Are Solar Panels Susceptible To Hail Damage

With hail season in full swing protect your solar panels from hail damage to keep their energy supply in working condition.

Are solar panels susceptible to hail damage.

Solar panels can get damaged in a number of ways one of the most obvious is hail falling trees and flying debris in a storm. Solar panel manufacturers test their products to ensure that they are capable of withstanding hail storms. We take our high speed camera to the westpak testing facility where we fire balls of ice at different velocit. One minute the sun is shining bright across the lone star state then suddenly debris the size of golfballs rattles down and wreaks havoc that s often.

How much hail damage can a solar panel endure. Unusually large hail storms can indeed damage solar panels but solar panels are designed and engineered to generally withstand hail the size of golf balls or smaller. Poor quality solar panels are particularly susceptible to damage. Solar panels are made with very durable tempered glass that is impact tested to withstand strikes of greater than 50 miles per hour.

Although made from laminated glass hail falling between 30 100km is hard to withstand. In most cases solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail of up to 25 mm one inch falling at 23 meters per second approximately 50 miles per hour. Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. Hail tests and certifications for solar panels.

One of these is iec 61215 which involves accelerated stress tests to see how well the module holds up under heat cold wind humidity uv light and mechnical stress including hail. Solar panels are designed to withstand weather including hail and thunderstorms. This can result in shattering of the panels or even micro cracks. Solar panels are strong enough to resist damage from most hail.

In order for a solar panel to be approved by the california energy commission there are a number of certification tests that it must pass. Solar panels and hail. Water damage can also occur when the seals on the panels deteriorate as the panels age.