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Added risks for firefighters because of solar panels?
Reader feels criticisms of rooftop solar panels are over-stated
Back on October 30, Brynna Leslie reported that Ontario firefighters were speaking out against solar panels, saying this new building trend in the province was making it more difficult to fight fires.
“Many of the newer homes are constructed with light-weight construction materials,” Kingsville fire chief Bob Kissner told CBC News. “They’re extremely strong but they don’t behave well in fire conditions. If we have solar panels, it adds weight to the roof. The most important thing is to make sure the structure is able to handle the weight.”Kissner and others have noted that solar panels can affect firefighters’ abilities to cut a vent in the roof in a fire situation and pose risk of electrocution.”
Ian Awe suggests the risks may be over-stated.
“It’s time for the Firefighter “heroes” to think of more than just themselves. Solar panels are the future. We need more encouragement and promotion of renewable green energy. We do not need the overpaid firefighters getting in the way. The electrical code has already made changes to create a disconnect means for the panels. The weight of the panels easily falls within roof design (most roofs are built for worst case snow loading). ‘Let’s go Solar… Let’s go’… (all together now!). A sprinkler a day keeps the fire department away.”
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I get what Ian is saying and in no way would discount his opinion. We have a solar system on an out building on our property. It is not attached to the house but to get power from the panels to the main power line it runs overhead. We do have a disconnect on the house. The challenge is even if you turn off the disconnect the panels still produce power and it goes until it stops at the disconnect. In other words as long as there is light we are producing power. Water and electricity don’t get along well with each other. So there is some risk to the firemen.