The company I work for had an external audit carried out on the warehouse, no issues with anything H&S related except for they asked for an annual inspection on the solar panels that we have had installed on the roof of the warehouse.

To my belief these have been on there for over 2 years, and this is the first time an external H&S audit have asked for any inspection documentation.

All my reseach that I have made says that there is no requirement for an annual inspection, can anyone give me some clarification on this, so that I can go back to the external agency with no requirement?

Thanks in advance.

Trev

This is relativley "new" technology the regulators are yet to catch up with.

My quick Google (other browsers are available) revealed differing answers dependent upon the source of the information with installers talking about the invertors, cables and connectors more than the panels themselves.

Thinking this through the panel could become damaged (impact from hail/dead birds or distrorted by significant snow accumulation), its mounts could be disturbed by wind and/or vibration and/or thermal expansion/contraction, the cables could rub or pull so maybe not an annual inspection but as with all decent planned maintenance a cursory look see should be planned at suitable interval (and backed up by inspection in the aftermath of a significant local weather event).

Panels also rely upon rain washing to keep them clear - lower pitched industrial installations may over time require the occassional clean to restore optimal efficiency especially where they become a roost for gulls and other birds.

Inspected for what? Electrical Safety (electricity at work regs), that they are still attached safely (workplace regs possibly puwer) or that they are working efficiently? 

Hate it when auditors just glibly say inspected.;