A Guide on Solar Safety Concerns and How to Make Things 100% Risk-Free?
It was June 2023
The Biporjoy storm had just walked into the Indian subcontinent
Unexpectedly, it started releasing winds up to 130 kmph
And then it happened — the storm sent many solar panels and mounting structures flying left and right like rag dolls
Wondering what made us jog up your memory of the Biporjoy storm, especially when this post is supposed to be about solar safety concerns?
Well, that’s because what happened to residential rooftop solar PV systems due to weather extremes in 2023 happened because people were unaware that solar safety concerns can even erupt if the installation isn’t done by professional installation and maintenance companies.
In the absence of professional services, different risks that can put a question mark on your investment in solar include electrical safety and fire hazards, water leakage issues, and storm safety risks.
Having said that, it’s equally important to understand that the solar safety concerns we’re talking about do not pose any risk to homeowners who hire professional vendors to take care of the solar installation from start to end!
As long as you choose tier 1 solar panels, the latest technology solar inverters, cyclone-proof solar panel stands (mounting structures), and opt for chemical anchoring, safe installation, and regular maintenance by expert and reliable installation companies, solar PV systems are 100% risk-free! It’s only when people ignore professional help that safety can get jeopardized.
And now, without further ado, we present to you the gift of transparency — our promise that by the end of this post, you will be aware of all the solar installation risks that nobody wants you to know and how you can ensure that the on grid solar system installed on your rooftop never causes you any trouble.
Top 3 Risks Related to Poor Solar Installation – How to Mitigate Those Solar Safety Concerns?
Solar is a lifelong commitment — that system on a rooftop produces free electricity for its owner for at least 25 years! And we believe that anyone willing to trust us for the next 25 years deserves to know the entire truth about solar safety before they bring the system home.
So, we’re bringing to your attention the 3 solar safety concerns related to poor solar installation that you must know before giving a system a permanent residence on your rooftop!
#1. Electrical Safety and Fire Hazards
Having an on grid solar system means your roof is accommodating powerful machinery that can have up to 1000 volts of electricity running through it. We’re not kidding!
Factually speaking, solar panels produce DC electricity –
- – When the connection in your home is single-phase, that DC power can be as high as 600 volts
- – If the connection is 3-phase, the same DC power can be as high as 1000 volts
And there’s a reason households strictly run on AC (alternating current) power, not DC (Direct Current) — the let-go threshold of Direct Current is higher than that of Alternating Current. It means that AC current is less risky than DC current. While withdrawing from a DC shock is almost impossible, AC current still gives a chance!
This is why alternating current is a safer choice for household devices! Therefore, a solar inverter is an integral part of solar PV systems as it converts DC power into AC power.
Now, imagine for yourself —
- – What if the connection between the solar panels and the inverter is not secured properly?
- – What if the connectors are not standard MC4 connectors?
- – What if the cables aren’t crimped with the proper standard crimping tools?
- – What if the DC cables used by the vendor are not standard cables that can handle the high outdoor DC voltage?
- – What if the screws come loose?
In fact, loose connections can cause arcing, which can lead to fire accidents at the installation site.
We can’t further insist on why solar installation should not be treated as a DIY project. You might find many videos on how to install solar PV systems yourself, but none of those videos will ever foretell the safety risks we just stated. On top of it, choosing professionals who aren’t qualified to execute safe solar installation & after sales maintenance is just as risky as installing the rooftop solar systems yourself.
How to remove these solar safety concerns completely?
Always remember: there’s no alternative to having professionals take care of the installation part. Safe solar installation requires high-level engineering skills (civil, mechanical, electrical, and electronics engineering).
So, it’s imperative that you choose an installation and maintenance company that can offer the guidance of experts who have the educational qualification and experience to assemble the many components that actually make an on grid solar system.
Also remember, the company you choose should:
- – Use only tier-1 solar panels and components to install your rooftop solar system
- – Perform a 12-month shadow analysis before finalizing the system design suitable for your rooftop
- – Offer modular mounting structures that are HDGI coated so they can remain 100% rust-proof for at least 25 years
- – Offer additional services including proper hardware checks, regular system maintenance, and remote monitoring of the units your system generates
And if you think all this will be very expensive – we’d say, think again! The government and #MNRE has a Solar Rooftop Yojana in place that provides solar installation at subsidized rates to homeowners. And the subsidy has increased by a whopping 23% from before.
In fact, the latest Solar Rooftop Yojana launched by PM Modi, the Pradhanmantri Suryoday Yojana, will help solarize 1 crore homes in the next few years at subsidized rates for people below a certain income slab!
#2. The Risk of Water Leakage on the Roof
Installing an on grid solar system on a rooftop requires drilling on the roof to erect the mounting structure. If those holes aren’t sealed to perfection, they will lead to water leakage issues after installation. And the situation will eventually get worse during the rainy season.
Although it might not look that risky an affair to start with, do not be fooled — water leakage through cracks that mechanical anchoring cannot seal slowly weakens the infrastructure. It could bring down the entire roof. And not to forget, water is an exceptional conductor of electricity, which poses a risk of electric shocks.
How to remove these solar safety concerns permanently?
- Solutions For RCC rooftops
Ever heard of chemical anchoring? Well, that’s the answer to all problems related to water leakage.
“A special waterproofing chemical by the famous brand, HILTI, creates an Airtight seal that fills even the micro-cracks that happen on an RCC roof upon drilling.”
The reason why SolarSquare offers chemical anchoring over mechanical anchoring is because HILTI’s chemical is no ordinary chemical. It’s the world’s leading waterproofing chemical that’s so secure that it is also used in the construction of dams since it can easily handle the pressure created by large water bodies.
We also offer water leakage protection of up to 1 lakh rupees to all our customers. It means the customer will be fairly compensated if the area where we’ve installed the plant leaks. That’s our confidence level in our design, engineering, and installation teams!
No matter how heavily it rains during the monsoon, our HILTI airtight seal will ensure that there’s no leakage whatsoever.
- Solutions for Metallic Shade Rooftops
If you have a metallic roof, you can’t install 6 to 9-feet solar PV stands to mount solar panels. That’s because even a 1 kW system mounted on top of these structures exerts a load of 25-30 kg per square foot on the roof. Needless to say, the metallic roof cannot hold such a heavy weight. What you need instead are full-rail aluminum structures!
Did you know?
SolarSquare always gets the strength of a metallic roof scientifically tested by civil engineers to ensure that the rooftop can handle the solar system’s weight, so there’s 0% risk of structure collapse post installation.
#3. Cyclone and Storm Risk
The blame behind what Biporjoy did to many rooftop solar systems in 2023 goes to how poorly most solar panel stands are assembled in India – they’re erected on the installation site by simply cutting and welding steel pipes.
- – Many vendors use reused or second-hand steel, which gets too brittle too soon
- – The square steel pipes cut and welded on site easily catch rust when the structure is exposed to weather extremities like the rain. It reduces the load-bearing capacity of the structure since rust makes steel very brittle
- – Cyclonic winds loosen the connections and joints of weak structures that can uproot the panels as well as the solar panel stands
How to remove these solar safety concerns permanently?
People who invest in storm-proof rooftop solar systems have nothing to worry about when it comes to cyclonic winds.
Here’s what we mean when we say storm-proof solar that can best even the most untamed winds and rains –
- – Opting for anticyclone mounting structures to install solar panels — Our high-resilience WindPro mounting structures are fabricated in industrial units using automated machines. As a result, these solar panel stands do not have any weak joints; hence, they can handle storms with wind speeds as high as 170 kmph
- – Opting for corrosion-proof structures — We use only branded first-hand steel from top steel manufacturers such as Tata and Essar. It’s further dipped in molten zinc. This additional galvanizing step creates a thick rust-proof coating of 80 microns on the steel surface. The degradation rate of this zinc coating is just 3 microns per year. This means that even after 25 years, our solar panel stand will have a coating of 5 microns left. As a result, the mounting structures we offer stay rust-free for at least 25 years
- – Opting for precision installation — The solar panels and other components we assemble on-site are never screwed manually. We use a special automatic torque-tightening machine and standard crimping tools to secure all joints, nuts, and bolts
- – Opting for advanced technology – The latest Pokayoke technology that SolarSquare uses is extremely advanced. When applied to solar installations, it takes the possibility of human errors out of question. That’s because Pokayoke uses methods like including color-coded or uniquely-shaped connectors that only fit together one way. The installation crew only has to follow what’s already pre-designed by the company. Hence, our installations stay intact no matter how extreme the winds are
In fact, SolarSquare is the only company with mounting structures that are —
- – Certified as anticyclonic by the prestigious institute, IIT Bombay
- – Certified by the American Society of Civil Engineers
- – Certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and ISI marked
Always make sure that the installation experts you hire offer all these benefits to eradicate solar safety concerns and make solar installation 100% risk-free for you!
Why Shouldn’t You Try to Self-Maintain the Solar System Post Installation?
Self-maintenance of rooftop solar systems post-installation is risky for the same reason why self-installation is risky — there’s a DC current running through the system. Even a slight fault in any equipment or loose connections must be handled with deep care. Any glitch can —
- – Result in domestic fires
- – Lead to injuries and fatalities for residents
- – Lead to damage in your valuable solar system
On the contrary, trained professionals have the skills and tools to thoroughly inspect the wiring and components. Actual maintenance and debris removal starts only after professionals fix the identified issues.
Conclusion
“A smart man only believes half of what he hears, a wise man knows which half”
American Author, Columnist, and Korean War Combat, Jeff Cooper
Before we started this article, most of you knew that electricity produced by sunlight is extremely safe and clean!
What you probably didn’t know was that the solar PV systems that convert sunlight into electricity can pose solar safety concerns, including electrical safety and fire hazards, water leakage risk, and storm safety concerns.
But that’s no longer the case – you have enough information to call a spade a spade.
The only thing that’s left to do is to act –
- – Choose the right installation and maintenance company that has the required expertise and calibre to provide maintenance over life of your solar system
- – Install tier-1 solar components that are weatherproof
For any further info, contact SolarSquare, and our experts will help you choose the most robust rooftop solar systems according to your roof type!
