New IREC Report Explores the Safety of Remote Virtual Inspections for Residential Solar and Storage
IREC recently conducted a qualitative study on the safety and benefits of remote virtual inspections (RVI) for residential solar and/or battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the U.S. IREC’s published report is intended for local permitting offices and state policymakers who are considering the adoption of RVI for residential solar and/or BESS projects.
RVI refers to inspections conducted using remote technology, such as uploads of recorded photos/videos or live video calls, in place of physical site visits. RVI can be enabled with advanced virtual inspection software, such as VuSpex and Blitzz, or through low- to no-cost tools, such as Google Forms, email, FaceTime, and Zoom.
The use of RVI was popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic to comply with social distancing measures. Today, more than 70 local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) in the U.S. utilize RVI for a variety of permit requests, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) permits, window and door replacements, roofing, and more. At least 29 AHJs offer RVI for residential solar and storage systems.
IREC conducted 17 interviews with AHJs, software providers, and other parties to gather information and firsthand testimonials on the use of RVI. Interviewees reported that comprehensive remote inspections can enable code compliance checks that are equivalent or better in quality to comprehensive onsite inspections. In fact, a thorough RVI can detect critical failures or deficiencies in an installation that sometimes go undetected during an onsite inspection.
Since residential solar installations often lack proper tie-off points for inspectors to safely access roofs, many inspectors do not climb onto the roof due to risk of injury. As such, onsite inspections of rooftop installations may overlook critical components, resulting in possible downstream structural issues. The International Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), which uses RVI to provide quality assurance for residential solar installations in New York seeking to qualify for subsidies under the state’s NY-SUN program, reported that 22% of the installations it reviews have deficiencies that an onsite inspection missed. This highlights how RVI can offer more thorough inspection quality compared to onsite inspections while eliminating unnecessary exposure to potential physical hazards.
In addition to improved inspector safety and inspection quality, RVI can be a valuable tool for jurisdictions and installers by saving resources, optimizing operational efficiency, and increasing flexibility. Interviewees reported that RVI allows an inspector to conduct roughly three times the number of inspections per day compared to onsite inspections. Some AHJs have saved over $30,000 per inspector per year as a result of reduced driving time, vehicle maintenance, and fuel costs. Installers also see cost savings due to reduced site visits and shorter inspection windows. Homeowners can benefit from these cost savings being passed down and from having their systems approved more quickly.
To ensure a thorough RVI, AHJs and contractors can reference resources from established building safety entities, such as the National Fire Protection Association’s “Standard for Remote Inspections” (NFPA 915) and the International Code Council’s “Recommended Practices for Remote Virtual Inspections (RVI).”
