The document discusses fire safety requirements for small solar photovoltaic systems in California. It summarizes the California Solar Permitting Guidebook, which provides fire safety provisions and clarification to help streamline the permitting process. It also discusses the Office of the State Fire Marshal's PV Guidelines and how fire safety provisions were incorporated into the 2013 California Building and Fire Codes. Resources on fire safety for solar PV systems are provided, including training programs for firefighters and research reports.

1. Improving Permit
Review and Approval
for Small Solar
Photovoltaic (PV)
Systems
Fire Safety
Requirements
November 1, 2012
Presented by:
Stuart Tom, ICC/LABC
Kevin Reinertson, OSFM
Ron LaPlante, DSA

4. Fire Safety – Small Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Objective
To provide building and fire officials with
an awareness of fire safety provisions for
photovoltaic systems, so that informed
decisions to mitigate potential hazards are
made to ensure operational safety during
an emergency, reduce fire hazards and
minimize economic impacts.


6. Fire Safety – California Solar
Permitting Guidebook


The California Solar Permitting Guidebook was
designed to help local governments and their
permitting agencies improve permitting of small
solar PV systems.. It is also designed to help
building owners and solar installers navigate
permitting as efficiently as possible.
The guideline includes current fire safety
provisions and provides clarification of certain
fire safety provisions not specifically addressed
in the California Building Standards Code.

7. Fire Safety – California Solar
Permitting Guidebook
Provisions
Fire Classification Requirements
Fire Service Approval
Solar PV panels used as roofing on an
independent (stand-alone) structure
Solar PV panels installed as a part of a
building’s roof structure
Solar PV systems installed on grade
Area, height, and story limitations


8. Fire Safety – California Solar
Permitting Guidebook
Provisions (continued)
Location from property line and adjacent
buildings
Fire proofing of structural support
Rooftop structures
Fire sprinklers
Signage/marking
Other fire safety requirements or guidelines


9. Fire Safety – California Solar
Permitting Guidebook
Provisions (continued)
Coordination between the Building
Department and the Fire Authority
Example MOU (memorandum of
understanding) a template agreement
between two local agencies to coordinate
permit review approval and inspection
between a local building department and a
local fire service


11. Fire Safety – Office of the State
Fire Marshal’s PV Guideline


The SFM guideline was developed with fire safety
as the principal objective. The solar photovoltaic
industry had been presented with certain
limitations in roof installations due to firefighting
suppression techniques.
The intent of the guideline is to provide the solar
photovoltaic industry with information that will
aid in the designing, building, and installation of
solar photovoltaic systems in a manner that
should meet the objectives of both the solar
photovoltaic industry and the Fire Service.

12. Fire Safety – Office of the State
Fire Marshal’s PV Guidelines
Provisions
Published final draft April 2008
Adoption of this guideline is optional
Guideline does not apply unless specifically
adopted by local ordinance by a local
enforcing agency


13. Fire Safety – Office of the State
Fire Marshal’s PV Guidelines
Provisions (continued)





Marking/Signage
Access, Pathways And Smoke Ventilation
Location Of Direct Current Conductors
Non-Habitable Buildings
Ground Mounted Photovoltaic Arrays

15. 2013 California Building, Fire
and Residential Code and PV


2013 California Building, Residential and
Fire Code (Based on the 2012 Edition
International Building, Residential and Fire
Code (IBC, IRC, IFC))
2012 IFC Section 605.11 developed and
proposed by the Office of the State Fire
Marshal and the National Association of
State Fire Marshal’s derived from the SFM
PV Guidelines

16. 2013 California Building, Fire
and Residential Code and PV

Proposed modifications for the 2013
California Building Standards Codes:
• Area, height, and story limitations
CBC Section 503.1
• Types of construction CBC Section 602.1
• Fire sprinkler protection Exempt locations
CBC/CFC Section 903.3.1.1.1
• Roof assemblies and rooftop structures Fire
Classification Requirements CBC Chapter 15
and CRC Chapter 9

17. 2013 California Building, Fire
and Residential Code and PV

Proposed modifications (continued):
• 2012 IFC Section 605.11 to be incorporated
into the 2013 California Building Section 3111
and 2013 California Residential Code Section
R331

18. Fire Safety – PV Resources


California Solar Permitting Guidebook
http://
osfm.fire.ca.gov/pdf/firemarshal/California
_Solar_Permitting_Guidebook.pdf
SFM Solar Photovoltaic Installation
Guideline
http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/pdf/photo
voltaics/solarphotovoltaicguideline.pdf

19. Fire Safety – PV Resources


On the State Fire Marshal’s Office website you can find
the “Solar Photovoltaic Guidelines” with two training
programs:
• “The Fundamentals of Photovoltaics for the Fire
Service” an awareness level training program that
you can deliver right now to your firefighting staff
• “Fire Operations for Photovoltaic Emergencies”
an operational level proposed FSTEP student manual
• http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/photovoltaics.php
Both classes provide firefighters with the essential
background information they need to make informed
decisions on the fire ground. Instructor Training CD's
available through the SFT Bookstore.

20. Fire Safety – PV Resources


Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic
Installations Research Project
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
Issue Date: November 2011
Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency
Response for Solar Power Systems
NFPA – Fire Protection Research
Foundation Issue Date: May 2010

21. Thank You !!




For further information;
For additional copies of this handout;
For a copy of this PowerPoint
presentation;
Contact:
Osama Younan at (213) 482-7407

22. Hope you found the presentation useful!
for similar useful material
Visit us on
Visit us on
www.redocs.co
www.redocs.co
your personal library on RE
your personal library on RE
Note – This presentation is not owned by RE-Docs. It has simply been shared for wider
dissemination because of its useful content. The author have been clearly acknowledged on
www.redocs.co In case of any issues you may contacts us at www.redocs.co/contact