Saturday, 24 May 2025

Understanding fire safety risks in solar photovoltaic systems

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THIS week, I would like to share some important insights with Sarawakians on the topic of green energy and renewable energy.

In particular, I wish to elaborate on Photovoltaic (PV) technologies, popularly known as solar panels, which generate electricity from the power of sunlight.

While PV technology is an emerging and promising solution, it is crucial to also understand the associated fire hazards and risks.

I want to discuss lessons learned from PV-related fires, findings on PV fire safety, mitigation measures, and the best solutions to manage these challenges.

Many believe solar energy is a cheap source of electricity, and in the long run, it indeed offers significant savings.

However, ignorance regarding its dangers can be misleading and potentially hazardous.

To begin, a photovoltaic (PV) system is a type of renewable energy system that converts sunlight directly into direct current (DC) electricity.

Other types of renewable energy include hydro-power, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal, biomass, and ocean wave energy.

Malaysia, under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), is targeting to achieve 70 per cent renewable energy share of installed capacity by 2050, with solar PV installation being the predominant driver.

The move towards achieving Net Zero 2050 is ambitious but necessary.

Globally, the solar power industry had a record-breaking year in 2023, with a total of 447 gigawatts of new solar capacity installed, representing an astonishing 87 per cent increase from the previous year.

Notably, China installed 253 gigawatts of new capacity, accounting for 57 per cent of all solar additions worldwide, cementing its position as the undisputed leader in the solar revolution.

This remarkable development will inevitably influence the Malaysian market, including Sarawak.

While the future appears bright, Sarawakians must also take precautionary measures to understand the potential dangers, particularly the probability of fire incidents related to rooftop solar PV systems.

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When considering the volume of PV installations, the nature of combustible loads, and the various ignition sources associated with these systems, it becomes clear that the chance of serious fire incidents may be greater than commonly assumed.

Governments worldwide, supported by environmental activists, are championing the use of renewable energy to curb carbon emissions and mitigate climate change.

However, it is equally critical to examine fire hazards associated with these technologies.

Fire hazard, in the context of PV systems, refers to the potential within a system for harm. In solar PV installations, this relates to the possibility of harmful events occurring within occupied spaces.

A hazardous system is defined as one that possesses the potential for harm, and hazardous factors are elements within such a system.

It is important to understand that there is no such thing as “no risk” when it comes to fire hazards.

Fire risk relates to the chance or probability of, or the consequences resulting from, particular kinds of harm.

Thus, a clear understanding of risk mitigation strategies through fire safety is necessary.

Fire safety involves prevention, limiting the spread of fire and smoke, and extinguishment, as outlined by the NFPA (2011).

It covers aspects such as protection, prevention, control and extinguishment of fires.

The overarching objectives of total fire safety in buildings are life safety, property protection, environmental protection and business continuity.

In the context of solar PV systems, several factors can contribute to hazards.

These include fuel loads and ignition sources, smoke and heat generation, fire spread and most critically, incident management.

Statistics from 2023 show that structural fires caused by electrical issues account for 64.8 per cent of fire incidents, and with the number of PV installations increasing, the risk is becoming more pronounced.

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Fire incidents involving PV installations often hinder effective fire control and extinguishment efforts, resulting in significant losses.

Globally and within Malaysia, there have been multiple incidents of fires involving rooftop PV systems.

One major challenge is that fire safety requirements are not always specifically considered during the design of rooftop solar PV systems.

Many solar equipment suppliers and installers are not fully aware of fire safety requirements or the necessary devices.

Customers, particularly premises owners, are often unaware of rooftop solar fire safety considerations and may be reluctant to invest in additional safety features due to cost concerns.

Currently, the fire safety of solar PV systems is not incorporated into Malaysia’s building fire code.

However, Bomba Malaysia is introducing requirements for the installation of fire protection systems, operational strategies, and technologies to minimise potential hazards from PV systems.

Hazards to firefighters and civilians working with PV systems include electrical shock, slips and falls, roof collapses due to dead loads, arc faults, ground faults and combustion.

The design and installation of rooftop PV systems must consider static analysis based on the building structure, rooftop specifics, installation environment conditions, cable routing, cable connections, and the mounting substructures and modules.

Common defects contributing to PV fires include poorly crimped DC plugs, the use of connecting plugs from different manufacturers, corrosion due to weather exposure and plugs not being fully secured.

Other issues include different ageing rates, thermal expansion, micro-electrical arcing and damage from mismatched DC plugs.

An arc, caused by ionisation of the air when conductors are close and voltage breaks down the air gap, can occur due to improper installation, dust, corrosion and normal wear and tear.

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Therefore, periodic maintenance, inspection and timely replacement are crucial.

To reduce fire hazards in solar PV systems, we must adopt regulations and guidelines, choose appropriate materials and technologies, engage competent service providers, conduct training and build competency, implement continuous monitoring, carry out maintenance and enhance public awareness.

Local standards such as MS 2873:2018 on the installation of grid-connected PV systems and MS 2692:2020 on testing and commissioning, along with Bomba Malaysia’s guidelines for solar panel systems, are now available to help guide safe practices.

In conclusion, to ensure fire safety in solar panel installations, it is crucial to adhere to electrical codes, use high-quality certified components, implement fire breaks in fire-prone areas, install monitoring systems, engage qualified installers and educate users and communities on fire safety measures and emergency procedures.

We must act now to safeguard our homes, our environment and our neighbourhoods.

It is essential to remember the five characteristics of fire: it does not make appointments, does not come with courtesy, does not need an invitation, does not take holidays and does not select its victims.

We must remain vigilant and proactive in fire prevention.

Fire prevention is a choice, and the best path forward is to prioritise precaution, prevention and protection.

Let us all play our roles vigilantly and strive to become champions of total fire safety in our homes and communities.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at khirudin.drahman@bomba.gov.my.

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