Photovoltaic Solar Panel Systems on Buildings Checklist - Aviva Loss Prevention Standards - V1.2

• Date

  Date

• Completed by

• Address
  Address

• To view our Loss Prevention Standard Guidance that supports this checklist, please view the following link : https://broker.aviva.co.uk/documents/view/aviva_photovoltaic_solar_panel_systems_lps.pdf

Photovoltaic Solar Panel Systems Checklist

• 1. Has a risk assessment been completed to identify potential fire, security, housekeeping and safety hazards associated with the installation (or proposed installation) of a PV solar panel system?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 2. Has a structural engineering report been commissioned to assess the building(s) and roof(s):

• • Condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Design?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Combustibility?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Suitability for proposed additional loads (including weather-related loads)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• With any recommendations completed before any orders or installation work has started?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 3. Have your insurers and any other interested authorities such as the local planning authority and fire service been informed and approved the proposals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 4. Is the roof suitable for PV panel installation and is it:

• • Constructed with fire-resistive or non-combustible materials?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Stable and in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 5. Are the PV panels securely fixed (bolted) to a fire-resistive or non-combustible surface?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 6. Has the possibility of fire spread been considered, particularly if the roof or sections are constructed of combustible materials, and what corrective actions have been implemented?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 7. Is the roof able to withstand high winds with the additional weight loadings?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 8. Are the designer, supplier and installer well established companies with a good history of workmanship, and are they appropriately accredited/certified?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 9. Has the installing company completed full specific risk assessments and method statements, and have these been checked and accepted by the health and safety adviser?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 10. Are the PV panels manufactured installed and serviced to a recognised national standard, e.g. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Factory Mutual (FM) or German VdS or TUV-SUD?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 11. Is the PV system protected against lightning and electrical earth bonded and installed to the national electrical regulations/guidance?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 12. Are there any arc sensors and safety interlocks fitted to automatically shut down the PV system should any PV panels develop a fault?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 13. Is there residual current DC monitoring on +/- supply circuits or electronic DC current sensing relay in ground circuits in series with ground fault fuses?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 14. Are there any safety interlocks to:

• • Trip the DC supply to the inverter?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Initiate an onsite building alarm and remote alarm monitoring?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Automatically shut down the DC & AC power from the PV panel?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Detect a fault/malfunction of the PV panels and/or associated equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 15. Are all electrical cables, connectors and/or junction boxes fire-resistant or enclosed in a fire-resistant material, conduit or fire-rated compartment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 16. Are cable runs carefully thought through and formally plotted on drawings?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• • Is there any possibility of fire spread on the cables?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• o From inside the building onto the roof?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• o From the roof to inside the building?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 17. Are cables protected against UV exposure/deterioration and installed in conduit and/or cable trays, suitably secured to the building structure?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 18. Is electrical HV hazard signage clearly displayed at least every 3 metres along the route of the cabling?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 19. Is the PV power inverter installed on a non-combustible material such as a block or brick wall?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 20. Is the PV power inverter installed in a dedicated fire-rated compartment and provided with automatic fire detection?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 21. Is the PV inverter room kept clear of all combustibles and secured against unauthorised entry?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 22. Are the DC and AC power isolation switches located in a safe location and clearly signed to allow safe access by fire fighters, etc.?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 23. Can the power from the PV panels be safely isolated and with relative ease?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 24. Is there a remote DC disconnect for each combiner/junction box as close as possible to the output side of the box prior to the inverter?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 25. Can the AC supply be safety isolated in an emergency?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 26. Is there safe clear access provided to the roof and between rows of PV panels to permit servicing, maintenance, cleaning (including snow/ice clearance) and fire fighting operations?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 27. Are the PV panels and associated equipment regularly inspected for signs of damage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 28. Are the roof, PV panels and associated equipment regularly cleaned, serviced and maintained by specialist contractors?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 29. Are infrared thermal inspections completed of the PV system as part of the routine inspections/maintenance?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 30. Is automatic fire detection provided to detect a fire involving the PV panel array?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 31. Are automatic fire suppression systems provided to protect the areas of PV panels, e.g. automatic deluge, water/foam monitors?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 32. Are there any safety interlocks to automatically shut down the PV system on activation of the fire detection or fire suppression systems?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 33. Do fire alarms signal to a constantly attended location that is acceptable to insurers and other interested authorities?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 34. Is there a prompt response required to any alarm that includes a full investigation and inspection of the reported fault, and planned actions for isolation in the event of fire as part of the site emergency procedures?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 35. Have all Emergency Plans and Business Continuity Plans been updated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 36. Does the proposed emergency response actually detail how a fire on the roof involving the PV panels will be tackled to protect the property and the business (including the actual expectation and resource required for the public fire brigade)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Completion

• Additional Comments

• Completed by (Signature)

  Sign