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Do Solar Panels Present An Increased Risk To Firemen?

They do according to Robert Shantz who is Fire Chief for North Dumfries, Ontario, Canada. Apparently, several hazards have been highlighted involving different sources of power including solar panels.

Are firemen at greater risk when attending a property that has solar panels fitted?
(image credit: Rennett Stowe)

Although they may well be a green, renewable energy source they can present a problem for firemen. One concern is that they are not always immediately visible to firemen when they arrive at the scene of a fire as they are sometimes located at the rear of a property’s roof.

Other potential problems for firemen attending the scene of a fire are toxic fumes from solar panels as well as the possibility of fire fighters being electrocuted. Furthermore, the solar panels, when installed, on the roof, are quite heavy and could speed up the time that it takes for a roof to collapse. There are sometimes big storage batteries at the property that could cause a problem.

Interestingly, because of the above, the council of North Dumfries has agreed a bylaw that will assist firemen in highlighting buildings that are fitted with alternative sources of energy. If a company is to install solar panels or any other type of alternative energy they must notify the fire department no later than 30 days before the installation is to take place at a property that doesn’t need a building permit.

In addition, a sticker system is to be introduced. In the case of a rural property, it will need to display a reflecting yellow sticker on the address sign located at the entrance to the drive. In the case of an urban property, such a sticker will be displayed at the property’s front entrance that can be seen on the residence’s street side.

The above is an interesting development and it remains to be seen if a similar system is introduced here in the United Kingdom.

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