PV Fire Safety (PVFS) – Stay Ahead of the Fire Risk, Not Behind It
The ISCA PV Fire Safety (PVFS) course is designed for solar panel cleaners, O&M teams and business owners who work around high-voltage DC every day. You’ll learn how to prevent fires on and around PV systems, how to recognise early warning signs, and how to respond safely if something goes wrong – without guessing, and without putting your crew at risk.
Who The PVFS Course Is For
This advanced course is designed to be taken after the ISCA Foundation SPCT course. It is ideal for:
-
Solar panel cleaning companies working on residential, commercial and utility-scale sites
-
Solar O&M and maintenance teams
-
Business owners who need to prove they take PV fire risk seriously to insurers and clients
-
Health & Safety managers responsible for working-at-height and live electricity tasks
What you’ll be able to do after PVFS
After completing PVFS, you will be able to:
-
Explain how PV fires start and the real-world causes behind them (not just the theory).
-
Identify common fire risks on rooftops, carports and ground-mount arrays before they turn into incidents.
-
Carry out safer working methods around live DC when cleaning and maintaining arrays.
-
Communicate clearly with clients, insurers and fire services about PV fire risk and your control measures.
-
Build PV fire safety into your JHAs, RAMS and method statements so they stand up to scrutiny after an incident.
Risk & Insurance Benefits
Solar arrays don’t just represent a fire risk to buildings – they also put your staff, firefighting crews and the public at risk if they’re not understood properly.
PVFS helps you:
-
Reduce the likelihood of fire caused by damage, poor routing, birds, contamination and poor maintenance.
-
Document your PV fire safety controls in a way that insurers and investigators understand.
-
Show clients that you’re not “just a window cleaner on a roof” – you’re trained to work safely around live DC and elevated fire risk.
What You Get
Your PVFS enrollment includes:
-
Full PV Fire Safety training with ISCA
-
PVFS digital certificate valid for 2 years
-
A social media version of your certificate so you can promote your new qualification
- Peace of mind, should you have an accident or health and safety audit
Why Now?
PV fire incidents are increasing as systems age, get dirtier and suffer more physical damage over time. In some leading solar powered countries, firefighters are being called on average, to 1 PV fire every 2 days! If your name is on the invoice, your name is in the frame when something goes wrong. PVFS gives you the knowledge and language to show that you took fire risk seriously before an incident – not after.
ISCA trains solar panel cleaners and O&M professionals across the UK, USA and mainland Europe. PVFS is built on real incident data, real site experience and the realities of working at height around live DC – not classroom theory written by people who’ve never been on a roof.
FAQs
Q: How quickly do I get my PVFS certificate?
Standard: within 5–7 working days of completing the course. Need it faster? Add the Express Certification Pack and we’ll send your documents within 1 working day.
Q: Who recognises ISCA training?
All ISCA training courses are designed to fulfil training requirements from the major health and safety bodies from around the world, including OSHA, HSE, EU-OSHA & SWA. None endorse specific training companies or courses. The requirement to train always rests with the operative and employee. Amazon, BMW, IKEA, Rolls Royce and many others use companies who have their staff ISCA-certified.
Q: Does PVFS help with insurers and tenders?
Yes. Many clients and insurers now expect evidence that you understand PV fire risk. PVFS gives you a recognised certificate plus wording you can add to your paperwork to show that you’ve trained for PV fire safety specifically, not just generic working at height.
Course Contents
1️⃣ Why Train About Fire?
2️⃣ Lessons From Firefighters (Yes — the people who’ve actually fought these fires!)
3️⃣ Solar Array Components
4️⃣ How PV Fires Start 🔥
5️⃣ PV Fire Hazard Communication Protocols 🗣️
6️⃣ How & When to Use Fire Extinguishers
7️⃣ Proper Selection & Use of PPE
8️⃣ A Real-World Incident That Will Change How You Work Forever