• Fire & Flammability
  • Prevention of Fire
  • Fire Class Rating
  • Fire Fighter Safety
• Grounding
• Interconnection & Net Metering
• Local Codes
• PV Module Qualification Requirements
• PV Module Tolerance

Fire Class Rating of PV Systems

Solar ABCs research investigates whether and how the presence of stand-off mounted PV arrays may affect the fire class rating of common roof covering materials.  In particular, these tests were initiated in response to questions from stakeholders about the language in the UL Guide Card that stated that PV modules may or may not reduce the fire class rating of roof coverings when modules of a lower rating are installed above a roof covering with a higher rating.  All tests were conducted by UL in Northbrook, IL, with assistance from representatives of Solar ABCs.  

In April 2010, Solar ABCs published an interim report, Flammability Testing of Standard Roofing Products in the Presence of Stand-off Mounted PV Modules. 

The 2012 International Building Code includes the following requirement: "1509.6.2 Fire Classification. Rooftop mounted photovoltaic systems shall have the same fire classification as the roof assembly as defined required by Section 1505.”

A Solar ABCs White Paper, Impacts on Photovoltaic Installations of Changes to the 2012 International Codes, discusses the fire classification change and other code changes affective photovoltaic installations. 

In December 2010, the Standard Technical Panel for UL Standard 1703 appointed a task group to develop a new system fire classification test.  This system test will replace the current module fire classification test and will provide a better test for the impact of the photovoltaic system on the fire classification rating of the roof assembly.  This task group has developed several drafts of new standard language and is working with stakeholders to obtain broad input into the proposal. 

Since Solar ABCs published the interim report, UL has conducted additional tests investigating the following aspects of this issue:

• Mitigation strategies
• Low slope roofs
• Material characterization
• Exceptions proposed as changes to 2015 International Building Code.

Solar ABCs will publish results of these tests at a later date.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics

The work described above does not apply to Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) installations.  Since BIPV become the roof, they must comply with the fire classification requirements for roof assemblies as described in UL Standard 790.

Proposals for the 2015 International Building Code

The development of the 2015 Edition of the model codes developed by the International Code Council is underway.  Proposals will be considered that affect photovoltaic installations.

Code proposals for the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and International Mechanical Code (IMC) will be heard at the Group A Code Development Hearings April 29 – May 7 in Dallas, Texas. Register Now

If you are unable to attend in person, the hearings will also be available via a live webcast.  Please note that the webcast link will only be active during the Code Development Hearings.

Learn More

• You can review a table that identifies the PV-related proposals.
• You can also review the complete language for all proposals.
• Proposals for Group B I-codes (which includes the IECC, IFC, IgCC, IRC, and IWUIC) will be considered in 2013.
• There is also an opportunity to submit Public Comments on the actions taken at the Code Development Hearings by the Code Development Committees, and those Public Comments will be heard at the Final Action Hearings on October 24-28, 2012 in Portland, Oregon.