Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings must comply with both electrotechnical standards for module safety and local building codes, which typically do not address their electrical nature. This regulatory gap creates challenges in assessing the fire performance of PV systems. This paper present...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Fire |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/3/105 |
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| author | Olaia Aurrekoetxea-Arratibel Nerea Otano-Aramendi Daniel Valencia-Caballero Iñigo Vidaurrazaga Xabat Oregi Xabier Olano-Azkune |
| author_facet | Olaia Aurrekoetxea-Arratibel Nerea Otano-Aramendi Daniel Valencia-Caballero Iñigo Vidaurrazaga Xabat Oregi Xabier Olano-Azkune |
| author_sort | Olaia Aurrekoetxea-Arratibel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings must comply with both electrotechnical standards for module safety and local building codes, which typically do not address their electrical nature. This regulatory gap creates challenges in assessing the fire performance of PV systems. This paper presents a procedure to adapt a common test method used in some building codes to assess external fire conditions for roofs, while maintaining operative PV modules. Two configurations were tested: an organic PV thin film on a metallic sandwich panel and a glass–glass-encapsulated organic PV module. The tests were conducted under high voltage and current conditions to simulate the systems’ behavior within a larger PV array. Significant electric arcs were observed during testing of the metallic sandwich panel configuration without glass protection when subjected to high voltages or currents. In these cases, total heat release increased by at least 30% compared to non-electrically loaded scenarios or glass-insulated PV modules, likely due to a greater damaged surface area. Electric arcs created new ignition sources, damaging whole PV modules, whereas in the case with no electrical load, propagation flames advanced toward both the upper edge and the corners of the sample, ultimately damaging the entire triangular area above the fire source. The results indicate that the electrical characteristics of PV systems can significantly impact external fire spread behavior. The study identifies challenges in maintaining system activity during testing and simulating real scenarios and proposes for future research directions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-507b65290e894a8c8d8c160c8e78d44d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-6255 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fire |
| spelling | doaj-art-507b65290e894a8c8d8c160c8e78d44d2025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552025-03-018310510.3390/fire8030105Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof SystemOlaia Aurrekoetxea-Arratibel0Nerea Otano-Aramendi1Daniel Valencia-Caballero2Iñigo Vidaurrazaga3Xabat Oregi4Xabier Olano-Azkune5TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20730 Azpeitia, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20730 Azpeitia, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20730 Azpeitia, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20730 Azpeitia, SpainDepartment of Architecture, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Oñati, 2, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20730 Azpeitia, SpainSolar photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings must comply with both electrotechnical standards for module safety and local building codes, which typically do not address their electrical nature. This regulatory gap creates challenges in assessing the fire performance of PV systems. This paper presents a procedure to adapt a common test method used in some building codes to assess external fire conditions for roofs, while maintaining operative PV modules. Two configurations were tested: an organic PV thin film on a metallic sandwich panel and a glass–glass-encapsulated organic PV module. The tests were conducted under high voltage and current conditions to simulate the systems’ behavior within a larger PV array. Significant electric arcs were observed during testing of the metallic sandwich panel configuration without glass protection when subjected to high voltages or currents. In these cases, total heat release increased by at least 30% compared to non-electrically loaded scenarios or glass-insulated PV modules, likely due to a greater damaged surface area. Electric arcs created new ignition sources, damaging whole PV modules, whereas in the case with no electrical load, propagation flames advanced toward both the upper edge and the corners of the sample, ultimately damaging the entire triangular area above the fire source. The results indicate that the electrical characteristics of PV systems can significantly impact external fire spread behavior. The study identifies challenges in maintaining system activity during testing and simulating real scenarios and proposes for future research directions.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/3/105building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs)fire safetytotal heat release (THR)standards and regulationsCEN/TS 1187 test method 1B<sub>ROOF</sub> (t1) |
| spellingShingle | Olaia Aurrekoetxea-Arratibel Nerea Otano-Aramendi Daniel Valencia-Caballero Iñigo Vidaurrazaga Xabat Oregi Xabier Olano-Azkune Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System Fire building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) fire safety total heat release (THR) standards and regulations CEN/TS 1187 test method 1 B<sub>ROOF</sub> (t1) |
| title | Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System |
| title_full | Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System |
| title_fullStr | Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System |
| title_short | Flame Spread on an Active Photovoltaic–Roof System |
| title_sort | flame spread on an active photovoltaic roof system |
| topic | building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) fire safety total heat release (THR) standards and regulations CEN/TS 1187 test method 1 B<sub>ROOF</sub> (t1) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/3/105 |
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