Improving Permit Review and Approval for Small Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

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, OSFMRon LaPlante, DSA

Fire Safety – Small Solar Fire Safety – Small Solar Photovoltaic (PV) SystemsPhotovoltaic (PV) Systems

ObjectiveObjective

To provide building and fire officials with To provide building and fire officials with an awareness of fire safety provisions for an awareness of fire safety provisions for photovoltaic systems, so that informed photovoltaic systems, so that informed decisions to mitigate potential hazards are decisions to mitigate potential hazards are made to ensure operational safety during made to ensure operational safety during an emergency, reduce fire hazards and an emergency, reduce fire hazards and minimize economic impacts.minimize economic impacts.

Fire Safety – California Solar Fire Safety – California Solar Permitting GuidebookPermitting Guidebook

The California Solar Permitting Guidebook was The California Solar Permitting Guidebook was designed to help local governments and their designed to help local governments and their permitting agencies improve permitting of small permitting agencies improve permitting of small solar PV systems.. It is also designed to help solar PV systems.. It is also designed to help building owners and solar installers navigate building owners and solar installers navigate permitting as efficiently as possible.permitting as efficiently as possible.

The guideline includes current fire safety The guideline includes current fire safety provisions and provides clarification of certain provisions and provides clarification of certain fire safety provisions not specifically addressed fire safety provisions not specifically addressed in the California Building Standards Code. in the California Building Standards Code.

Fire Safety – California Solar Fire Safety – California Solar Permitting GuidebookPermitting Guidebook

ProvisionsProvisionsFire Classification RequirementsFire Classification RequirementsFire Service ApprovalFire Service ApprovalSolar PV panels used as roofing on an Solar PV panels used as roofing on an independent (stand-alone) structure independent (stand-alone) structure Solar PV panels installed as a part of a Solar PV panels installed as a part of a building’s roof structurebuilding’s roof structureSolar PV systems installed on gradeSolar PV systems installed on gradeArea, height, and story limitationsArea, height, and story limitations

Fire Safety – California Solar Fire Safety – California Solar Permitting GuidebookPermitting Guidebook

Provisions Provisions (continued)(continued)Location from property line and adjacent Location from property line and adjacent buildingsbuildingsFire proofing of structural supportFire proofing of structural supportRooftop structuresRooftop structuresFire sprinklersFire sprinklersSignage/markingSignage/markingOther fire safety requirements or guidelinesOther fire safety requirements or guidelines

Fire Safety – California Solar Fire Safety – California Solar Permitting GuidebookPermitting Guidebook

Provisions Provisions (continued)(continued)Coordination between the Building Coordination between the Building Department and the Fire AuthorityDepartment and the Fire AuthorityExample MOU (memorandum of Example MOU (memorandum of understanding) a template agreement understanding) a template agreement between two local agencies to coordinate between two local agencies to coordinate permit review approval and inspection permit review approval and inspection between a local building department and a between a local building department and a local fire servicelocal fire service

Fire Safety – Office of the State Fire Safety – Office of the State Fire Marshal’s PV GuidelineFire Marshal’s PV Guideline

The SFM guideline was developed with fire safety The SFM guideline was developed with fire safety as the principal objective. The solar photovoltaic as the principal objective. The solar photovoltaic industry had been presented with certain industry had been presented with certain limitations in roof installations due to firefighting limitations in roof installations due to firefighting suppression techniques. suppression techniques.

The intent of the guideline is to provide the solar The intent of the guideline is to provide the solar photovoltaic industry with information that will photovoltaic industry with information that will aid in the designing, building, and installation of aid in the designing, building, and installation of solar photovoltaic systems in a manner that solar photovoltaic systems in a manner that should meet the objectives of both the solar should meet the objectives of both the solar photovoltaic industry and the Fire Service.photovoltaic industry and the Fire Service.

Fire Safety – Office of the State Fire Safety – Office of the State Fire Marshal’s PV GuidelinesFire Marshal’s PV Guidelines

ProvisionsProvisionsPublished final draft April 2008Published final draft April 2008Adoption of this guideline is optionalAdoption of this guideline is optionalGuideline does not apply unless specifically Guideline does not apply unless specifically adopted by local ordinance by a local adopted by local ordinance by a local enforcing agency enforcing agency

Fire Safety – Office of the State Fire Safety – Office of the State Fire Marshal’s PV GuidelinesFire Marshal’s PV Guidelines

Provisions Provisions (continued)(continued) Marking/Signage Marking/Signage Access, Pathways And Smoke Ventilation Access, Pathways And Smoke Ventilation Location Of Direct Current ConductorsLocation Of Direct Current Conductors Non-Habitable BuildingsNon-Habitable Buildings Ground Mounted Photovoltaic ArraysGround Mounted Photovoltaic Arrays

2013 California Building, Fire 2013 California Building, Fire and Residential Code and PVand Residential Code and PV

2013 California Building, Residential and 2013 California Building, Residential and Fire Code (Based on the 2012 Edition Fire Code (Based on the 2012 Edition International Building, Residential and Fire International Building, Residential and Fire Code (IBC, IRC, IFC))Code (IBC, IRC, IFC))

2012 IFC Section 605.11 developed and 2012 IFC Section 605.11 developed and proposed by the Office of the State Fire proposed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the National Association of Marshal and the National Association of State Fire Marshal’s derived from the SFM State Fire Marshal’s derived from the SFM PV Guidelines PV Guidelines

2013 California Building, Fire 2013 California Building, Fire and Residential Code and PVand Residential Code and PV

Proposed modifications for the 2013 Proposed modifications for the 2013 California Building Standards Codes:California Building Standards Codes:

• Area, height, and story limitations CBC Area, height, and story limitations CBC Section 503.1 Section 503.1

• Types of construction CBC Section 602.1 Types of construction CBC Section 602.1 • Fire sprinkler protection Exempt locations Fire sprinkler protection Exempt locations

CBC/CFC Section 903.3.1.1.1 CBC/CFC Section 903.3.1.1.1 • Roof assemblies and rooftop structures Fire Roof assemblies and rooftop structures Fire

Classification Requirements CBC Chapter 15 Classification Requirements CBC Chapter 15 and CRC Chapter 9and CRC Chapter 9

2013 California Building, Fire 2013 California Building, Fire and Residential Code and PVand Residential Code and PV

Proposed modifications (continued):Proposed modifications (continued):

• 2012 IFC Section 605.11 to be incorporated 2012 IFC Section 605.11 to be incorporated into the 2013 California Building Section 3111 into the 2013 California Building Section 3111 and 2013 California Residential Code Section and 2013 California Residential Code Section R331R331

Fire Safety – PV ResourcesFire Safety – PV Resources

California Solar Permitting Guidebook California Solar Permitting Guidebook http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/pdf/firemarshal/Calihttp://osfm.fire.ca.gov/pdf/firemarshal/California_Solar_Permitting_Guidebook.pdffornia_Solar_Permitting_Guidebook.pdf

SFM Solar Photovoltaic Installation SFM Solar Photovoltaic Installation Guideline Guideline http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/pdf/photovhttp://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/pdf/photovoltaics/solarphotovoltaicguideline.pdf oltaics/solarphotovoltaicguideline.pdf

Fire Safety – PV ResourcesFire Safety – PV Resources On the State Fire Marshal’s Office website you can find On the State Fire Marshal’s Office website you can find

the “the “Solar Photovoltaic GuidelinesSolar Photovoltaic Guidelines” with two training ” with two training programs:programs:• “ “The Fundamentals of Photovoltaics for the The Fundamentals of Photovoltaics for the

Fire ServiceFire Service” an awareness level training program ” an awareness level training program that you can deliver right now to your firefighting staffthat you can deliver right now to your firefighting staff

• ““Fire Operations for Photovoltaic EmergenciesFire Operations for Photovoltaic Emergencies” ” an operational level proposed FSTEP student manualan operational level proposed FSTEP student manual

• http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/photovoltaics.phphttp://osfm.fire.ca.gov/training/photovoltaics.php

Both classes provide firefighters with the essential Both classes provide firefighters with the essential background information they need to make informed background information they need to make informed decisions on the fire ground. Instructor Training CD's decisions on the fire ground. Instructor Training CD's available through the SFT Bookstore.available through the SFT Bookstore.

Fire Safety – PV ResourcesFire Safety – PV Resources

Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Installations Research Project Installations Research Project Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Issue Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Issue Date: November 2011 Date: November 2011

Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency Response for Solar Power Systems NFPA Response for Solar Power Systems NFPA – Fire Protection Research Foundation – Fire Protection Research Foundation Issue Date: May 2010 Issue Date: May 2010

Thank You !!Thank You !!

For further information;For further information; For additional copies of this handout;For additional copies of this handout; For a copy of this PowerPoint For a copy of this PowerPoint

presentation;presentation; Contact:Contact:

Osama Younan at (213) 482-7407Osama Younan at (213) 482-7407