How To Prevent Solar Panel Fires
Unfortunately, due to a lack of preventative measures and incorrect maintenance, solar panel fires have increased in 2023 by over six times than in previous years. But this is completely preventable.
Solar panel maintenance is required to check, clean, and remove any debris that your panels have collected. This restores them to their maximum energy output, as well as protecting your household from unexpected fires.
How Do Fires Start?
Pioneers in solar PV safety, such as Jim Foran, highlight how once solar panels are installed, they are often forgotten about by domestic households. This is due to them being out of sight and so out of mind. Thus, their maintenance can be overlooked.
Due to extreme weather or falling objects, the panels can become cracked. This then creates a hotspot that will form an energy arc. If left unchecked, this will lead to a fire in your home.
Fire Statistics
A direct result of the continuous incorrect panel maintenance are statistics from 2023. As stated, within the first 6 months of 2023, sixty-three domestic fires broke out in homes across the United Kingdom. This is a 60% increase from the last 10 years. These fires are preventable through the checks and maintenance required from your panels.
The National Fire Chiefs Council concern over the risk of unchecked solar panels, has led to urgent investigations and further efforts to ensure people are aware that panel maintenance should not be an option, but a mandatory step in safety.
With the increase of domestic solar panels, our society has stepped further into a green and renewable energy environment. This, of course, is hugely beneficial and aids the fight against climate change as well as decreasing carbon emissions. However, we must continue to remember the importance in the maintenance of these products to protect your household.
Where to go from Here:
The continued development of solar products and investment from the community to move into a more eco-friendly environment is of course a goal that must continue. However, the message of maintaining your equipment and how to do so should be advocated for the safety of your home.
This can be done by hiring a panel maintenance professional. You should not attempt to clean the panels by yourself. This is due to there being electrical dangers, potential panel damage, and harm to yourself from working from a height. Only trained professionals should undertake this role to ensure the safety of yourself.
Sunvolt is the perfect company to guide you further at this stage and can assist in keeping your panels and household safe.
Get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] or call us on 02921520010
