Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumRooftop solar panels become new enemy of U.S. firefighters
Putrid air hung over a luncheon meats warehouse long after a blaze consumed the building where frustrated firefighters met their enemy: rooftop solar panels.
Loved by the green movement, solar panels pose a growing threat to firefighters, who may suffer electrical shocks from panels that typically cannot be turned off, said John Drengenberg, consumer safety director for Underwriters Laboratories.
Even when systems are equipped with shutoffs, any light can keep panels and their wires energized, Drengenberg said.
http://news.yahoo.com/rooftop-solar-panels-become-enemy-u-firefighters-163755348.html
Something I had never considered. Alarmist article or a genuine concern?
Cleita
(75,480 posts)New technology has always turned up unexpected and sometimes unwanted results, but if this is a new problem, isn't it time to go back to the drawing board and invent a solution?
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Standarize codes, new firefighting techniques. Is there something that could be incorporated into new solar panels that would alleviate some issues?
Little Star
(17,055 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Big Energy is launching an all-out war (with big bucks) against decentralized solar power because it's doing so well. Their market share and those all-important profit margins are at risk.
There may or may not be a legitimate concern here. I find it very odd, however, there hasn't been a single whisper about it before now, when Big Energy declares war on the solar movement.
And don't you think this concern is something that would already have been taken into consideration by solar design engineers before going commercial?
I'm looking forward to solar people responding to this. Betcha it's a distortion of major proportions.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)It's just another feeble attempt to dissuade people from supporting solar energy.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)When you think about all the fires that occur because of improperly grounded utility wires (And when I lived in Marin County, the news article would blame the squirrel or the crow that helped to short out the improperly grounded wires, rather than the utility) I would think this is a bit alarmist.
I am sure that since the solar solution is still in its infancy, some work around will be found. it is not hard to invent what is needed once an industry discovers a problem.
The Industry Big Whigs for conventional and centralized utilities are totally scared by solar. I was just reading on DailyKos about a guy in Sacramento who owns a 20 unit apartment complex, with rooftop panels and the utility bill for the entire complex is $ 6.00 a month.
Follow the money, like they say.
tinrobot
(10,848 posts)The hinge has an electrical disconnect built in. Flipping up the panel disconnects it safely and allows access to the roof surface.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Well done!
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)is shining. There isn't going to be a technical solution to that.
shraby
(21,946 posts)firefighters to walk on the roof? Don't know how they would be stored so they can do the job.
hunter
(38,263 posts)And people keep gasoline and other flammable solvents in their garages!!!
And shit, what if the water heater falls over and the gas line breaks!!!
This is bullshit.
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)Yes, I agree this doesn't seem that immense a deal. It is probably a new thing for firefighters to adjust to.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)New systems have disconnects, clearly marked, and firefighters should by now all have been trained in how to approach these installations.
And, building codes should all have been updated.
Where they haven't, they'll need to be.