The Warm Homes Plan and Future Homes Standard have placed rooftop solar front and centre of the government’s housing policy – but with fires caused by solar panels already rising at twice the rate of installations, is the industry ready to safely deliver this step-change in the role of the roof?
Rooftop solar PV is a hot topic right now, and not just because of the spring sun. The long-awaited Warm Homes Plan (WHP) and Future Homes Standard (FHS) have cemented solar’s position as foundational to the UK’s housing policy, and with that comes a responsibility for the construction industry to get installations right.
The FHS introduces a functional requirement for on-site renewable electricity generation. Solar PV equivalent to 40% of each dwellings ground floor area will be the default route to compliance for most new dwellings, with higher-risk buildings and a few other situations exempt.
Under the new regime, roofs are no longer simply weatherproofing; they are active contributors to the UK’s energy infrastructure.
From the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ (NFRC) perspective, industry is not yet ready for what this step-change in the role of the roof demands. NFRC member businesses are increasingly reporting the consequences of the current regime, which treats solar as an afterthought rather than an integrated part of the roof system: poorly planned penetrations, clumsy detailing around mounting systems, disrupted drainage and maintenance access that has not been thought through at the design stage.
Alarmingly, freedom of information requests by QBE Insurance in 2025 revealed that fire incidents caused by solar panels were rising at twice the rate of installations. These problems will not be manageable at the installation volumes that will come once the WHP and FHS are operational.
This transition needs installers who understand both the roofing and electrical dimensions of a solar installation, or who know when to hand over to a competent specialist when their own knowledge is lacking. Closing the competence gap will take more than training courses. It requires the electrical, roofing, and solar sectors to reach a shared understanding of what a successful installation actually looks like, covering the whole journey from safe working at height to system integration and regular maintenance.
Stronger protections needed
There are also structural problems with how the market currently works. Procurement continues to come down to price rather than demonstrated competence. If the FHS drives a surge of un- or under-qualified installers into the market chasing new work, the consequences are predictable: higher rates of water ingress, warranty disputes, clashes between trades and, most damaging of all, a loss of public confidence in both roofing and domestic solar.
Accreditation requirements like the Microgeneration Certification Scheme provide some protection, but more is needed. A home that looks energy-efficient on paper but fails in practice does not meet the spirit of the Future Homes Standard and puts homeowners at risk.
NFRC’s conversations with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) have focused on the need for stronger consumer protection in the solar market and the role of existing standards in regulating it. Progress is being made in some areas.
Following HSE experimental testing in 2025, which indicated that PV on pitched roofs can significantly accelerate fire spread, the Building Safety Regulator has launched a consultation on proposed updates to Approved Document B, the statutory fire safety guidance within the Building Regulations.
However, building control enforcement, which DESNZ relies on to ensure compliance with Building Regulations, remains a persistent weak point. Authorities have repeatedly been found to lack both the technical expertise and the resources to enforce effectively, opening the door to poor workmanship in this burgeoning sector.
Additionally, without consensus on solar installation, enforcement will remain piecemeal and inconsistent.
NFRC is working closely with the Future Homes Hub, MCS and a range of solar industry stakeholders to develop the common understanding the industry needs and ensure roof system knowledge is an integral aspect of developing solar standards and competence frameworks, but the clock is ticking.
The FHS comes into force in 2027, with a 12-month transitional period following the laying of the legislation. Industry has a great deal of groundwork to cover before that deadline arrives.
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