Saturday, September 7, 2013

Rooftop Solar Panels Hinder Firefighting And Endanger Firefighters

From Yahoo News, "Rooftop solar panels become new enemy of U.S. firefighters" by By Daniel Kelley, Reuters:
...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.

Gaining access to roofs gives firefighters advantages such as venting gases, and the panels get in the way, said Ken Willette, who manages the public fire protection division at the National Fire Protection Association.

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