This report mainly describes some test protocols and related criteria for the classification of the fire behaviour of photovoltaic (PV) roofs. In particular, it deals with Building Applied PhotoVoltaics (BAPV), i.e., building roofs on which photovoltaic modules are installed

The protocols were developed starting from the contents of CENELEC TR 50670:2016 ‘External fire exposure to roofs in combination with photovoltaic (PV) arrays – Test method(s)’ and CEN EN 13823:2010 A1:2014 ‘Reaction to fire tests for building products – Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item’, known as SBI (Single Burning Item). In particular, the developed protocols use some test devices and different measurements and variables and classification criteria, already adopted in the European Construction Products Regulation (CPR). These protocols use ‘complete’ samples that are made up of a fragment of building roofing representative of the roofing type, on which a sample obtained from the photovoltaic module of interest is installed. In fact, the construction and installation characteristics of photovoltaic systems, especially when mounted on buildings, do not make it easy to evaluate the fire behaviour of the entire system (building covering / PV system roof) based on the behaviour of its individual components.

The reasons for developing these tools for the classification of the fire behaviour of PV roofs mainly lie in the non-negligible number of fires involving photovoltaic systems installed on buildings and in the objective shortcomings of the current regulation of the sector.

The activity carried out in the research year, summarised herein, mainly consisted in refining and validating the protocols developed in the previous years of research for PV roofs and, secondarily, an initial activity relating to the fire behaviour of PV facades.

In addition to the above, the activity relating to the non-destructive diagnosis of PV modules was also continued. It should be remembered that the contents of this report are also being currently discussed at CEI CT 82 ‘Solar energy photovoltaic conversion systems’ with reference the publication of a TR (Technical Report) on the fire behaviour of PV roofs.