Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Systems

Under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program - Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, UL examined fire service concerns of photovoltaic (PV) systems and the potential impact on firefighting operations. These concerns included firefighter vulnerability to electrical and casualty hazards when mitigating a fire involving photovoltaic (PV) systems. This fire research project developed the empirical data that is needed to quantify the potential hazards associated with fire scenarios involving PV installations and provides the basis for the development of firefighting operational practices to reduce firefighter death and injury.

In order to make the results of this study more user friendly for the fire service to examine, UL developed an online interactive training module. The program includes a professionally narrated description of all of the experiments, their results and the tactical considerations. Experimental video is used and graphical data is explained in a way that brings science to the street level firefighter.

This is free training, however registration to access the UL system is required and that is also free.

http://www.uluniversity.us/catalog/display.resource.aspx?resourceid=352901