PVSTOP® and South Africa’s Fire Brigade Services Act (No. 99 of 1987)

Legal, Environmental & Procurement Alignment for Safer Solar Fire Response

PVSTOP® is the world’s only patented, spray-on solar panel deactivation solution — designed to help firefighters and emergency services rapidly isolate live solar PV systems during emergencies. With South Africa’s exponential growth in solar installations, the need for DC-side safety tools has become critical.

But more than just a breakthrough safety product, PVSTOP is now fully aligned with South African legislation, certified to international standards, and ready for compliant public-sector procurement.

Why Solar Fires Require a New Category of Firefighting Equipment

When solar panels are exposed to light, they remain energized — even if the inverter is off or the building is disconnected from the grid. Traditional methods like water or foam are not only ineffective, but dangerous, especially for first responders.

PVSTOP creates a non-destructive, removable barrier that blocks light instantly — safely shutting down panel output and preventing reignition or electrocution. This has made it essential for:

  • Firefighting and first response teams
  • Disaster and risk management units
  • Industrial PV safety compliance
  • OEM and insurance-aligned safety plans
Compliant, safe solar fire response with PVSTOP® in South Africa. Fire Act 99 of 1987, Section 36 SCM, BSI-certified. Municipal SOP ready.

Legal Compliance Under the Fire Brigade Services Act (No. 99 of 1987)

PVSTOP’s deployment is supported by multiple sections of South Africa’s core fire safety legislation:

Relevant SectionLegal Reference
Section 1(xii)PVSTOP meets the legal definition of a “fire service” tool for prevention and property protection
Section 1(vii)PVSTOP qualifies as “equipment” used by a fire service
Section 10(1)(c)Cost recovery allowed for materials used during fire response
Section 11Eligible for municipal grant-in-aid support
Sections 8 & 9Supports powers of fire officers to neutralize danger and salvage property

In other words, PVSTOP is legally justified, operationally relevant, and financially recoverable.

OEM Confirmation & Section 36 SCM Procurement

PVSTOP International Pty Ltd (Australia) has formally appointed LTV Technologies & Supplies (Pty) Ltd as the sole and exclusive distributor of PVSTOP in South Africa. The appointment qualifies for procurement under:

Section 36(1)(a)(ii) of the Municipal SCM Regulations —
Deviation from competitive bidding is allowed where a product is available from a single provider only.

Civitas Risk Control (Pty) Ltd serves as the operational entity for training, technical deployment, and traceability — ensuring certified usage by public sector and emergency services personnel.

Full OEM confirmation letter and credentials available on request.

Safety Certifications – Cylinders & Formulation

Every PVSTOP unit supplied in South Africa is filled and tested to the highest global standards:

Cylinder Compliance:

  • BSI Kitemark certified
  • EN 3-8:2006+A1:2007 – Portable extinguisher performance
  • PED 2014/68/EU – Pressure Equipment Directive
  • ISO 9001 – Manufacturing quality standard
  • PVSTOP is not a fire extinguisher, is not marketed, and is not intended for fire suppression use.
  • Although tested for safe behaviour under Class A fire conditions, PVSTOP’s function is strictly limited to light blocking coating for PV de-energization.
  • The device complies with the European Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU, evidenced by an EU-Type Examination Certificate (CE Certificate No. 603059) issued by BSI Group the Netherlands B.V.

Chemical & Environmental Safety:

  • ISO 14034:2016 – Environmental Technology Verification
  • BS 476 – Surface Spread of Flame (Fire Safety)
  • EN 45545-2:2013 – Smoke and Toxicity (Rail/Fire standards)

All PVSTOP units use a non-toxic, water-based, nanoparticle formulation that encapsulates light safely, then washes off as general waste after incident response.

Environmental & ESG Benefits

PVSTOP is not only safer, it’s sustainable.

Traditional foam and water-based suppression on PV arrays often lead to toxic runoff, environmental contamination, and ineffective fire isolation.

PVSTOP:

  • Prevents contaminated runoff into drains and soil
  • Encapsulates PV panels with nanoparticle-based light-blocking gel
  • Reduces need for full panel destruction
  • Supports ESG-aligned emergency protocols and sustainable fire response

Insurance, Risk & Disaster Management Alignment

Insurers and disaster teams benefit from PVSTOP’s ability to:

  • Prevent reignition and fire spread
  • Reduce property damage and electrical injury
  • Accelerate site clearance and claims processing
  • Minimize income loss or business interruption
  • Provide performance guarantees and traceability

PVSTOP is already being integrated into disaster response planning and public infrastructure readiness at the municipal level.

Immediate Next Steps for Municipal Buyers & Fire Chiefs

To comply with legislation and prepare your teams, we recommend the following urgent actions:

  1. Add PVSTOP to your SOPs
  2. Initiate Section 36 SCM procurement
  3. Train technical responders through Civitas Risk Control
  4. Engage with OEM and LTV for compliance documentation
  5. Integrate PVSTOP into risk and fire management plans

Want to Procure or Learn More?

We provide:

  • The full OEM confirmation letter
  • Safety certification documents

📩 Contact us via www.pvstop.co.za or email info@pvstop.co.za
💼 For tenders, procurement, and Section 36 letters – we’re ready to assist.