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Building insurers and local fire brigades are increasingly demanding that rooftop photovoltaic systems switch off automatically in the event of a fire. This switch-off device must be placed when the string cables enter the building. Automatic switch-off occurs when the fire brigade switches off the building's power supply. This allows the fire brigade to carry out extinguishing work in an emergency without being unnecessarily endangered. When the power supply is restored, the PV Next Fireman Switch automatically reconnects the PV strings.
The PV Next Fireman Switch automatically disconnects PV modules from the grid in case of fire. Various connection types ensure maximum flexibility during installation.
The fireman's switches are extremely compact and offer the possibility of bundling strings close to the PV modules. This saves up to 50 % of cable and time during installation.
In order to optimally meet the increasing demand, we keep standard versions of our PV products permanently available from stock.
Are you looking for solutions to increase the efficiency of your photovoltaic installation projects? Here we give you an overview of the right products for reliable protection in commercial and residential buildings. Find out more about our PV combiner boxes, surge protection, tools and the fitting products for different inverter types.
An emergency shutdown in the event of a fire is specified by the building insurer or the local fire brigade. In this case, the string lines running in the building must be switched off automatically if a fire brigade operation is required. The technical solution is a fireman switch, which is installed at the entry point of the string cables into the building.
Further information is available in our Fact Sheet .
The fireman switch is connected to the 230 V low-voltage network. An evaluation electronics unit in the PV Next Fireman Switches detects when the fire brigade has disconnected the 230V low-voltage network. In this case, the fireman switch automatically separates the DC side and thus interrupts the flow of current from the PV modules. When the low-voltage network is switched back on, the fireman switch also detects this and automatically switches the strings back on again.
Further information is available in our Fact Sheet.
The PV Next Fireman Switch disconnects the flow of electricity from the PV modules as soon as the main connection box of the low-voltage network is switched off. This separates the power supply via PV cables in the building from the fireman switch. The target is to protect the fire brigade from danger during extinguishing and rescue work inside the building. For this reason, the PV Next Fireman Switch should be installed as close as possible to the modules, or at the latest where the PV cables enter the building.
Further information is available in our Fact Sheet .
To ensure that the PV Next Fireman Switch separates the current flow of the PV modules on the DC side, the low-voltage network must be switched off. If the photovoltaics emergency stop button is connected in series with the 230V supply of the firremanswitch, the 230V supply to the fire brigade switch can be interrupted and thus triggered. The PV cables can thus be separated by the fireman switch without having to switch off the main distribution board.
Further information is available in our Fact Sheet .
For PV systems, surge protection in a combiner box is mandatory as part of a building's lightning protection system and, since 2019, in accordance with VDE 0100-712, DIN 62305-3 Bbl.5 and DIN CLC/TS 51643-32:2020. It is necessary that the surge protection, as well as the fireman switch, is installed at the building entrance. The PV Next Fireman Switches are already available with integrated surge protection. This means that with PV Next, only one combiner box needs to be installed, which combines both functions.
Further information is available in our Fact Sheet .
The PV Next Fireman Switch separates the PV cables at the point where they enter the building, interrupting the power supply from the PV modules. However, the cables are still connected to the inverter inside the building. If capacitors are installed in the inverter, voltage may remain on the PV cables for a certain period of time. However, dangerous currents due to the PV performance can no longer occur.
Further information is available in our Fact Sheet .
Jan Marrenbach
Strategic Product Manager Photovoltaics
