New Guidelines for Solar Panels; What Installers May Not Be Telling You

Important safety information

One of our neighbours with panels © Susie Kearley

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I took part in a solar panel joint buying scheme recently, accepted my recommendation, and with some trepidation paid a £150 deposit towards my installation before I’d had a chance to speak to anyone.

I’d much rather have had a chance to explain our requirements and concerns to the installer before committing, but that isn’t how the scheme works.

The scheme assured us of the highest quality contractors vetted by the council’s vigorous process, offering a discounted price as part of the group scheme. We’d been considering solar for a long time, so it seemed like a good opportunity.

The contractor came round to do a survey to finalise the deal. We were concerned about fire risks associated with the batteries.

“There’s no risk,” said the surveyor, who went on to explain that new guidance issued by the regulators simply said the battery should not be installed in the loft — because if there’s a fire caused by something else, there’s a risk of the battery falling through the ceiling and blocking an exit route. Also, there should be adequate ventilation.