Have you invalidated your insurance policy by installing Solar PV?
Many Solar projects are unknowingly invalidating their insurance and won’t find out until they need to call on their insurance for a payout.
NOTE: All HONE system designs meet the insurance protocols of all the major insurers.
If you are considering installing solar electric systems on your roof, then your first port of call is to your insurance company and request their solar protocols for an insurable installation.
Here is a sample of the requirements for installations in the UK & Ireland from one of the leading insurance companies to avoid voiding your insurance, and you won’t know it’s invalid until you come to claim for something.
- Structural engineers report.
- A one-in-a-hundred-year review of wind and rain events.
- An insurer-approved roofing system is LPC 1181/1208 or FM 4476/4478/4471 Class 1 Roof.
- If the roof covering does not meet the above, a new roof covering and fire retardant membrane must be placed on top to meet the defined dimensions.
- Panels must be no closer than 2.5m from the approved roofing edge.
- Panels must be no closer to GRP roof lights than 1.8m.
- The system design is as per the IET PV Code of Compliance. This Code of Practice outlines the design, specification, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance requirements for grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It covers critical safety considerations in the protection and earthing of PV systems mounted on buildings and on the ground in detail. It also contains commissioning, monitoring, and maintenance requirements throughout an installation’s lifetime.
- A ground-level activated functionality to enable DC disconnection of all the arrays.
- Arc Fault Detection (Fire prevention)
- A linear fire detection system is under all the panels connected to the building’s fire alarm system.
- Internally installed inverters must be installed in a stand-alone 1-hour fire safety compartment.
- Externally installed inverters must be 2m from combustible material and separated by a 1-hour fire barrier.
- Whether installed internally or externally, the battery must be installed in a 2-hour fire safety compartment on the ground floor with externally accessible doors.
- Standalone fire detection equipment where all Solar PV electrical equipment is installed.
MANDATORY OPEX & MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
- Annual visual check of all system components.
- Annual cleaning of the panels unless a formal and documented risk assessment details a different schedule. (note: some panel manufacturers require documented annual cleaning of their panels for their warranty; read the small print.)
- Annual fixed wiring inspection of all AC & DC cabling.
- Annual thermography of the panels and electrical isolation resistance testing.
- Provide safe access to the roof and panels for an average person. (not site-level safety equipment or temporary access)
All HONE systems meet insurance compliance requirements for all major insurers.
- Maximised cell/frame gaps
- Full kit procurement, including all cabling
- Fire resistive and non-combustible framing
- Class 1 wind mountings
- Fully integrated design process
- Lightening and Earth bonding, including Earth Brake fusing (anti-fire overcurrent fault device)
- 24/7 Built-in ARC Detection
- Built-in Automatic DC interlocks
- 24/7 Built-in RISO Monitoring
- Automatic DC shutdown and interlock from ground level
- Fully integrated linear fire detection system integrated with the alarm system
- Fully integrated linear fire detection system with automatic AC/DC shut down and isolation
- Complete maintenance and monitoring package, including an alert reporting system
- PVStop fire extinguisher cabinet designed for putting out solar PV fires
If you are considering Solar PV on your building, your insurance company are the first people you need to contact. We will ask you for these protocols as part of the design process, to ensure you don’t unknowingly invalidate your buildings insurance.
Read AVIVA’s insurance requirements below for Solar PV installation compliance. (8 pages)
Solar Panels INSURANCE Aviva