The strong gusts of wind caused by the bomb cyclone left a trail of destruction in the southern region of Brazil, damaging buildings, homes, the electrical grid and photovoltaic systems of thousands of people. State Civil Defense bodies are carrying out damage assessments. In Santa Catarina, a public calamity decree was published in the Official State Gazette.
Given this scenario, does insurance cover damage caused to photovoltaic systems?
Vanda Somera from Visioni, a commercial and residential insurance broker, explains the determining factors for damage coverage. “Vendaval is covered in business, condominium and residential insurance, however, each insurance company has its own rules regarding possible accidents, so it will be assessed on a case-by-case basis”, explains the broker.
Furthermore, there are value limits to which the items that make up photovoltaic systems are covered. There is also specific insurance for solar s, without being linked to home or business insurance. To this end, it is important that integrating companies and owners look for a specialist insurance broker who will inform which insurers offer this coverage.
Jarbas Medeiros, executive director of Porto Seguro, highlights the insurer's performance in the photovoltaic market. “We offer coverage for photovoltaic solar s in cases similar to what occurred in the South. We have specific coverage for solar s, which covers losses in the event of electrical damage, windstorm or hail, broken glass and even in cases of theft or theft, going beyond protections aimed only at natural phenomena. Under this coverage, the insured will be compensated according to the amount contracted,” he states.
The specialist also comments on the cases of those who do not take out this type of insurance coverage. “Even if the customer has not contracted this specific coverage, but has windstorm coverage, in cases like those that occurred in the South, the solar s will be covered by windstorm coverage, but with a lower compensation limit”, he explains.
Security on premises
To guarantee photovoltaic system installations, it is necessary to comply with technical standards, including NBR 6123, which determines the conditions that must be considered in relation to the action of wind on structures.
“NBR 6123 standardizes the calculations of winds in buildings, that is, for each region of the country, the maximum wind speed lasting more than 50 seconds and with a height of ten meters has been measured in the last 3 years. For each calculation there are three important factors, the region of the building with the topographic factor, the terrain roughness factor, and the statistical indices that determine the degree of safety and the useful life of the building”, explains engineer Flávio Rodrigues da Silva.
The specialist also reinforces the recommendations for installing a photovoltaic system. “After determining the number of photovoltaic s, it is necessary to evaluate the location where they will be installed, whether it will this new load, or whether there will be a need for structural reinforcement of the roofs”, he advises.
The engineer also highlights the importance of applying the standards when it is necessary to activate insurance coverage. “When damage occurs to a structure due to natural events, insurers will analyze whether the affected installations were installed in accordance with regulations”, explains Silva.
