Skip to content

A New Challenge for the Truckies

10 comments

A NEW INNOVATION APPEARING ON A FEW HOUSES that could possibly be found anywhere is a solar energy panel that is designed to look like roofing shingles. 

solar a

The rectangular photovoltaic panels can be installed on any roof and are designed to blend in with the existing shingles.  One brand on the market is the UniSolar product pictured above and just below. 

solar b

UniSolar’s panels haven’t been received too well because of some cost/efficiency concerns, but Dow Chemical has recently announced their version of this type of product, called Powerhouse Solar Shingle, that claims to be much more efficient and will be widely available in just over a year from now.

Dow says that this new panel is designed to be able to be installed by any licensed roofer and can be put in at the same time a roof is being replaced.  No specialized skills or knowledge of solar array installation is necessary.  You can read Dow’s press release on this product issued last week HERE.

Firefighters might need to be concerned with a) recognizing their existence at first glance, b) footing and traction problems, and c) any hazards involved when cutting through a roof.  It is claimed that they are not damaged by walking on them, but safety concerns of firefighters are different than those of roofers, especially in inclement weather.  So far, there hasn’t been any information released on any electrical hazard that might be present when they are chopped through with an axe, for example.

If any Firegeezer readers have had any experience with these already, or more information on their potential danger to FF’s, please let us know in the Comments section.

Hat tip:  Eric F.

Posted by on October 13, 2009 • Filed under: Building construction
  • http://ecdfan.blogspot.com/ ECD Fan

    You are incorrect, picture #2 does not show the Unisolar shingles. It is obvious – just look for the three thin white stripes on each shingle on picture #2 – they are missing from picture #1. Now, back to Unisolar’s shingles:

    Unisolar’s shingles (product SHR-17) were commercialized in 1998, but have been taken off the market for a few years now, as they lost their UL certification (due to roof penetrations and fire hazards?). Moreover, the government NREL laboratory’s long-term degradation study indicated that the shingles likely violate their performance warranty (Unisolar is still suppressing the final results from that study):

    http://ecdfan.blogspot.com/2009/07/power-output-warranty-part-ii-or-nrel.html

    It is not true that the shingles are not damaged by walking on them (Unisolar’s reseller Soprema, for example, explicitly prohibits walking on the photovoltaic material):

    http://www.soprasolar.com/index.php?module=media&action=Display&cmpref=12144&lang=fr&width=&height=&format=&alt=

    The fire hazard is real, and you don’t need an axe to start a Unisolar fire. For example, Unisolar’s photovoltaic laminates ignited on the (huge) rooftop of the Long Beach Convention Center in February of 2008. Here is the fire report:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/fan.of.ecd/LongBeachConventionCenterFireReport

    Luckily, Unisolar’s share in the rooftop solar market is insignificant (just 0.2% in California over the past 22 months, according to the CSI, and California accounts for about 60% of the North American solar installations). That share is likely to dwindle further as Unisolar’s products are not priced competitively at present time.

  • http://ecdfan.blogspot.com ECD Fan

    You are incorrect, picture #2 does not show the Unisolar shingles. It is obvious – just look for the three thin white stripes on each shingle on picture #2 – they are missing from picture #1. Now, back to Unisolar’s shingles:

    Unisolar’s shingles (product SHR-17) were commercialized in 1998, but have been taken off the market for a few years now, as they lost their UL certification (due to roof penetrations and fire hazards?). Moreover, the government NREL laboratory’s long-term degradation study indicated that the shingles likely violate their performance warranty (Unisolar is still suppressing the final results from that study):

    http://ecdfan.blogspot.com/2009/07/power-output-warranty-part-ii-or-nrel.html

    It is not true that the shingles are not damaged by walking on them (Unisolar’s reseller Soprema, for example, explicitly prohibits walking on the photovoltaic material):

    http://www.soprasolar.com/index.php?module=media&action=Display&cmpref=12144&lang=fr&width=&height=&format=&alt=

    The fire hazard is real, and you don’t need an axe to start a Unisolar fire. For example, Unisolar’s photovoltaic laminates ignited on the (huge) rooftop of the Long Beach Convention Center in February of 2008. Here is the fire report:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/fan.of.ecd/LongBeachConventionCenterFireReport

    Luckily, Unisolar’s share in the rooftop solar market is insignificant (just 0.2% in California over the past 22 months, according to the CSI, and California accounts for about 60% of the North American solar installations). That share is likely to dwindle further as Unisolar’s products are not priced competitively at present time.

  • firegeezer

    Thanks, ECD Fan

    I thought there might be somebody out there who could enlighten us some more on these things. Do you know if Dow’s panels can be walked on? I read in a forum (not the best of authorities, I know) that they could be.

    (sorry about the delay in posting your comment. the spam filter grabs anything with more than two links in it and holds it for approval)

  • firegeezer

    Thanks, ECD Fan

    I thought there might be somebody out there who could enlighten us some more on these things. Do you know if Dow’s panels can be walked on? I read in a forum (not the best of authorities, I know) that they could be.

    (sorry about the delay in posting your comment. the spam filter grabs anything with more than two links in it and holds it for approval)

  • Dal90

    I think the larger concern for firefighting is not the solar cells themselves, but to be aware of the increasing complexity of controlling utilities in structures, both residential and commercial.

    Simply disconnecting street power is no guarantee the structure is de-energized. Automatic generators, solar panels, windmills, battery banks, and even consumer UPSs could still provide significant shocks inside the home and/or ignition sources.

  • Dal90

    I think the larger concern for firefighting is not the solar cells themselves, but to be aware of the increasing complexity of controlling utilities in structures, both residential and commercial.

    Simply disconnecting street power is no guarantee the structure is de-energized. Automatic generators, solar panels, windmills, battery banks, and even consumer UPSs could still provide significant shocks inside the home and/or ignition sources.

  • laurence delorme

    hello,

    here is a link to an article about firefighting and solar panels,entitled:myths and facts:

    http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-attack/articles/594656-Solar-Safety-for-Firefighters-The-Myths-and-the-Facts/

  • laurence delorme

    hello,

    here is a link to an article about firefighting and solar panels,entitled:myths and facts:

    http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-attack/articles/594656-Solar-Safety-for-Firefighters-The-Myths-and-the-Facts/

  • http://ecdfan.blogspot.com/ ECD Fan

    To firegeezer: The Dow product does not actually exist yet – it is still a prototype and specifications and pricing have not been finalized yet. And, of course, we have to wait and see whether (and when) these solar shingles will pass the UL and IEC certification requirements (such as UL 1703, IEC 61730, and IEC 61646, etc) before they can even go on roofs.

  • http://ecdfan.blogspot.com ECD Fan

    To firegeezer: The Dow product does not actually exist yet – it is still a prototype and specifications and pricing have not been finalized yet. And, of course, we have to wait and see whether (and when) these solar shingles will pass the UL and IEC certification requirements (such as UL 1703, IEC 61730, and IEC 61646, etc) before they can even go on roofs.