Green Building Forum - Solar Panel Fire Fri, 16 Oct 2026 19:57:05 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310709#Comment_310709 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310709#Comment_310709 Thu, 28 May 2026 20:27:00 +0100 Rex
Just seen this on the Mail on Line web site.

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15854881/solar-panels-explode-home-explodes-flames-family-inside-escape.html

Will we ever hear why this happened? Bet the estate developers will have a nightmare with all the other owners wanting reassurance their solar panels will not catch fire. There is a 100 Taylor Wimpey built estate near me and they all have solar panels.]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310711#Comment_310711 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310711#Comment_310711 Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:30 +0100 revor Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310712#Comment_310712 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310712#Comment_310712 Fri, 29 May 2026 10:53:38 +0100 djh
Posted By: RexWill we ever hear why this happened?
I guess the final report will be published and you can go look for it when it is.

Why is there this notion of an "explosion"? It looks to me like some wiring caught fire and got through the roof tiles, then burned the membrane and the rafter trusses, and maybe some insulation. What have I missed?]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310714#Comment_310714 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310714#Comment_310714 Fri, 29 May 2026 13:57:54 +0100 Rex
I don't have panels, and have no plans to fit them, but if I did, I prefer the flush appearance. With no 'open to the air' gap behind flush panels, can that be a problem?]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310715#Comment_310715 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310715#Comment_310715 Fri, 29 May 2026 14:25:34 +0100 Mike1
Fire Protection Association : Need to Know Guide RE3 - Rooftop Mounted PV Solar Systems
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/resource-download/668]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310719#Comment_310719 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310719#Comment_310719 Sat, 30 May 2026 08:37:39 +0100 PeterStarck Posted By: djhWhy is there this notion of an "explosion"?

Because it's the Daily Mail.]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310721#Comment_310721 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310721#Comment_310721 Sat, 30 May 2026 10:40:21 +0100 djh :devil: :bigsmile:]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310728#Comment_310728 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310728#Comment_310728 Sun, 31 May 2026 19:33:00 +0100 revor Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310729#Comment_310729 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310729#Comment_310729 Sun, 31 May 2026 19:41:37 +0100 revor
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hOrtpGEehXA]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310730#Comment_310730 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310730#Comment_310730 Sun, 31 May 2026 20:01:15 +0100 Jeff B 2025
However I did ask that the inverter be placed in the garage and not in the loft (which I think the installer would have preferred for ease of installation), because I was concerned that it would be out-of-sight and out-of-mind up there. The garage is north facing and never gets hot even during the recent heatwave for example.]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310731#Comment_310731 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310731#Comment_310731 Sun, 31 May 2026 20:02:43 +0100 Jeff B 2025 Posted By: revorHaving just posted the last message just came across this seems related and refers to inverters in lofts.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hOrtpGEehXA

Could this be the cause of the fire then? It doesn't sound right if the inverter gets so hot.]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310734#Comment_310734 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=310734#Comment_310734 Sun, 31 May 2026 21:35:13 +0100 WillInAberdeen
Of course that hasn't stopped a newspaper that likes to complain about anything 'green or woke' from splashing scaremongering headlines!


The BBC are reporting the fire service said it was actually an electrical fault inside the house but they can't get in to find out exactly what appliance. Could be the hot water cylinder perhaps?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8pjxkex4xo


For interest the operating temperature for our inverter is specified up to +60 degC, by coincidence that's the same temperature commonly quoted as where touching a metal item would cause first degree burns. It's hot enough to cook a steak medium-rare. So yes it can feel very warm to the touch (as per the YouTube guy) but still operate happily!


ETA: the ignition temperature to start a fire of paper, fabric, wood shavings etc is around 250 degC so, no, the warm solar inverter is not setting fire to anything when it's just running normally on a hot day. Need to have an arcing/sparking kind of electric fault in a connection to start a fire and that can happen anytime of year.

The same inverters are used in India, middle east, Australia, countries that are seriously hotter than a UK 'heatwave' of 30deg. The UK newspaper and youtube guys are just click-baiting off the fears of their followers.]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=311201#Comment_311201 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=311201#Comment_311201 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:59:40 +0100 revor
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/13/qbe-survey-finds-dc-cabling-and-plug-connections-are-most-common-causes-of-pv-fires/?utm_source=newsletter_gl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily&utm_content=20260813]]> Solar Panel Fire https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=311202#Comment_311202 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18440&Focus=311202#Comment_311202 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:40:12 +0100 LF
Little suitcase camping gas stove? Many of the cannisters do not have relief valves.
Need to be crv type. I'll try to find a link again later. Someone else died again recently.


Charging Batteries in loft space? Failed lithium battery?

I delayed battery storage/solar 2 years ago after realising what can happen with batteries.
Just relooking now.]]>