The increase in the number of photovoltaic (PV) installations leads to a worst fire risk associated with the photovoltaic installation, in particular on building. Because of that, both internationally and nationally processes focused on fire risk assessment has been started.

This paper focuses on photovoltaic systems applied on building rooftops that are not integrated into the roof tiling. The authors, for a proper assessment of fire behavior on this type of installation, started from current national and European regulations to carry out an experimental program and to develop new fire rating tests and criteria.

Considering the European specifications for construction products, the research developed new test protocols specifically designed to evaluate the fire behavior of a system consisting of photovoltaic modules applied on the roof of a building in the case of a representative fire scenario.

The innovation of these protocols lies in testing the PV module and roofing material as a single unit of construction by considering the effects of fire on the PV module and the roof with which it interacts.

Among the main results, the new procedures propose fire behavior rating criteria based on parameters already used in the Europe about reaction to fire of building products (HRR, THR, FIGRA, etc.).