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BRE establishes industry network to make solar PV systems safer

The PV Fire Intelligence Network (PV-FIN) will gather relevant evidence-based data on fires relating to solar PV (photovoltaic) systems
Leading industry organisations will contribute to the one-year project as part of a wider effort to make solar PV systems safer
Solar PV is critical for achieving the green transition, but available UK data regarding fire safety is limited and lacks sufficient detail

The Building Research Establishment(BRE) – the leading building science centre – has today announced the creation of the PV Fire Intelligence Network (PV-FIN) – a steering group of leading organisations to analyse the fire safety of solar PV (photovoltaic) systems. A group of solar PV and component manufacturers, fire experts, and solar safety solution providers will form the network, chaired by BRE.

The following organisations will contribute to the project: MCS Company, Fire Industry Association, CGM Group UK, Enphase Energy, IMO Precision Controls, PVStop, SolarEdge Technologies, ArcBox (division of Viridian Solar) and Solar Energy UK.

At present, there is a lack of evidence-based information on how often fires involve solar panel systems, which parts of the system may be responsible, or how these fires typically develop. The research will utilise reliable data sources and analyse them to identify the causes and frequency of solar PV fires. A lack of data has implications for customer reassurance on the safety of these systems and designing safer installations.

PV-FIN will work together to identify the specific causes and consequences of solar PV related fires and propose a selection of recommendations and solutions to reduce the risk of these in the future.

The network will focus on three main areas to inform its recommendations:

Collecting reliable data on PV fire incidents across residential, commercial, industrial, and utility installations in the UK.
Engaging stakeholders including fire and rescue services, manufacturers, installers, and researchers to fill current knowledge gaps.
Analysing trends to identify causes and patterns of solar PV fires in the UK.

Solar PV is a critical element of the UK’s green transition, increasing the need for up-to-date and reliable data on the fire risk of these systems to promote their take-up among homeowners, businesses and the public sector.

The group will deliver the project within a year, and all the associated data will be summarised into a publicly available paper detailing the findings and resulting recommendations.

Principal Consultant Raman Chagger at BRE said:

“Making solar PV systems safer is essential if we are to encourage their adoption and, ultimately, make the successful transition to clean energy.

“We do not know the extent to which fires occur within solar PV systems and how this could have a potential knock-on effect on UK solar deployment.

“With the collective expertise and data-led approach of the group, we will identify potential solutions to this challenge. These could involve updates to public and industry guidance, product improvements, or revised standards and codes, alongside areas for further research in the future.”

BRE is a world-leading, multi-disciplinary, building science centre with a mission to improve buildings and infrastructure, through cutting-edge research and knowledge generation. BRE maintains a range of products, services, standards and qualifications that are used around the world to bring about positive change in the built environment. Learn more at www.bregroup.com.