MSB Maps Fire Risks for Solar Panels
Swedish rescue services need to improve their ability to handle fires in buildings with solar panels. On September 4-5, a reference group from MSB (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) was on-site at Glava Energy Center to conduct a large number of rescue scenarios. These tests will serve as the foundation for a new national guide for Sweden’s rescue services.
MSB, which provides guidance to municipal rescue services on both preventive and operational matters, aims to develop a quality-based decision-making basis for the upcoming revised guidance "Rescue Operations in Incidents Involving Solar Power Systems."
The tests aim to ensure that the recommended methodology will enable rescue operations to be carried out safely and effectively. All tests conducted in Glava were documented and will later be turned into instructional videos for rescue services.
– There is a significant need for municipal rescue services to increase their knowledge on how to handle the electricity connected to solar panels. There are cases where rescue services have been too passive when dealing with burning buildings with solar panels, says Andreas Forsberg, officer for the Fire and Rescue Unit at MSB.
The tests included analyzing:
- Protective clothing’s ability to guard against electricity.
- The path of the current versus safe distances.
- The path of the current in a damaged system.
- Whether the rescue service’s work lighting can affect a solar system.
In many cases, rescue operations could take a more aggressive approach. The risk assessment that MSB has been guiding since 2019 is too defensive, according to Andreas.
The choice of Glava Energy Center as the test site was an obvious one. The facility offers access to 1000 volts for maximum power and voltage.
– Glava has everything we need to conduct the tests: a large solar park, the right equipment, and extensive knowledge, concludes Andreas Forsberg.
In the picture, solar technician Johan Linqvist is seen conducting one of the many tests.