New Study Exposes Fire Hazards in Solar-Powered Building Facades
Fire safety concerns have emerged around building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) facade systems, which are increasingly used in modern high-rise buildings. Current certifications, such as EN 13501 and ANSI/UL 1703, fail to predict how these systems perform in large-scale fires, according to new research from FM Global. FM Global conducted large-scale tests on five different BIPV facade systems. The results revealed major fire risks, including cavity fire spread, glass shattering, burning plastic encapsulants, and falling debris. Flexible BIPV modules showed particularly rapid vertical flame spread, with peak fire sizes far larger than those in cavity-wall systems.
Most tested systems exceeded the acceptable fire size limits set by ISO 3957. Electrical preheating under maximum-power conditions worsened the hazards, accelerating glass breakage and fire propagation within the facade cavities. To address these gaps, FM is developing a new approval standard—FM Approvals Examination Standard 4483—specifically for wall-mounted BIPV systems. The research will also shape future installation guidelines, product development, and industry standards for safer BIPV integration.
The findings highlight the need for stricter fire performance evaluations of entire BIPV facade assemblies, rather than individual components. FM's new standard aims to provide clearer safety benchmarks for manufacturers, installers, and regulators moving forward.
