NEC? Although few contractors have the time > or money to walk away from their businesses and attend code writing > committees, a substantial number might have the time to make phone calls and > send letters or emails to code writers. > > The solar industry needs a strong lobby of its own. > > Drake >
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