Ensuring safety under UL3741

Wednesday, 30. August 2023
11:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT, Los Angeles | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT, New York City | 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid

By assembling a panel of experts, to critically examine the risks and drawbacks of non-DC optimized solutions, especially in rooftop applications, webinar’s partner Solaredge demonstrates its commitment to a safer approach to UL3741 compliance. The panel in this pv magazine Webinar will cover topics such as compliance with codes and standards, design considerations, and the risks posed to firefighters and O&M workers when working around rooftop arrays.

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The UL3741 Standard for Photovoltaic Hazard Control allows for both module-level power electronics (MLPE) and non-MLPE solutions. The UL standard outlines rapid shutdown requirements for PV systems, and while the requirement first appeared in the 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC), it wasn’t until 2021 that equipment started carrying the UL3741 label. According to UL, the standard was developed to protect firefighters from shock hazards when responding to emergencies in homes and buildings with solar arrays. It is recognized and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada.

Industry experts say that some non-MLPE solutions, while NEC compliant, raise safety concerns as they leave the DC array at high voltage levels (1000VDC) during rapid shutdown. This can be seen as a step back in safety, particularly for firefighters.

By assembling a panel of experts, Bill Brooks, principal at Brooks Engineering, Jason Bobruk, director of Code Compliance at Solaredge, Anthony Granato, president at Energy Response Solutions LLC, and Lucas Titolo, VP Engineering at Solar Landscape, to critically examine the risks and drawbacks of non-DC optimized solutions, especially in rooftop applications, webinar’s partner Solaredge demonstrates its commitment to a safer approach to UL3741 compliance. The panel in this pv magazine Webinar will cover topics such as compliance with codes and standards, design considerations, and the risks posed to firefighters and O&M workers when working around rooftop arrays. Panelists include experts in codes and standards, project development, and firefighting.

pv magazine Webinar content:

Understand the real intent of UL3741 code standard.
Understand the potential risks associated with solutions that do not use DC optimization.
Get insights into the design considerations and code compliance requirements for rooftop PV arrays and discuss best practices for ensuring safety and compliance.
Q&A

Questions can be submitted beforehand in the comments window when registering or in the chat during the live webinar. Anne Fischer, senior editor at pv magazine USA, will be the moderator of this webinar.

Registration for this pv magazine webinar is free of charge.

Speakers

Bill Brooks | Principal, Brooks Engineering

Bill Brooks, PE, is Principal of Brooks Engineering and has over 30 years of experience designing, installing, and evaluating grid-connected PV systems. He has written numerous technical manuals and articles for the PV industry that are widely used throughout the United States and beyond. He has trained over 15,000 contractors and code officials over the past 25 years. Mr. Brooks is an active participant on many national and international codes and standards panels including UL1703 (PV Modules), UL1741 (Inverters), and UL2703 (Mounting Systems) Standards Technical Panels. He represents the Photovoltaic Industry Code Council on Code Making Panel 4 of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Jason Bobruk | Director, Code Compliance, SolarEdge

After pursuing highly technical careers in oil and gas exploration and commercial HVAC, Jason realized his true calling was in renewable energy where he continues to inspire people. It became abundantly obvious that in the world around him, a viable source of clean energy had to be adopted. His college physics teacher always encouraged him to follow his passions and avoid embracing a single solution. In 2005 he made a pivot and started a budding career in the solar industry at Sharp Electronics managing leading solar product lines. Since then he has contributed to deploying a breadth of cutting edge solutions from record high efficiency triple junction solar modules to record efficiency inverters with integrated EV chargers and batteries. He’s served on numerous standards writing committees, building and electrical code panels, and policy intervening groups, while collaborating with industry leaders on renewable energy policies and grid modernization and security.

Anthony Granato | President, Energy Response Solutions LLC

Tony Granato is the President/Owner of Energy Response Solutions LLC, a 30-year veteran of the fire service spending a majority of his career with the Manchester Fire Rescue EMS Department. As well as serving as a Connecticut certified fire instructor with 14+ years of teaching experience, Tony has co-developed and taught three PV safety programs to firefighters nationwide since 2013. He is an active member of Underwriters Laboratories 1741 and 3741 standard technical panels, a licensed Connecticut E2 Journeyman Electrician since 1989, and serves as the Primary representative for the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) on NFPA 70 (code making panel 4) which primarily deals with article 690, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems.

Lucas Titolo | Vice President, Engineering, Solar Landscape

Lucas Titolo is a nationally recognized leader in commercial rooftop solar. As the Vice President of Engineering at Solar Landscape, he manages the engineering and design teams for the country's leading vertically integrated commercial rooftop solar company. He has supervised the design of more than 200 projects, including more than 70 community solar projects that will bring solar energy to tens of thousands of Americans. He began in the solar industry immediately after receiving his engineering degree at Cornell University, starting out as a design engineer at a solar developer in New York City.

Moderators

Anne Fischer | Senior editor, pv magazine USA

Anne Fischer is a senior editor at pv magazine USA. Anne is a seasoned writer, editor, and journalist. Her career has included writing for leading technology publications, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainability.