So that solar installers and roofers can work together safely

March 12, 2024


Source: Energy & Management Powernews

When PV system installers are seriously injured, it is almost always due to falling from the roof. Conversely, roofers were previously not allowed to carry out electrical work for roof systems. This is changing.

In order to ensure that solar installers can move around safely on the roof when installing photovoltaic systems and roofers can carry out certain electrical work just as safely, the associations and employers' liability insurance associations of the two trades signed an agreement on March 7. It is due to come into force on April 1.

The parties to the agreement are:

- the Central Association of the German Electrical and IT Trades (ZVEH),

- the Central Association of the German Roofing Trade (ZVDH),

- the Employers' Liability Insurance Association for the Energy, Textile and Electrical Media Products Industry (BG ETEM)

- and the BG Bau - the Employers' Liability Insurance Association for the Construction Industry.

In a joint statement, the four institutions called the agreement "groundbreaking" and "a milestone for safety and quality in the installation of photovoltaic systems".

It therefore contains model work instructions for the use of work and protective scaffolding by electricians on roofs as well as other fall protection and training requirements for "electrotechnically instructed persons" (EuP) for PV systems. Participation in EuP training is a prerequisite for roofers to be allowed to carry out certain electrical work under the agreement in future.

The main problem of the current situation with highly specialized trades that previously only knew their own rules and the solution that has now been found was described by Jörg Botti, Managing Director of the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the energy, textile, electrical and media products industries (BG ETEM): "When electrical tradesmen are seriously injured during the installation of PV systems, it is almost always due to fall accidents. Only with fall protection, for example with work and safety scaffolding, are electricians allowed to work on roofs (as was previously the case for roofers, the editors)."

Author: Georg Eble