Energie 360° gets green light for solar façade
Energie 360° can clad the façades of its headquarters in Zurich's Altstetten neighbourhood with photovoltaic modules as planned. The company had to provide proof of fire safety because the Canton of Zurich building insurance changed its regulations after construction began.
According to a press release,Energie 360° has been given the green light for its planned photovoltaic façade. With this and the planned solar installation on the roof, it will be able to convert its headquarters accordingly. The specialist for sustainable energy and mobility intends to cover around half of its annual electricity requirements itself.
Construction work began at the end of March 2023. After construction began, the canton of Zurich’s building insurance changed its authorisation policy for photovoltaic façades. Since then, proof has been required that a fire from the solar modules cannot spread over more than two storeys.
In the absence of a suitable testing facility in Switzerland, two fire tests were carried out at the Leipzig Materials Research and Testing Institute for the Construction Industry(MFPA Leipzig). They made it clear that steel sheets act as horizontal fire barriers between the individual modules. This construction fulfils the test criteria specified by the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers.
“Energie 360° will be the first company to realise a PV façade under the new requirements,” CEO Jörg Wild is quoted as saying. “The photovoltaic systems will turn the headquarters in Altstetten into a green power plant.”