A Danish-Norwegian research team has shed light on critical factors influencing fire propagation in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) facades, revealing that the gap distance between panels and walls, as well as combustible materials in wall cavities, play significant roles.
The study, conducted by researchers from Norway’s RISE Fire Research AS, the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (FRIC), and Denmark’s Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI), involved 35 experiments, including 25 with photovoltaic (PV) modules and 10 with green plant systems.
“PV modules contain polymers that can ignite,” explained Reidar Stølen from RISE. “The speed of ignition and the fire’s intensity depend on the size of the ignition source, the gap between the building and the module, and the panel’s structure—whether it has glass on one side or both.”
The findings indicate that smaller gaps between panels and walls (as narrow as 6 cm) and monofacial glass modules result in more intense fires. Increasing the gap by 4-5 cm or using bifacial glass modules significantly reduced fire intensity, as did reducing combustible materials in wall cavities.
The research also highlighted challenges in classifying PV systems under the EN 13501-1 fire safety standard, as current testing methods are not tailored to the unique properties of PV installations.
“We hope many more PV facades can be built in the future without compromising fire safety,” said co-author Janne Siren Fjærestad, noting the environmental and aesthetic benefits of such facades.
The findings underscore the importance of careful design and material selection to enhance fire safety in sustainable construction. Researchers also emphasized the need for updated testing protocols to address these emerging technologies effectively.
