In the past decade, solar energy has gained significant prominence worldwide as an emission-free and sustainable energy source. It has progressively become both economically viable and reliable. Nevertheless, faults in photovoltaic (PV) panels – such as faulty wiring, connector failures, combiner box malfunctions, and plugs prone to overheating or ignition – pose substantial fire risks to industrial facilities and commercial properties.
During 2023, an established technical solutions integrator sought a state-of-the-art fire detection and monitoring system to safeguard a high-value operational facility in the Netherlands. The principal goal was to reduce fire-related threats originating from rooftop solar PV modules, which posed a risk of undetected fire propagation potentially jeopardising the facility’s critical operations.
The end user required an advanced fire detection system capable of comprehensive monitoring across all areas susceptible to electrical overheating associated with the rooftop solar PV infrastructure. The system needed to accommodate the dispersed layout of the PV components distributed across the open rooftop surface. Due to this complex and spatially distributed configuration, conventional fire detection methods, such as point-type sensors, were deemed unsuitable.
SenseTek B.V., Bandweaver’s authorised distributor in the Netherlands, possessed prior collaboration experience with the technical solutions integrator and was engaged for this project. The proposed technical solution was required to demonstrate the capability to detect overheating behind PV cable wiring before receiving approval. SenseTek B.V. thoroughly analysed the end-user’s fire detection requirements and supplied Bandweaver’s fiber optic-based Linear Heat Detection (LHD) system, the FireLaser DTS.
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