Solar panels and hail: test conditions and checks after storms
Sources checked
Solar panels undergo hail-impact testing under defined conditions. A certificate or datasheet entry is not a guarantee that a particular installation survives every storm. After hail, inspect only from safe ground-level positions and arrange a professional check where needed.
Read the actual test conditions
The source's LONGi example states 25 mm hail at 23 m/s, alongside mechanical-load test figures. Those are specified conditions, not a universal weather-resistance rating for the whole roof system.
Real outcomes also depend on mounting, roof condition and the storm. A performance warranty is different from cover for accidental physical damage.
Preserve evidence and assess the installation
Save monitoring data, the event date and safe photographs of visible damage. Contact the responsible installer and insurer as appropriate. Continued generation does not prove that glass, attachments and electrical components remain undamaged.
Avoid climbing onto the roof, touching damaged equipment or using improvised repairs. Keep the inspection and repair documentation, and check what the insurance policy actually requires and covers.