SAFER Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2023
SAFER Board Attendees: Pres Manzano, Rabe, Past Pres. Gurrola & Quinn + ??
Anaheim Fire & Rescue Department @ North Net Trng Cntr
2400 E Orangewood Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806
0910 Meeting called to order – B/C Scott Quinn Introduced B/C Lou Manzano as new SAFER President.
B/C Scott Quinn’s contributions to SAFER and the LAFD was related by B/C Manzano
**Thanks to AllStar Fire Equipment for morning hospitality.
Flag Salute led by – B/C Montano
Chief Gurrola introduced todays Topic / Presenter
Program: Strategies & Tactics to safely mitigate incidents involving Electric Vehicle Fires & Residential / Commercial Structure Fires involving Solar Panels & Battery Storage Systems
Presented by: Captain Richard Birt (Ret)
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue – Founder of Solar & Fire Education (S.A.F.E.)
*Provides FREE training to Fire Departments (702) 523-6945
Richard related his history / background in route to becoming a firefighter.
Solar + Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
Developing an IAP (Incident Action Plan) with strategies / tactics for fires that involve residential SOLAR and Battery Storage Devices.
Power (KW) = Voltage x Current
Residential 600 volts, commercial applications up to 2000 volts
Solar inverters: Converts DC electricity to 240 volts AC connected to an electrical panel.
Electrical Panels distribution point for 120 & 240 home circuits, connected to utility
Power can’t “back feed” the grid as inverters auto cut when utility source fails.
New code will drop panel power to around 80 volts when line voltage is cut
Micro inverters make the DC into AC at each panel – much safer for FF’s
House “Islands” from the grid after a power outage and runs off batteries
Home storage batteries: (DC Battery)
1. Tesla Powerwall – Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide 150 C to runaway / “NMC”
2. LG Chem Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide – 210 C / “NMC”
3. Enphase IQ Battery – Lithium Iron Phosphate – 270 C / “LFP”
Battery cells can begin degrading as low as 93 c
SOP: Build policy to ask RP’s questions for dispatcher on “Electrical Investigation” incidents to determine if the location has solar / storage battery systems. Report same to dispatch page
Ventilate area around storage battery systems when “Inside” like a garage
Use TIC and 4-gas to detect displaced oxygen from the Carbon Monoxide off-gas
All off-gas Carbon Monoxide (CO) & Hydrogen (H)
Build information on what local resources are available in your agency response area
How to control electrical utilities safely on a working fire:
Main breaker won’t kill all building power as the SOLAR Storage Battery system will “power-up” the building
Look for WARNING signage on main panel: Notify IC / Officer in Command
1. Three Power Sources
a. Grid
b. SOLAR
c. Battery
2. Photovoltaic System
3. Energy Storage System Disconnect
Stop the flow of electricity from main panel to house:
a. Shut off main electrical grid by switching main breaker off
b. Shut off SOLAR when panels have micro inverter by turning off “AC” feed from panels off.
c. Disconnecting the Batteries
· Handled disconnect
· Battery Switch
Lithium Ion Battery Fire Problems
When charging the off-gas Carbon Monoxide & Hydrogen
DON’T PUT WATER ON GRID ELECTRICITY!
Extinguish SOLAR panel fire with water, broken or fog stream, from at least 20 feet
Overhaul is where the danger is
Cover panels with 3 mil black plastic to stop most electrical generation (Daytime)
Cover on every working fire
Stay away from panels and conduits running to inverters or charge controllers at all costs
Know where conduits are before cutting a hole in a roof
If it’s impossible to find a sale are to ventilate on the roof (clear of solar panels and conduit) then horizontal ventilation should be the tactic used
Always assume to solar panels and the conduits are energized
Extinguishing a Battery Fire:
· Straight stream from 20 feet way (100-150 PSI or 10 feet with fog pattern (100-150 PSI)
· After fire is extinguished , cool the battery to ambient air temp with same attack line with copious amount of water
· Once the battery has been extinguished and cooled it needs to be removed from the residence by a qualified electrician because of the potential for rekindle
· Don’t use FOAM on Battery fires
NC Codes:
· UL 9540 – A safety standard for energy storage systems
· UL 9540A – Test method for thermal “Run Away” propagation in battery storage systems – (AKA – Large Scale Fire Testing) Based on 97 degree rise in temperature
· UL 3741
Flooded EV / or garage battery system will either start off-gassing or simply short out.
First in needs to ventilate till off-gassing stops
CAR FIRE:
Don’t touch the hood, only spray water on hood to cool it down, but the batteries are not going to be extinguished until they’ve completed their burn
Move uninvolved EV’s away from heat source ASAP
Utility STORAGE Vaults: SOLAR Farms: don’t approach. Go defensive! Stay Outside the fence
Code Sources: NFPA, IEC, SEAC, ANSI , ICC
UL 9540 & NEC 3741
2022 California Residential Code
California Fire Code
“Ensemble System” = Grid – SOLAR Panels – Batteries – Inverters
Enphase Representative, Mark Baldassari , explained the “Codes” that cover the various elements of their products and the benefits of LFP storage batteries compared to other manufactures. He related the relevance of each standard for the Fire Service, residential and commercial applications.