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Solar contractors press fire department to streamline inspections as lithium-ion battery safety and permits draw commission attention
Summary
A public commenter representing a local solar installer asked the commission to coordinate building, electrical and fire inspections to meet an expiring tax-credit timetable; commissioners and staff discussed expanding outreach, updating permitting and a planned agenda presentation on lithium-ion battery storage safety.
A public commenter and owner of a San Francisco solar-installation company told the Fire Commission on Aug. 13 that recent federal changes to residential tax credits have created a large backlog of residential solar and battery installs and urged the department to coordinate inspections to avoid duplicative site visits.
Janine Cutter, cofounder of Luminalt, told the commission she represents "San Francisco's only woman owned and run solar company" and described an inspection bottleneck that she says is costing time for contractors and homeowners who want to claim federal residential tax credits. "The inspection that is required, I believe, does not dramatically drive safety," she said, and asked the department to coordinate fire inspections with electrical and building inspections so installers receive a single on-site inspection.
Why it matters: The commission and department indicated inspectors and permit processes for rooftop solar and battery storage are changing as technology and storage locations (including garages and other tight spaces) increase. Commissioners said city code and permit processing must balance speed with safety, especially for lithium-ion battery systems that carry distinct fire risks.
Department response and next steps
Commissioner Alan Lowe raised a broader question about permitting for charging stations and lithium-ion batteries, and Chief Crispin and other staff described recent and ongoing code and permitting updates. Crispin said the Bureau of Fire Prevention is issuing amendments to clarify what types of battery-storage systems are permitted and what fire-protection measures (hour-rated separations, sprinklers, detectors) are required when systems are placed in garages or under living space.
Crispin told the commission the Bureau of Fire Prevention is participating in PermitSF improvements to streamline inspections and that the department is developing outreach and enforcement plans for lithium-ion storage in SROs and other high-risk settings. "We are making progress with those groups, and our intent is once we send this advertising campaign out ... then we are going to, be a little more strict in our enforcement if people aren't storing them appropriately," Crispin said.
Commissioners asked to place a formal discussion item on a future agenda to review lithium-ion battery storage risks and permit changes; Chief Crispin and Fire Marshal staff offered to present the department—s permitting approach and its operational impacts when the commission schedules that meeting.
Ending
The commission did not take formal action at the meeting but directed staff to put a lithium-ion battery/storage and solar inspection briefing on a future agenda and to pursue coordination with PermitSF and related city departments to reduce duplicative inspections while maintaining safety.
