Having It Both Ways-Finding a balance between fire safety and environmental concern

摘要

WHEN AN 11-ALARM FIRE broke out at the Dietz & Watson distribution center in Delanco, New Jersey, last September, hundreds of firefighters from surrounding communities responded. But the 300,000-square-foot (27,871 -square-meter) facility was completely destroyed, in part because the 7,000 photovoltaic panels on the roof kept the firefighters from doing their job. In media reports, the fire chief said he was concerned that firefighters risked electrocution if he allowed them on the roof. “With all that power and energy up there, I can't jeopardize a guy's life for that," he was quoted as saying. A new section was added to the 2012 edition of NFPA 1, Fire Code, to address these operational concerns, but it's unclear to what extent the provisions are being considered.