Recently we were asked to visit a site to look at an accident scene involving a contractor. The contractors were installing solar panels on the roof of a warehouse. When completed these solar panels (and there are over 1,000) will generate nearly 1.5 mega watts of electricity. This will reduce energy cost at the warehouse by nearly 50%. HOWEVER, this also now makes the site a “power generator” and this puts them under 1910.269 – Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution standard.
This is a little hitch in the sales pitch of the “green power team”. In fact, most businesses doing these solar panel projects are those with a lot of open roof top (e.g. warehouses). I have done a lot of work at warehouses and I can not think of one that is anywhere near prepared to cope with the requirements found in 1910.269. BO BUYER BEWARE, it may save $ on energy cost and those savings will be long-term, but the do not forget to include the costs of complying with 1910.269, as these costs will be long-term and will ALWAYS be present as long as the site is generating power.
