What is Rapid Shutdown and Why Is It Important?

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Rapid Shutdown is an electrical safety requirement set by the National Electrical Code (NEC) for photovoltaic panel systems. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Rapid Shutdown is included in the NEC. We hope fire hazards do not occur, but in the event of a fire, firefighters can use a rapid shutdown solution to immediately cut off power to your photovoltaic panel system to prevent larger disasters.

Why is Rapid Shutdown Important?

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We can shut down inverters to prevent energy generated by modules from passing through the inverters. However, photovoltaic modules continue to generate electricity when exposed to sunlight, causing current and voltage on wires between the modules and inverters. This is why the Rapid Shutdown code requires shutdowns to occur at the Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE) or microinverters to achieve this function.

Do Inverters Solve the Issue?

Surprisingly, simply shutting down a solar inverter does not always ensure your safety. For certain inverter configurations, even when the inverter is shut down, wires and circuits may remain energized, increasing risks for firefighters working on your rooftop and potentially causing more dangers. This is why we need a solar rapid shutdown system.

source： United States National Fire Administration

Data Shows as of December 1, 2022. The 2020 NEC was effective in 25 states in the United States, the 2017 NEC in 17 states, and the 2014 NEC in two states. The 2008 NEC was effective in two states in the United States.

Fonrich Solar Rapid Shutdown Solution

Fonrich places great importance on rapid shutdown, particularly at the module level. With a decade-long commitment to module-level protection products for solar energy, Fonrich’s module-level rapid shutdown systems comply with NEC 2017 and NEC 2020 (690.12) requirements. Fonrich’s FR-PVMS series products protect employee safety in cases of photovoltaic panel overheating, arc faults, and leakage, preventing fires and destruction of photovoltaic panels.

Summary

As photovoltaic renewable energy plays an increasingly crucial role in the energy sector, NEC requirements become more essential. Fonrich’s module-level rapid shutdown systems and solutions have been implemented in over 1000 practical project cases. Practical experience has earned Fonrich’s reliable sunshade products high customer trust. For further information, please contact us via the dashboard and contact form.