Hail Damage and Solar Panels: What's Covered and What to Check After a Storm

Can Hail Actually Damage Solar Panels?

Yes, though it’s less common than most people assume. Solar panels are built with tempered glass, heated and rapidly cooled to make it roughly 4–5 times stronger than regular glass, specifically to withstand hail. But “hail-resistant” doesn’t mean “hail-proof,” and how much protection you actually have depends on the size of the hail and the panel’s tested rating.

What Australian Solar Panels Are Actually Tested to Withstand

Every panel on the Clean Energy Council’s approved modules list (a requirement for STC/SRES rebate eligibility) must meet the international standard. Under this standard, panels are tested to withstand ice balls 25mm in diameter travelling at roughly 82.8km/h, fired at multiple points across the panel. That’s the baseline every legally sold panel in Australia must clear.

Why Bigger Australian Hailstorms Can Exceed the Standard

The catch is that this is a minimum, not a guarantee against everything. Some Australian regions (parts of Canberra, Brisbane and regional NSW and Queensland) regularly produce hailstones well beyond 25mm, sometimes 35–50mm or larger.

Stones that size carry considerably more impact energy than the standard test accounts for, which is why even a well-installed, standards-compliant system can still sustain damage in a severe event. Impact angle and temperature matter too: a side-on hit tends to cause less damage than a direct one, and cold glass can be slightly more brittle than glass warmed by a sunny day.

If you’re in a higher-risk area, it’s worth asking your installer about panels tested to more rigorous hail standards beyond the baseline requirement, since some manufacturers voluntarily test to stricter benchmarks.

Is Hail Damage to Solar Panels Covered by Insurance?

In general, home and contents insurers tend to treat rooftop solar panels as part of the building, meaning storm and hail damage is often covered in the same way roof damage would be. That said, this varies by insurer and by policy, and it isn’t something Sunboost can confirm on your behalf.

Two practical steps: make sure your insurer knows you have a solar system installed, and check your specific product disclosure statement for how storm and hail damage is defined and covered. This is general information, not insurance advice. Always confirm the details directly with your insurer.

What to Check After a Storm, Safely

Stay Off the Roof

This is the single most important rule. Damaged panels and wiring can still carry voltage even when the system is switched off or isolated. Don’t climb onto the roof to inspect panels yourself, no matter how tempting it is to get a closer look.

Check From the Ground

Walk around your property and look up at the array. Signs of damage include cracked or shattered glass, dents in the panel frames, or wires that look loose or disconnected. Take photos from the ground if it’s safe to do so, useful both for a professional assessment and for any insurance claim.

Check Your Inverter

Your inverter display is often the first sign something’s wrong. Look for fault indicators such as a ground fault or earth fault warning, or a lack of generation output where you’d normally expect one. If you use a monitoring app, compare current output against your usual historical generation for a similar day.

When to Call a Professional (and Why Not to Ignore Small Damage)

If you notice any signs of damage, even something as small as a hairline crack, arrange an inspection with a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer rather than waiting to see if it’s a problem.

Microcracks that look minor can quietly reduce a panel’s output over time and may worsen in future storms, so getting it assessed early protects both performance and safety.

How to Reduce Your Risk Going Forward

• Ask your installer about the hail rating of the specific panels you’re considering, not just the brand
• Confirm with your insurer that your solar system is covered and correctly noted on your policy
• Keep panel documentation and specification sheets somewhere accessible for future reference
• Schedule a professional inspection after any severe storm, even if nothing looks obviously wrong

Had a storm come through and want a system check? Get in touch with our team for a professional assessment.

If a recent storm has you wondering about your system, Sunboost can help with a professional assessment. With 85,000+ installations nationwide and five consecutive ProductReview.com.au Top Rated Solar Panel Installer awards, our team can check your system properly and safely. Get in touch with our team.

Key Takeaways

• Solar panels sold in Australia must pass a hail test of 25mm hailstones at ~82.8km/h, a minimum standard, not a guarantee.
• Some Australian regions regularly see hail well beyond that size, which can still cause damage even to compliant panels.
• Home insurance often treats solar panels as part of the building, but coverage varies. Confirm directly with your insurer.
• After a storm: stay off the roof, check from the ground, check your inverter for fault codes, and don’t ignore small damage.
• Get a professional inspection from an SAA-accredited installer if you notice anything unusual, even minor.