Photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of a block in Bistrita caught fire – TimpOnline.ro

Photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of a building on Aleea Plopilor in Bistrita caught fire today at noon, but the fire was extinguished in time and the homes were not in danger.

When he saw what was happening, a man removed the tiles and used two fire extinguishers to put out the flames. The firemen asked him to step aside so that they could intervene with water, but the man continued to intervene for several minutes.

According to about-energie.ro, design errors, cracked components and faulty installation generally cause roof fires. These problems can cause arcing between conductors or at the foundation, as well as hot spots, which can ignite nearby flammable material. Inadequate insulation, improper electrical wiring, or poor quality components can also contribute to a fire.

In summary, the causes are:

1. improper installation (with unqualified or partially qualified personnel for these operations), incorrect installation, undersized cables and lack of grounding;
2. misuse of equipment or non-compliant equipment; the use of defective photovoltaic panels, which have been damaged either in the factory or during transport;
3. how to install electrical cables; poor connection of cables and components leads to electric arcs;
4. using electrical connectors from different manufacturerswhich have different tolerances and do not fit together perfectly;
5. poor quality of PV panels and associated components;
6. improper exploitation: lack of proper maintenance and checks.

How can fires be prevented at photovoltaic panels? Here are some measures:

1. Install solar panels only with authorized companies, so that the technical and safety requirements are respected. Correct installation is essential to ensure that the system is safe and efficient.
2. Periodic maintenance is required to ensure they are working properly and safely and includes: cleaning panels, checking wiring and components for any signs of damage or wear. A recently validated solution is the current sensor PV array test kit known as PVBuddy. Remote measuring means help to check any change in the intensity of the electric current in each panel, specific to potential fire hazards.
3. The use of quality components it is also important to ensure that your solar panel system is efficient. Cheap or low-quality components are more prone to failure and can increase the risk of fire.
4. Installation of a fire extinguishing system can help prevent fires from spreading and causing damage. These may include sprinklers, fire extinguishers or other systems. If, for example, sprinklers involve significant costs for the family budget, you can consider purchasing fire extinguishers or ceiling-mounted fire alarms, which have affordable prices.
5. Water penetration into the insulation structure, inverters etc. is a frequent cause of fires, water producing corrosion and, in certain cases, damaging the components of the installed photovoltaic system and therefore they must be constantly checked.