A Conservative Approach to Defining Photovoltaic System Hazards to Firefighters

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1734471· OSTI ID:1734471

Quiroz, Jimmy Edward ^[1]; Lavrova, Olga ^[1]; Flicker, Jack David ^[1]; Zgonena, Timothy ^[2]; Jiang, Hai ^[2]; Whitfield, Kent ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Underwriters Laboratories LLC, Northbrook, IL (United States)

Sandia National Laboratories performed analysis to develop conservative hazard guidelines regarding firefighters working near photovoltaic (PV) arrays. Assuming implementation of NFPA 70 system shutdown requirements, the analysis focused on DC hazards only. Several different PV variables were considered, including system grounding and DC voltage classes. The hazard scenarios considered the contact conditions, current paths through the body, and PPE. Guidelines for the hazard definitions for men and women were based on the IEC TS 60479-1 guidelines. The importance of PPE was illustrated in the results.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 1734471
• Report Number(s): SAND--2018-8894; 667057
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
42 ENGINEERING
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES