Architects need to understand insurance requirements for commercial flat roof build-ups that will house photovoltaic (PV) panels, otherwise, remedial work could be required.
To establish Britain as a clean energy superpower, the government wants to triple solar power generation by 2030. To achieve this target, increasing solar panel installations on commercial buildings must form part of the strategy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels lower carbon emissions and reduce a building’s reliance on the national grid. While this is hugely appealing to building tenants and
owners, it’s of little interest to insurance companies. Insurers are in the business of risk mitigation and, where PV panels are concerned, the principal risk is fire.
SOLAR PANELS INCREASE FIRE RISK
Introducing electrical components onto a building’s roof increases fire risk. On paper, the risk from solar panels looks relatively low, at 28.9 fires occurring per GW of installed capacity. Given, however, that commercial solar deployment has increased by 42% year-on-year, the number of PV fires experienced could be set to soar too.
Such incidents can result in large insurance claims. At the very least, repairs to the roof and its PV system will be required. If fire has penetrated the roof deck, there may also be a prolonged interruption to trading, writing off damaged stock, and repairs to the building structure. If, in the opinion of the insurance company, the roof design has not been appropriately fire tested, the premiums may increase. From an interview carried out to cover a project in the Netherlands, we were told there have been cases where cover could have been withdrawn unless the PV panels were disconnected and remedial measures undertaken to reduce the risk.
GO BEYOND THE BUILDING REGULATIONS
While UK building regulations aim to protect life and ensure safe evacuation, insurers, in addition, want to preserve property and reduce potential financial losses. Therefore, they often require PV panel flat roof assemblies to exceed the minimum standards required by regulations.
One of the most effective ways to increase the fire resiliency of commercial flat roofs is to specify non-combustible materials and incorporate a fire-resistant cover board, such as DensDeck Prime Roof Board, as part of the roof build-up. The cover board is situated above the insulation and below the waterproofing layer and is designed to help reduce the rate of fire spread.
To mitigate the fire risk from PV panels and meet the needs of insurance companies, architects should look for roof assemblies certified by FM Approvals, an international third-party testing and verification service owned by global insurer FM.
FM Approved roof assemblies offer tested and proven fire performance that will help limit damage caused by fire. They are also tested against other factors assessed within the FM 4470 standard. This provides extra reassurance of a roof’s robustness and resiliency. Architects can choose from over 1,098,278 FM Approved roof assemblies, including 689,900 that include a fireresistant cover board; of these, 227,091 are DensDeck Prime Roof Boards.
Solar PV panel installations are vital for achieving the UK’s sustainability goals, so to avoid insurance complications, architects must understand how they affect the fire risk profile of commercial flat roofs. By going beyond the building regulations and specifying FM Approved roof assemblies featuring non-combustible cover boards, architects can provide peace of mind to insurers and clients alike. densdeck.buildgp.com