PV Standards ActivitiesSEIA Codes and Standards WorkshopScott JezwinskiBusiness Development ManagerSep 12, 2016

Codes and Standards - Relationship

2

Step 1: First Draft (Public Input Stage)

Step 2:Second Draft (Public Comment Stage

Step 3:NFPA Technical Meeting

Step 4:Council Appeals and Issuance of Standard

Step 1: Proposal and STP formation

Step 2:STP Comment and Review

Step 3:Balloting and Public Comment

Step 4:STP Consensus and Issuance of Standard

Model Code Development Process

UL Standards Development Process

Reference Standards

Building Codes: IBC, IRCNFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC)

(3 year cycle)

UL 1703UL 2703UL 1741

(industry demand driven)

*STP - Standards Technical Panel

Due Process

Collaboration

Appeals

Balance of Interests

Consensus

Key Elements of Standards Processes

Stakeholder Interests:• Producer• Testing and Standards

Organizations• Supply Chain• AHJ• Government• Consumer• General Interest• Commercial / Industrial

Users• International Delegate

UL PV Standards Timeline 

North American Leader   1986 – UL1703 PV Modules and Panels 1999 – UL1741 Inverters and Converters 1999 – SU 1279 Solar Collectors 

2005 – UL 4703 PV Wire 2007 – SU 2579 Low Voltage Fuse Holders 2007 – SU 5703 Name Plate Rating 2008 – SU 8703 Concentrator PV Modules 2010 – UL 2703 Mounting Systems 2010 – SU 4248‐18 Fuse Holders 2010 – UL 489B Circuit Breakers 2010 – UL 6703/A Connectors 2010 – SU 98B  Dead‐Front Switches  

 2011 – SU 1699B Arc Fault Protection 2011 – UL 3703 Solar Trackers 2011 – UL 3730 Junction Boxes 2011 – SU 508i Disconnect Switches 2011 – SU 9703 Wiring Harnesses 2012 – UL 61215 Crystalline Module Type Approval 2012 – UL 61646 Thin‐film Module Type Approval 2012 – UL 62108 Concentrator Module Type Approval 2014 – UL 62109‐1 Power Converters 

2000 > 2010 >  2020

    

                 International Collaborator  

 IEC 61215        Module Type Qualification ‐ Series IEC 61724  System performance monitoring IEC 61730‐1/2 Module safety IEC 61853‐1/2 Module performance IEC 62078  Guidelines  quality system IEC 62093  BOS design Qualification IEC 62109‐1/2/3/4  Safety of Power Converters IEC 62446  System commissioning and Inspection IEC 62509  Battery charge controller performance IEC 62548  PV array design requirements IEC 62738  PV plant guidelines IEC 62804  System voltage durability for modules IEC 62938  Snow load testing IEC 62947  Energy performance 

 

UL PV Standards System Reference

5

PV Modules• UL 1703• UL/IEC 61215• UL/IEC 61646• UL/IEC 62108• IEC 61730• UL-SU 8703

BIPV• UL 1703 / UL 790

Connector• UL 6703

Fuse• UL-SU 2579

Fuse Holder• UL-SU 4248-18• ANSI-UL4248-1

Combiner Box

Charge Controller

Inverter

BatteriesAC Loads

Grid Tied or Stand Alone

Many of the components or functions can be built into one product, such as the inverter.

PV Modules w/ Junction Box Rack Mounting & Clamping Devices• UL 2703

Solar Trackers• UL 3703

Fire Test• UL 1703(roof mounted modules)

Polymeric Materials• UL 1703• UL 94• UL-SU5703• UL 746A/B/C

Roof or Ground mounted

Cable for PV• UL 4703• UL 9703• UL854 (USE-2)Combiner Box• UL 1741

Charge Controller• UL 1741

Inverter• UL 1741• UL/IEC 62109 (PV+ only)• IEEE 1547

Storage• UL 1989• UL 2054• UL 9540• UL 1973

Disconnects• UL-SU 98B• UL-SU 508i

Circuit Breakers• UL 489B

Arc Fault Protection• UL 1699B

IEEE 1547 - Grid Interconnection Standard

6

UL 1741Interconnection Equipment•Construction•Testing normal and abnormal•Protection against risks of injury to persons and connected equipment.•Ratings, Markings and Instructions•Specific DR Tests for specific technologies•Production line testing•Certifications address NEC and electric utility interconnection needs.

IEEE 1547Interconnection System Requirements•Voltage Regulation•Grounding•Disconnects•Monitoring•Islanding

IEEE 1547.1Interconnection System Testing Temperature Stability Response to Abnormal

Voltage Response to Abnormal

Frequency Synchronization Protection from EMI Surge Withstand Paralleling Device DC Injection Unintentional Islanding Reverse Power Open Phase Reconnect after

disturbance Harmonics

UL 1741 references IEEE 1547 - Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems and works in conjunction with grid tied products that operate in parallel with or back-feed power to the utility grid.

UL1741SA for Grid Support Utility Interactive Inverters

7

Mandatory• Anti-Islanding• L/HVRT• L/HFRT• Must Trip Test• Normal Ramp Rate• Soft-Start Ramp Rate• Specified Power Factor • Volt/Var Mode

UL1741 Supplement Grid Support Utility Interactive created to “bridge the gap” until the IEEE 1547 and IEEE 1547.1 Grid Support revisions are completed.

Published Sep 7, 2016 !

http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity_analysis/rule21/

UL1741 – Rapid Shutdown

8

.

The 2017 NEC code panel meeting revised a 690.12 proposal to include new requirements for rapid shutdown protection internal to a PV array and includes the following options:

• Option 1: List and label or field-label PV array as a rapid-shutdown PV array.

• Option 2: Limit control conductors within the array boundary to 80 V or less within 30 seconds of rapid-shutdown initiation.

• Option 3: Install nonmetallic PV array with no exposed wiring and array more than 8 feet from any grounded metal parts

Implementation of Option 1 requires development of a safety standard for evaluation and certification of rapid-shutdown products for use in PV arrays. To allow time for this standard’s development process, CMP 4 added a delayed adoption date, specifying that 690.12(B)(2) “shall become effective January 1, 2019.”

UL 1703 – PV Module Safety

9

UL Standard for Safety for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels, UL 1703

Standards Technical Panel Topics (for standard revisions)• Mechanical loads and groupings – Currently every rack has to be

evaluated with all modules it is intended to be used with. Objective is to define groups similar to fire types.

• Frames used as grounding conductors – Currently module frames not evaluated for conducting fault currents ( only continuity, bonding resistance ). Examining a daisy chain grounding scenario that enables an electrical safety concern.

• Move fire testing requirements to UL 2703 – moving system tests only, module tests for typing stay in 1703.

• IEC 61730 Ed 2 Harmonization – IHC considerations for adoption.• Proposed 1500v revision - may require addition of new ( balloted

with comments)• Revision to HF10 - additional clarification (balloted with comment)

UL 2703 – Racking Systems Safety

10

UL Standard for Safety for Mounting Systems, Mounting Devices, Clamping/Retention Devices, and Ground Lugs for Use with Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels, UL 2703

Standards Technical Panel Topics (for standard revisions• Bonding and grounding – Includes the 1703 frame grounding issue,

plus want to “type” bonding and grounding attributes for the module frame.

• Mechanical loading – same as with 1703 ( groupings and types)• Manuals and markings – address AHJ requirement for evidence the

system being installed complies with all requirements of 2703.• Corrosion resistance – expanding beyond current galvanic table to

account for new allows and developing a test for interfaces not covered in the table.

• 1500v limits – for clarification, no additional testing required unless polymers used ( ie. a terminal box for attaching electronics).

International Standards Development

11

Step 1-2: Preliminary & Proposal Stage

Step 3:Preparation Stage

Step 4-5:Committee & Enquiry Stage

Step 6:Approval Stage

Step 7: Publication Stage

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards Development Process

IEC 61730IEC 61215

(50+ PV related)

• Each member country has a National Committee Member

• One country - one vote• US National Committee serves as

conduit for US positions

IEC 61730 Edition 2 – PV Module Safety

12

IEC 61730 - Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification is the international standards for Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification, first published in Oct 2004.

IEC 61730- Part 1: Requirements for construction• Construction requirements to assess the prevention of electrical shock,

fire hazards, and personal injury due to mechanical and environmental stresses.

IEC 61730- Part 2: Requirements for testing• Outlines the requirements of testing and the testing sequence intended to

verify the safety of PV modules whose construction has been assessed by IEC 61730-1.

• Test sequence coordinate with those of IEC 61215 series so that a single set of samples may be used to perform both the safety and performance evaluation of a photovoltaic module design.

IEC 61730 has many similar construction and test requirements to ANSI/UL 1703, first published in August of 1986

IEC 61730 Edition 2 - Notable Changes

13

Some of the changes in IEC 61730 edition 2:• Numerous key definitions ( many are insulation related)• Structural changes to separate construction and component

requirements into part 1 and testing into part 2.• Implementation of higher system voltage requirements (1500v)• Updates related to technology and material advances such as cemented

joints• Requirements aligned with IEC horizontal standards

• IEC 61140 introduces the concept of equipment Classes, involving constructional arrangements for the equipment in combination with the method of installation

• IEC 60664 series defines and uses the concept of insulation coordination, introduced in power system to arrange electrical insulation levels

• Test sequences are similar/same as those from IEC 61215 series with safety focus primarily on protection against electric shock as well as fire hazard.

IEC 61215 series – PV Module Performance

14

Only differentiated between c-Si and TF modules.

Technology specific distinction is made within the thin-film category knowing that each TF technology has its own and unique properties.

IEC 61215-1 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval – Part 1: Test requirements, Part 2: Test procedures

Previous New

Figure from COMBINED STANDARD FOR PV MODULE DESIGN QUALIFICATION AND TYPE APPROVAL:NEW IEC 61215 – SERIES – Bengt Jaeckel, et al

IEC 61215 series - Notable Changes

15

Some of the changes for IEC 61215 series:• Unique test identifiers, Module Quality Tests (MQTs) vs Module Safety

Test (MST)• Unique sequence identifiers, Sequences A, B…• NOCT replaced by NMOT (MQT 5), reduces variance in reported

nameplate values• Hotspot test (MQT 9) is technology dependent each technology can

display different sensitivity to hot-spot heating• UV test (MQT 10), modules now operate at Pmpp conditions during test• New J-Box Tests, MQT 14.1 and 14.2 were created• Stabilization (MQT 19): Preconditioning (c-Si) and Lightsoaking (TF)

redefined as Stabilization (Modules are operated at Pmpp conditions to make it consistent with MQT 10)

IEC 61215 series - Availability

16

Published in March 2016:• IEC 61215-1 Part 1: Test requirements• IEC 61215-1-1 Part 1-1: Special requirements for testing of

crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules• IEC 61215-2 Part 2: Test procedures(Note: US adoption will occur by the end of 2017)

Under development:• IEC 61215-1-2 Part 1-2: Special requirements for testing of thin-film

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) • IEC 61215-1-3 Part 1-3: Special requirements for testing of thin-film

amorphous silicon • IEC 61215-1-4 Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film

CIS and CIGS (CuIn,Ga)(S,Se)2

Harmonization – What does it mean?

17

ISO definition:

“Standards on the same subject approved by different standardizing bodies that establish interchangeability of products, processes and services, or mutual understanding of test results or information provided according to these standards.”

Standards Harmonization Process

18

Step 1: Proposal and STP formation

Step 2:STP Comment and Review

Step 3:Balloting and Public Comment

Step 4:STP Consensus and Issuance of Standard

UL 61730-1UL 61730-2

*STP - Standards Technical Panel

International Harmonization

Committee (IHC)

Considerations:• Codes• Component requirements• Normative references• Technical issues• Permissions• Other

IBC & IRC

NEC

IEC 61215

IEC 61730UL Standards Harmonization Process

UL1703 / IEC 61730 Harmonization

19

Background:• In 2005, the first draft harmonization document was presented to the STP for

adoption, determined that the current versions of the IEC 61730 Standards were not yet ready for U.S.

• Worked with IEC Technical Committee, Working Group (TC 82, WG2) to draft new editions of both IEC 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2.

• Decision was repeated in 2007, 2010, and again in 2012 at which time the STP formed a formal International Harmonization Committee (IHC).

• IHC voted to continue waiting until the second editions of IEC 61730 are published.• In preparation, the STP voted to adopt the current versions of IEC 61215 and IEC

61646 as they were at the time.• The U.S. National Committee contributed sound technical comments on the latest

draft of the IEC 61730 second-edition proposals• The U.S. National Committee lead the development of the second edition of IEC

61730-1 in conjunction with an active international writing team to ensure that the construction requirements mesh well with the test requirements.

• IEC 61730 published Aug 1, 2016• International Harmonization Committee (IHC) meeting regularly• Expected publication in 1Q2017

UL1703 / IEC 61730 - Part 1 Differences

20

IEC 61730‐1, Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification – Part 1: Requirements for constructionSpecific topics to assess the prevention of electrical shock, fire hazards, and personal injury due to mechanical and environmental stresses.

Similar to UL1703

Defines the basic requirements for various application classes of PV modules but cannot be considered to encompass all national or regional building codes.

Significant difference from UL 1703

This standard is not applicable to modules with integrated AC inverters (AC modules).

Similar to UL 1703

Defines the basic safety construction requirements and additional tests that are a function of the module end‐use applications.

Similar to UL 1703, however, adds defined use parameters

Component requirements are intended to provide evidence of performance of that component appropriate to its application in the module construction and environment.

Similar to UL 1703, but with different component standard references andrequirements

UL1703 / IEC 61730 - Part 2 Differences

21

IEC 61730‐2, Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification – Part 2: Requirements for testingTest sequence can coordinate with those of IEC 61215 series, so that a single set of samples may be used to perform both the safety and performance evaluation of a photovoltaic module design.

Difference from UL 1703

Provides the testing sequence intended to verify the safety of PV modules whose construction has been assessed by IEC 61730‐1.

Significant differencefrom UL 1703

The test sequence and pass criteria are designed to detect the potential breakdown of internal and external components of PV modules that would result in fire, electric shock and personal injury

Similar to UL 1703

Defines the basic safety test requirements and additional tests that are a function of the module end‐use applications

Significant difference from UL 1703

Test categories include general inspection for electrical shock hazard, fire hazard, mechanical stress, and environmental stress.

Difference from UL 1703

UL1703 / IEC 61730 Harmonization and National Differences

22

IEC 61730-2

IEC 61730-1UL 1703

?

IEC System Management Structure & Committees

IEC Renewable Energy System

Conformity Assessment(certification)

Standards Development

IECRE System Hierarchy

24

Equipment • Design Qualification• Type Testing• Manufacture quality

Projects • Installation• Commissioning• Operations

24

Recent PV Scheme Publications

CBTLNCB

WE – Wind EnergyME – Marine EnergyPV - Photovoltaics

IECRE 04 Rules of Procedure for the Certification of Photovoltaic Systems according to the IECRE-PV Schemes REMC

OD-401 Conditional PV project certificate PV-OMC

OD-402 Annual PV plant performance certificate PV-OMC

OD-406 PV-OMC IECRE Certification Body (RECB) and IECRE Inspection Body (REIB) Application form PV-OMC

Figure from George Kelly NREL PV Reliability Workshop 26 Feb 2015,

IECRE System - Aspects for PV Plants

25

Conformity assessment will be performed and certificate issued for an individual PV power plant on a specific site. The Certificates are aligned to important and well known lifecycle milestones.

Figure from PV-OMC/016/DFA 2015-07-10

IEC to US National Standards Candidates

26

• IEC 61730-1/-2: Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification. *

• IEC 62093: Balance-of-system components for photovoltaic systems - Design qualification natural environments *

• IEC 62738: Design guidelines and recommendations for photovoltaic power plants

• IEC 62446: Grid connected photovoltaic systems - Minimum requirements for system documentation, commissioning tests and inspection *

• IEC 61215 -1./-1.1/-2 : Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval *

• IEC 62548: Photovoltaic (PV) arrays - Design requirements

• IEC 62891: Indoor testing, characterization and evaluation of the efficiency of photovoltaic grid-connected inverters

• IEC 62509: Battery charge controllers for photovoltaic systems - Performance and functioning

• IEC 61724: Photovoltaic system performance monitoring - Guidelines for measurement, data exchange and analysis

* Activity forming STP, requesting copyright, submitting PINS

How can you participate?

27

Goto: http://csds.ul.com/ Main Page: http://UL.com/standards

THANK YOU.