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Solar installations on building rooftops are increasingly widespread as businesses strive to reduce their carbon footprints and save on electricity. Unfortunately, this growing trend has coincided with a rise in rooftop fires, signifying unseen safety threats. Based on a sample of over 600 commercial-scale rooftop solar systems inspected by Clean Energy Associates (CEA), a staggering 97% of inspected rooftops had significant safety and fire risks.

The vast majority of these risks are a cause of poor installation practices. The good news is that most of these potential hazards can be identified and resolved relatively easily. However, if left unchecked, they can lead to fires, representing serious safety risks and potential liabilities that can be costly.

CEA’s Chris Chappell, Senior Director of Engineering Services, and Ankil Sanghvi, Engineering Manager, discuss the most common issues found on solar rooftops, as well as their potential safety implications. They also share case studies based on their experience inspecting rooftops of some of the largest retailers in the U.S.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the most common risks found on solar rooftops, why they happen, and their resulting safety implications

• Explore case studies and real-life examples based on CEA’s experience inspecting rooftops of some of the largest retailers in the U.S.

• Learn best practices to rectify safety hazards found on solar rooftops