Zurich – Energie 360° can clad the facades of its headquarters in Zurich’s Altstetten district with photovoltaic modules as planned. Because the Canton of Zurich building insurance changed its regulations after construction began, the company had to provide proof of fire safety.
Energie 360° has received the green light for its planned photovoltaic façade, according to a press release. With this and the planned solar system on the roof, it can convert its headquarters accordingly. The specialist for sustainable energy and mobility aims 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 building insurance changed its approval practice for photovoltaic facades. Since then, proof has been required that a fire in the solar modules cannot spread over more than two storeys.
In the absence of a suitable test facility in Switzerland, two fire tests were carried out at the Gesellschaft für Materialforschung und Prüfungsanstalt für das Bauwesen Leipzig (MFPA Leipzig). They made it clear that steel sheets act as horizontal fire barriers between the individual modules. This design meets the test criteria specified by the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers.
"Energie 360° will be the first company to implement a PV façade under the new conditions," CEO Jörg Wild is quoted as saying. "The photovoltaic systems turn the head office in Altstetten into a green power plant." ce/mm