The PV Magazine has recently highlighted research from an international team of scientists, including contributions from Prof Grunde Jomaas, ERA Chair of the FRISSBE project and professor at FAMNIT, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia. The article, titled “What happens when fire hits PV systems deployed on sloped roofs,” delves into findings from the study “Experimental study of fire propagation on sloped roof with building applied photovoltaics,” published in the Journal of Physics.

This study, co-authored by Prof Jomaas, sheds light on critical aspects of fire propagation in photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on sloped roofs. Building on earlier research conducted by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the study places the ignition source beneath the PV modules to mimic a fire caused by an electrical fault within the installation. The results highlight how factors like the cavity distance between PV modules and roofing surfaces, as well as the energy released during ignition, significantly influence fire initiation and propagation.

The team’s experiments revealed that while robust construction isn’t always necessary to contain such fires, design elements like material choice, gap distance, and roof inclination are vital in determining fire behavior. The research also documented faster flame spread on sloped roofs compared to flat ones, driven by buoyant forces.

This collaboration between Reidar Stølen, Janne Siren Fjærestad, Ragni Fjellgaard Mikalsen and Prof Grunde Jomaas, from RISE Fire Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Trondheim, Norway, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) and FAMNIT, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia, underscores FRISSBE’s commitment to advancing fire safety in renewable energy systems. The full study, published in the Journal of Physics, offers insights for stakeholders seeking to enhance the fire resilience of PV installations.

To explore the article in PV Magazine, press HERE..