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Firefighter Safety Considerations for Rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) System Installations
Track(s): Fire & Emergency Services, Green (1 GBCI CE hour), Research

Bob Backstrom and Robert James, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.;
Tonya Hoover, California State Fire Marshal;
Matthew Paiss, San Jose Fire Department

Audio Sample:




Green building techniques are growing and the use of PV is increasing at a rate of 30 percent annually in the US. Among the hazards associated with these systems are high-voltage (up to 600 vdc), and limitations for vertical ventilation space. This makes fighting fires with PV systems installed on buildings more complicated. Join this panel of experts to gain a basic understanding of how PV systems operate, the hazards associated with rooftop PV systems, and how PV systems affect firefighting tactics and strategies. The session will include a discussion on a UL research project on firefighter vulnerability to electrical and casualty hazards when fighting a fire involving PV systems. This session will provide you with vital information to help you understand what is above you, what can hurt you, and how you can stay safe working around PV systems.

Robert Backstrom is a Research Engineer with UL's Corporate Research Department. Bob graduated from Harper College with an Associates in Fire Science, the Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering and from Worcester Poytechnic Institute with a Master in Fire Protection Engineering.. He is a member of the National Fire Protections Association and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.His employment experience with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. includes working with telecommunications, semiconductor, building materials and the textile industries. His special fields of interest includes reaction to fire subjects and changes in fire conditions due to deployment of new technologies..

Robert J. James is a Program Manager with the Regulatory Services Department of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), working from Tampa, FL. His responsibilities include managing and providing guidance for the UL regulatory fire plan in North America, fire protection related technical support to the regulatory community, providing educational seminars, developing internet based training programs, service on the model fire code committees and serving as a liaison between the UL fire service research staff and the regulatory community. Currently is a member of NFPA 1 and Secretary for NFPA 400.Prior to this assignment, Bob was the Fire Marshal for the City of Bloomington MN.

Tonya Hoover was appointed Acting State Fire Marshal by the CAL FIRE Director on July 1, 2009, and Governor appointed Assistant State Fire Marshal September 4, 2007. Chief Hoover has been actively involved in Fire Prevention and Public Education and Risk Mitigation for more than 20 years, and served as the Fire Marshal for the Moraga-Orinda Fire District located east of the Oakland/Berkeley hills. Chief Hoover has also served as a Deputy Fire Marshal for the University of California at Berkeley and a Fire Inspector/Plan Reviewer for two other bay area fire departments.

Fire Captain Matthew Paiss is a 15 year veteran of the San Jose Fire Department. He was a contributor to the California State Fire Marshals Office PV Guidelines, as well as the IFC and NFPA 1 fire code sections on PV. CA Paiss teaches PV Safety for fire departments nationwide, including the FDIC. He has spoken in Europe on Fire Safety and PV design, and has AS degrees in both Solar Energy Technology and Fire Science, and is a member of a UL Standards Technical Panel 1703. Captain Paiss has written for Fire Engineering and Home Power magazines.