This SpringerBrief presents information on a wide variety of hazards and the damage potential
caused by installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system. The current installation practices for PV
systems on roofs create electrical fire structural and weather-related hazards that do not
comply to current codes standards and guidance documents. Potential dangers include structural
loading wind loads hail snow debris accumulation seismic hazards firefighting hazards
and electrical hazards. Despite the increased popularity of PV systems after the environmental
movement research shows that the costs of installing PV systems outweigh the benefits. Hazards
of PV systems on roofs have caused several incidents in the United States the most notable in
Bakersfield California and Mount Holly North Carolina. Designed for fire engineers and
professionals Best Practices for Commercial Roof-Mounted Photovoltaic System Installation
offers recommendations to set up PV systems safely and sustainably.
