MCS update on solar PV module fire classification challenges
27 February 2025
In late 2023, the MCS Solar Mounting Working Group became aware of a change to a European standard that had taken effect in September 2023. This change meant that fire test laboratories were no longer in a position to issue a fire classification for roof integrated solar systems. You can read more about that in our previous update here.
MCS TAKES ACTION
We know that this issue is affecting both our installer and manufacturer base, and is potentially damaging to the industry, so we’ve taken steps to find a solution.
Firstly, MCS convened several meetings with representatives from the Building Safety Regulator, the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish governments, fire test laboratories and BSI. We stressed to those present in the meetings that there was an urgent need for a solution as, without one, the UK’s deployment of solar PV could be harmed.
Following this, we sent a letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Alex Norris MP. In this letter, we outlined the issue, the impact it could have on industry, and requested an urgent meeting to seek clarification and discuss potential solutions. The letter had the support of 25 signatories from across industry, including industry trade bodies, distributors, manufacturers, installers, certification bodies, testing facilities, and members of the MCS Technical Working Groups.
Since sending the letter, the MCS team and chair of the FSH 22/8 committee (BSI’s committee for ‘fire resistance tests for external fire exposure for roofs’) had a meeting with MHCLG and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in January. The meeting discussed the changes to Approved Document B and BS EN 17825, and the impact it is having and will continue to have on industry.
As the regulatory and standards changes are already set, the group highlighted the need for a dedicated testing standard for solar products to complete a fire test and in turn gain a fire classification. However, MCS are aware that whilst this is a long-term aim, and MCS will work with the chair of the FSH 22/8 committee to offer support in developing this standard, the development of a standard is not a quick solution. Therefore, as an interim measure, MCS will be developing a guidance document for industry use. This aims to provide testing laboratories with a means of applying the TS 1187:2012 test to solar products and subsequently gain a fire classification. Whilst we hope the guidance document will fulfill a short-term solution, we expect the information within the guidance document will help inform the dedicated standard.
NEXT STEPS
On 12 March, MCS is meeting face-to-face with the chair of the FSH 22/8 committee and various testing laboratories to start the development of the guidance document. Following this, a follow-up meeting with MHCLG and HSE has been scheduled early April to discuss the progress of the guidance document and more broadly, to continue working together on these proposed solutions. We encourage any additional fire testing laboratories who are interested in joining the face-to-face meeting on 12 March to email meetings@mcscertified.com.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Collaboration has been at the heart of our approach to this issue. MCS is in a unique position within the industry to interact with stakeholders throughout the sector – including installers, manufacturers and trade bodies – which is important for issues that impact a range of different people. We have continued to work closely with our Solar PV and Solar Mounting Technical Working Groups throughout this process to assess the situation and identify the best approach to finding a solution.
We’d like to thank everyone who has supported MCS so far in addressing this issue, and we will continue to provide updates to industry.
REMAINING COMPLIANT
As a reminder, the only MCS compliant installation remains one where a roof-integrated mounting system is used in combination with one of the modules listed on its MCS 012 certificate – identified by a specific model code – as having a fire classification when used in combination with that mounting kit. Whilst there may be solar modules that are independently certified to MCS 005 (Solar PV Standard) and mounting kits that are certified to MCS 012 (Solar Mounting Kits), this does not infer they are certified as a combination.
Being certified as a combination means in-roof modules and mounting kits have undergone the relevant fire penetration and spread testing together. MCS 005 does not cover these tests.
Installers should do their due diligence and check the MCS 012 certificate of the mounting system they are looking to install, to ensure the specific module model number is listed. If there is any uncertainty whether a module and mounting kit are certified as a combination, please contact MCS.