Bomba Issues New Solar Panel Installation Guideline For Homes And Buildings

As more homeowners, particularly those who also drive EVs, choose to embrace a clean energy ecosystem by installing solar panels at their homes, there is a growing need for a standard set of guidelines outlining proper solar panel installation procedures.

The new set of guidelines which would be issued by the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) will address the installation of solar panels in various structures across the country, reports Bernama.

According to JBPM Director-General Datuk Nor Hisham Mohamad, these rules are critical to ensuring appropriate safety measures are taken. He further stated that the execution of these new guideline standards was critical in view of the recent roof fire events - like the recent one at Mydin Manjoi.

These guidelines would solve the deficiency in security measures that are in place now, which led to firefighters having difficulty accessing affected areas from the roof due to interconnected solar panels on the supermarket's roof which was installed by GSPARX - a subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

The new standards, developed in partnership with the Energy Commission (ST) and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), will address issues such as panel spacing, size specifications, grouping, and other technical requirements.

Regarding the Mydin Manjoi fire investigation, it was also discovered that the fire was caused by an electrical distribution panel within the structure. With this, we can confidently dismiss any rumours that the fire was caused by the DC Fast Charger located at the hypermarket's entrance.