Is it safe to walk on solar panels?
Solar panels are not designed to be walked on. Walking on them can cause the glass surface to break and damage the cells beneath, reducing the efficiency of your system.
In North America, the average adult human weighs around 180 pounds, which translates to 90 pounds of weight on the panel surface.
Given that the average shoe size in the United States is 9 (average of men's and women's sizes), which has a surface area of approximately 0.22 square feet. Every step a person takes places 409 lbs per sq ft of pressure on the solar panel, which is enough to damage it.
Solar panels are made up of many small cells covered by tempered glass which protects the delicate silicon wafers from being damaged by things like weather conditions but also makes them susceptible to damage from human activity.
Walking across a row of panels will put weight in all these points and potentially cause cracks in the tempered glass protecting each cell.
If this happens then the damaged cell will not be able to function properly and generate electricity.
Here are other important reasons why you may not want to walk on your solar panels.
Poses the safety risks
Walking on solar panels not only bad for solar panels but may also likely cause the person walking to slip and fall especially in wet conditions.
If you must walk on your solar panels, wear heavy-duty rubber boots and safety equipment such as a hard hat and goggles. This will reduce the risk of any injury or electrocution.
Can you get shocked by walking on solar panels or solar cells?
It is possible but extremely unlikely. Solar installations, like any other electrical installation, are grounded with a ground wire to protect against electrocution or electric shocks.
If properly installed and earthed, this should only occur when grounding fails due to a design flaw; otherwise, these systems will shut down for safety reasons as soon as they detect too much power loss.
Can damaged solar panels cause a risk of fire?
Yes, if the problem is not fixed and is left unattended for an extended period of time, damaged solar panels can cause a fire. Particularly if they have cracks, these cracks will allow water to enter and cause short circuits and fires.
Will Void Your Warranty
As earlier mentioned solar panels are not designed to withstand foot traffic.
Walking on solar panels is considered misuse or improper installation procedure and will almost always void manufacturer warranties who require proper installation procedures before they'll honor their warranty agreements with customers.
Reduces lifespan of your system
Walking on solar panels can cause damage that will decrease the lifespan of the panel. Also, a lot of times walking on panels may not leave visible damage on the panels.
However, that doesn't mean there isn't any damage done to the panels.
In most cases, walking on solar panels will create micro-cracks or fractures that will reduce the amount of electricity produced. This can lead to a reduction of the lifespan of the system up to 25%.
I have seen some videos on Youtube showing individuals walking on solar panels and claiming that would be fine if it is done properly. This couldn't be any further and truth.
Every time someone walks or kneels on a solar panel, a certain portion of the panel will die even if the damage is not visible to the eye. You can watch the below video showing National Renewable Energy Laboratory‘s experiment on the topic.
When a cell cracks, the influence on the solar panel's power output worsens over time.
Thermal expansions and contractions caused by temperature fluctuations during the day and night help force the materials around the fracture apart.
The movie is created by passing current backward through the solar panel, causing the solar cells to light up like an LED. Because the light emitted by the solar cells is infrared (invisible to the naked eye), the movie is shot with a special camera.
Risks your investment
Solar panel installation is an expensive upfront investment. So walking on them will only make matters worse for homeowners who are already struggling with high costs.
Also, there is no question that the cost of repairing a cracked panel outweighs the benefits of walking on them
What if you have to walk on solar panels?
As we have mentioned it is always best not to walk on solar panels but to prefer to walk around them or use designated pathways. Because doing otherwise can interfere with your solar power system's functionality running smoothly for years.
However, what if you really have to walk on it since you have no other options? In this case, it's imperative to have as little contact with solar panels as possible to prevent damage that can minimize any potential problem.
Women usually weigh less than men, and the heavier the individual larger the risk becomes. So heavier individuals should better never walk on the equipment.
We recommend hiring accredited professionals who have the necessary equipment to clean or maintain your solar panel systems professionally. In this way, you can save yourself from walking on your panels and damaging them.
When you install a new solar power system on your roof consider building walkways to provide safe access for cleaning or maintenance. In this way, you can walk around your panels but not on them but still maintain your equipment.
The ideal time to walk on your solar panels is on a bright day when the weather is dry. It is safer both for you and your solar power installation.
