Fire risk from photovoltaics: How to protect your home!

in Lower Austria, especially in the St. Pölten district, the purchase of photovoltaic systems (PV systems) is becoming increasingly important. However, this development also has new challenges, especially in the area of ​​fire protection. District fire brigade commander Georg Schröder warns against underestimating the possible dangers of PV systems. "If PV systems burn once, but then correctly. And then they are not so easy to extinguish," he explains. Even systems that are switched off in the event of a fire can remain dangerous because they absorb sunlight and generate electricity, which increases the risk of electric shocks. In order to train the fire brigade in this sensitive area, a special training was initiated on November 26, 2024, led by fire protection expert Pius Schafhuber.

The district fire brigade members dealt intensively with the topics of preventive fire protection and the special challenges that can arise from the operation of PV systems. According to TÜV Rheinland and the Fraunhofer Institute, which have examined the fire hazards of solar systems for years, the risk of fire is low as a whole. In the past, only 0.006 percent of the plants have caused significant fire damage. This is about the same risk level as conventional electrical installations. Nevertheless, it is important not to ignore the causes of fire. Over a third of the fires result from the PV components themselves, often due to overheating in the event of pollution or from errors during installation.

fire protection measures and legal requirements

Another aspect that must be taken into account when building PV systems are the distance regulations on neighboring buildings that can vary depending on the federal state. These regulations contribute to preventing the spread of fires and granting the necessary scope for action to the emergency services. From the point of view of fire protection technology, the correct installation of electrical cables is crucial to avoid overload and short circuits. DIN VDE 0100-712 offers concrete requirements for the safety of low-voltage systems and also operates preventive fire protection. Furthermore, PV systems should be serviced regularly to identify potential causes of fire at an early stage.