FEARS have been raised that firefighters could receive electrical shocks from solar power systems while combating blazes during the daytime, with Australian and New Zealand authorities now carrying out investigations into the risks for those on the front line.
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The ACT has recorded a 10-fold increase in the number of photovoltaic units installed in the past year, with ACTPLA reporting that more than half of those failed their first safety inspection.
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council is researching the risks of solar systems on behalf of all brigades.
However, the ACT Emergency Services Agency said it was believed there was a lesser chance of electrocution from solar panels, as the power from the panels was direct current, than from 240-volt mains power, which is alternating current.
The Tasmanian Fire Service first raised the alarm about solar power systems in 2009, when it issued a safety alert, which has recently been circulated among ACT firefighters.
It warned that advice from the Electrical Standards and Safety, the electrical regulator, suggested a potential daytime hazard from energy produced by solar grids.
''Even when isolated at the buildings fuse box the system remains live between the solar panels, the inverter and the fuse/switch board,'' it stated.
''This presents a potential DC electrical shock hazard for firefighters at structure fires through daylight hours.''
A second hazard also existed where excess power from the system was fed into the wider electrical distribution grid.
''This effectively negates any attempt to isolate local electrical supplies by Transend [the owner and operator of the electricity transmission system in Tasmania],'' the safety alert warned.
An ESA spokesman said when the research was completed the fire authorities council would liaise with industry about any product safety issues identified.
''Risk management strategies at the moment vary from covering panels with foam or a tarpaulin to types of isolation switch,'' he said.
''While solar systems usually have an isolation switch, recently [the Northern Territory] had a fire in the isolation switch which prevented isolation. As the power from the panels is DC, there is less danger of electrocution than from 240-volt mains power. As this is comparatively new technology that is constantly changing, the risks are still being identified.''