Class A Fire Rated Solar Panels

In the article the author states that racking systems from solardock and solar panels.

Class a fire rated solar panels.

Where is a class a fire rating required. Class a or b is required for areas such as wildland urban interface areas wui and very high fire severity areas. The pv system consists of the racking system and the pv solar panels module as an assembly. Are to be performed for the fire resistance qualification of pv modules in the roof area.

I understand that there has been a change in the requirements for california regarding the fire ratings pv panels modules are required to be minimum class b fire rated. 19 2014 that we believe are inaccurate. The pv modules are rated in classes a b or c whereby class c comprises the minimum requirements. This is what some authorities having jurisdiction ahj have done.

Class a fire rating background all roofing products are tested and classified for their ability to resist fire. Fire class rating of pv systems. Several people involved in the creation of the new fire regulations respond to this article. In particular these tests were initiated in response to questions from stakeholders about the language in the ul guide card that stated that pv modules.

Solar abcs research investigates whether and how the presence of stand off mounted pv arrays may affect the fire class rating of common roof covering materials. Recently these fire resistance standards were expanded to include solar equipment as part of the roof system. Specifically this requires the modules mounting hardware and roof covering to be tested together as. Is it true that solar panels must have a fire rating that is equal to what is required of the roofing material.

Ul 1703 fire classification requirements. I ve heard that several ahjs are now going in this direction. In the absence of a fire rating for pv systems it may seem appropriate to use the fire rating of the pv modules in order to ensure the desired result of retaining the roof assembly s original fire classification. The general requirement for roofing systems in the ibc refers to a class c fire rating.

Required tests for system fire class rating of pv module or panel with mounting system in combination with roof coverings table 31 2 test tests over representative roof coverings class aclass bclass c spread of flame on top surface of module or panel section 31 1 2 a flame spread less than. On november 25 2014 the california state fire marshal issued information bulletin 14 011 which states where class a or class b roofing is required the photovoltaic solar system photovoltaic panels with the rack support system shall have a class a or class b rating respectively. In laboratory based fire tests of roof assemblies 1 2 the maximum allowable fire spread is between approximately 20 and 40 ft 2 1 9 and 3 7 m 2 depending on whether an a b or c rating is desired.