Research and analysis

Fire safety: Fire spread over pitched roofs with solar panels

Experimental test results of how different photovoltaic (PV) panel installations affect fire spread over sloped residential building roofs.

• From: Health and Safety Executive
• Published: 22 December 2025

Applies to England

Documents

Fire spread over pitched roofs fitted with solar panels (summary)

HTML

Fire spread over pitched roofs fitted with solar panels (full report)

PDF, 1.26 MB, 18 pages

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Details

Research on how different factors affect fire spread, including PV panel type, whether PV panels are above or integrated into roofs, and the type of roof tile and roof membrane materials.

The project aims to determine what design elements increase fire spread over a roof.

This experiment update report summarises initial findings ahead of the publication of the full report.

Background 

The Building Safety Regulator commissioned the research as part of the technical review of Approved Document B (fire safety).

Researchers at the Health and Safety Executive carried out the work. The findings and recommendations do not represent government policy.

Published 22 December 2025