On June 13, 2024, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) hosted the PV Guideline Webinar, an event focused on fire safety for photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs. The webinar attracted 125 participants, highlighting the growing interest in this critical topic.

Prof Grunde Jomaas, the ERA Chair Holder and Head of FRISSBE, led the webinar. He was joined by Birgitte Messerschmidt, Head of Research at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Steven Plummer, Operations Chief Engineer at FM Global. Birgitte introduced the session, emphasizing the goal of discussing the newly published fire PV Fire Safety Guideline by ZAG and FRISSBE.

Prof Grunde Jomaas highlighted the increasing number of PV installations due to climate initiatives like REPowerEU and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). He stressed the need for a systematic approach to fire safety, addressing challenges in retrofitting existing buildings with PV systems and the importance of rigorous testing of assemblies, i.e., the combination of PV panels and roof materials.

The webinar also covered the practical challenges faced by firefighters when dealing with fires involving PV systems. Participants discussed the need for more detailed fire safety standards and data on fire incidents involving PV systems.

The session concluded with a Q&A, where participants sought clarification on various fire safety aspects for PV systems. Prof Grunde Jomaas thanked the audience for their participation and acknowledged the contributions of Birgitte Messerschmidt and Steven Plummer. The webinar recording is available on YouTube (LINK HERE). This webinar underscores FRISSBE's commitment to enhancing fire safety in renewable energy systems, thus promoting a safer, sustainable future.