Transitional document provides planning security for solar façades
In consultation with the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers, Swissolar wants to create planning security for solar façades. As a first step, the partners have drawn up a transitional document. It defines when solar façades are possible without a specific fire test.
Swissolar wants to create planning security for planning offices and building owners for photovoltaic (PV) installations on façades. As a first step, the association of the Swiss solar energy industry is presenting a transitional document for this purpose. The document “Planning and fire protection certification of rear-ventilated PV façades” was developed in collaboration with the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers(VKF), the Bern and Zurich building insurance companies and a number of photovoltaic and fire protection experts, Swissolar explains in a press release.
The transitional document shows the conditions under which solar façades can be installed for mid-rise and high-rise buildings without a property-specific fire test. Swissolar explains that an argumentative verification procedure is now being used. It incorporates empirical values that could be derived from previous fire tests.
This interim document is intended to create planning certainty for solar façades until a state of the art paper (STP) is available. Swissolar intends to develop such an STP by autumn 2024 together with photovoltaic and fire protection experts and in consultation with the VKF.