Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tucson, Arizona
8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
$50, FREE for first responders
Hosted by the Southern Arizona Solar Standards Board, in cooperation with the Pima Association of Governments

REGISTRATION: rgurnett@pagnet.org or call 520-792-1093

First Session, 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Renewable Energy Systems and Firefighter Safety – Recommended Response Guidelines.

Second Session, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
How to develop and implement a successful firefighter outreach program for your PV business.

In the past, only firefighters in remote or rural areas ever expected to see renewable energy systems during emergency responses. Today, the proliferation of grid-tied photovoltaic systems in urban, suburban, and wildland/urban interface areas means that all firefighters and their commanders stand a good chance of encountering these systems at any time and any place. Very few in the Fire Service are aware of the special safety precautions needed when operating near renewable energy systems, and this information is critical to their safety.

In addition, professional renewable energy installers are receiving a rapidly increasing number of requests for PV safety education from their local fire departments. However, most installers are not familiar with fire department emergency operations procedures, are unsure of how to present critical safety information in a manner meaningful to firefighters during the short time periods available for training, and are unaware of current Fire Service standard operating guidelines for emergency responses involving renewable energy systems.

This four-hour class is accredited by both NABCEP and IREC / ISPQ, and all students who successfully complete it are eligible for Continuing Education credits for both organizations. The class meets “code-specific” requirements for NABCEP CEUs.

Class includes:

• Introduction to fire department response procedures and safety concerns;
• Overview of current NEC requirements for firefighter safety and the reasoning behind them;
• Standard Operating Guidelines core presentation for firefighters, as taught by the accredited curriculum developer;
• Powerpoint for firefighters, Instructor's Guide and student handouts in electronic format, with use permission for teaching and re-distribution;
• Overview of current UL research and possible future NEC amendments regarding firefighter safety;
• Tips and observations from our last 3 years of teaching this class to firefighters;
• Question and answer session;
• Electronic access to critical future updates of the curriculum.