BRE Creates New Industry Network to Increase Solar PV Safety

• Content
• Environment & Sustainability
• BRE Creates New Industry Network to Increase Solar PV Safety

12 December 2025

A new steering group of industry organisations will analyse the fire safety of solar PV (photovoltaic) systems.

The PV Fire Intelligence Network (PV-FIN) will be chaired by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and includes: MCS Company, Fire Industry Association, CGM Group UK, Enphase Energy, IMO Precision Controls, PVStop, SolarEdge Technologies, ArcBox (division of Viridian Solar) and Solar Energy UK.

The network will identify the specific causes and consequences of solar PV-related fires and create a selection of recommendations and solutions to reduce the risk of these in the future.

It will focus on three areas: collecting reliable data on PV fire incidents, engaging stakeholders including fire and rescue services, manufacturers, installers, and researchers to fill current knowledge gaps, and analysing trends to identify causes and patterns of solar PV fires in the UK.

The group will deliver the project within a year, and all the data will be summarised into a publicly available paper.

Principal Consultant Raman Chagger at BRE said: “Making solar PV systems safer is essential if we are to encourage their adoption and, ultimately, make the successful transition to clean energy.

“We do not know the extent to which fires occur within solar PV systems and how this could have a potential knock-on effect on UK solar deployment.

“With the collective expertise and data-led approach of the group, we will identify potential solutions to this challenge. These could involve updates to public and industry guidance, product improvements, or revised standards and codes, alongside areas for further research in the future.”

Picture: a photograph showing a close-up of a solar panel. Image Credit: Pexels

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 12 December 2025

Share

Related Articles