Solar Energy UK
17 July 2025
Insurance companies should remember that guidance on assessing fire safety for solar rooftops is not a strict rulebook and should be considered flexibly.
So says a position paper drawn up jointly by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, in collaboration with other roofing industry bodies and Solar Energy UK.[1,2]
Although the solar industry has always welcomed the intention of the RC62 guidance, it does not cover certain situations.
The document, “is not a test or classification standard, and was never intended to be applied as a simple yes/no checklist,” says the position paper, published on Tuesday. “Treating it as such risks overlooking important nuances and may even lead to design decisions that could ultimately increase risk,” it adds.
It instead calls for design decisions to be based on whole-system performance and real-world test data, rather than solely on which roofing materials are used. This should allow for panels to be installed on flat roofs with polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation in certain circumstances, for example.
Doing so could also facilitate the growth of biosolar roofs – fitting solar photovoltaic panels over green roofs. These are increasingly popular due to their parellel benefits of biodiversity creation, water attenuation, urban cooling and renewable energy generation, though as a new innovation they were not considered when the guidance was drawn up.
“RC62 has served the industry well and will continue to do so. Its full value not only lies as a tool for the industry and in how it is interpreted, questioned, and adapted to each specific project. Through this considered approach we can ensure every flat roof solar project is as safe as possible, and that the commercial rooftop solar industry can continue to grow at the pace needed to deliver its huge potential to drive the decarbonisation of our building stock,” says the position paper.
RISCAuthority, a body administered by the Fire Protection Association and backed by insurers, is currently revising the document.
“Naturally, we endorse the highest safety standards, which RC62 helps ensure. Although it is very useful guidance, insurers should be mindful that its application is not universal,” said Gemma Grimes, Director of Policy and Delivery at Solar Energy UK.
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Editor’s notes
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Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser
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Gareth Simkins
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