Solar Standards Development

An Overview of Product Standards

July 22, 2016

About SEIA
• U.S. National Trade Association for Solar Energy
• Founded in 1974
• 1,000 member companies from all 50 states
• Our Mission: Build a strong solar industry to power America
• Our Goal: 100 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2020

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 2

Speakers

Evelyn M. Butler
SEIA Joseph Cain, P.E. Scott Jezwinski, Shawn Martin, Thomas Kiggen
Director, Chair, SEIA Codes Business Director of SEIA
Codes & & Standards Development Technical Services, Director,
Standards Working Group Manager, UL LLC ICC‐SRCC Membership

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 3

Agenda

• Introduction
• PV Standards
• Solar Heating and Cooling
• Structural

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 4

Standards Development
Joe Cain
Chair, SEIA Codes & Standards Working Group
Introduction

• How do standards go from voluntary to mandatory status?

– Charging language in body of code
– Inclusion in list of Referenced Standards
• International Building Code (IBC) Chapter 35
• International Residential Code (IRC) Chapter 44
• Adoption
– National: Referenced standard in the model codes
– State or local jurisdictions:
• Option to modify adoption and/or establish effective date
– Example: California fire classification of PV systems delayed in implementation
• Legislation
– Subject of Webinar 3!
July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 6
Example: 2015 International Building Code

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 7

PV Standards
Scott Jezwinski
Business Development Manager, UL LLC
Scott.Jezwinski@ul.com
Photovoltaic Systems – Safety First

Product
Manufactures

Authorities
Codes and System
Having
Standards Owners
Jurisdiction

System
Designers
and Installers

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 9

Codes and Standards - Relationship
Step 4:
Step 3:
Council Appeals and
Model Code NFPA Issuance of Standard NFPA 70: National
Technical
Development Step 2: Meeting
Electrical Code (NEC)
Process Public
(3 year cycle)
Comment
Stage
Step 1:
Public Input
Stage
UL 1703
Reference UL 2703
Standards UL 1741
(industry
Step 4:
UL Standards Step 3: STP
demand driven )
Development Balloting Consensus
and Public and
Process Step 2:
Comment Issuance of
STP Comment Standard
and Review
Step 1:
Proposal and STP *STP - Standards Technical Panel
formation

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 10

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

IEC 61215 Module Type Qualification ‐ Series

IEC 61724 System performance monitoring
IEC 61730‐1/2 Module safety
International Collaborator 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

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 11

PV Standards System Reference
PV Modules w/ Junction Box Roof or Ground mounted

PV Modules Rack Mounting &

• UL 1703 Clamping Devices
• UL/IEC 61215 • UL 2703
• UL/IEC 61646
• UL/IEC 62108 Solar Trackers
• IEC 61730 • UL 3703
• UL-SU 8703
Cable for PV Fire Test
BIPV Disconnects • UL 4703 • UL 1703
• UL 1703 / UL 790 • UL-SU 98B • UL 9703 (roof mounted
• UL-SU 508i • UL854 (USE-2) modules)
Connector
Combiner Box Combiner Box
• UL 6703 Circuit Breakers Polymeric Materials
• UL 1741
• UL 489B • UL 1703
Fuse • UL 94
Charge Controller
• UL-SU 2579 Arc Fault Protection • UL-SU5703
Charge • UL 1741
• UL 1699B • UL 746A/B/C
Fuse Holder Controller
Inverter
• UL-SU 4248-18
• UL 1741
• ANSI-UL4248-1
• UL/IEC 62109 (PV+ only)
• IEEE 1547
Inverter
Storage
• UL 1989 Many of the components AC Loads
• UL 2054 Batteries or functions can be built Grid Tied or
• UL 9540 into one product, such as
Stand Alone
the inverter.
• UL 1973

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 12

IEEE 1547 - Grid Interconnection Standard
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.
IEEE 1547.1
Interconnection System
Testing
 Temperature Stability
IEEE 1547  Response to Abnormal
Voltage
Interconnection  Response to Abnormal
System Requirements Frequency
 Voltage Regulation  Synchronization
 Grounding  Protection from EMI
 Disconnects  Surge Withstand
 Monitoring  Paralleling Device
 DC Injection
 Islanding
 Unintentional Islanding
 Reverse Power
 Open Phase
 Reconnect after disturbance
 Harmonics
UL 1741
Interconnection 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.

13
August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 13
UL1741SA for Grid Support Utility Interactive Inverters

UL1741 Supplement Grid Support Utility Interactive created to “bridge the

gap” until the IEEE 1547 and IEEE 1547.1 Grid Support revisions are
completed.
Mandatory Ballot closed on 6/16/2016
• Anti-Islanding Adoption approved but 200+
• L/HVRT comments need to be
• L/HFRT resolved & recirculated.
• Must Trip Test
• Normal Ramp Rate Expected publication in late
• Soft-Start Ramp Rate August/early September
• Specified Power Factor
• Volt/Var Mode
http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity_analysis/rule21/

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 14

UL1741 - Rapid Shutdown

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. CMP 4 added a delayed
adoption date, specifying that 690.12(B)(2) “shall become effective January 1, 2019.” to
allow time for the standard’s development process

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 15

UL 1703 – Photovoltaic Modules and Panels
Recent proposed revisions with Bulletins Issued:
April 1, 2016: Addition of Allowable PV Cable Connectors to Module
Documentation and Revising the Reference to the Standard for Component
Connectors for Use in Data, Signal, Control and Power Applications, UL 1977,
to the Standard for Connectors for Use in Photovoltaic Systems, UL 6703.

April 29, 2016: Revision to Expand the Definition of Type 3 Module in the
Section 16, Fire Performance.

Current Topics under discussion within the UL1703 STP:

• Mechanical loads and groupings
• Frames used as grounding conductors
• Move fire testing requirements to UL 2703

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 16

UL 2703 – Mounting Systems, Mounting Devices

Recent proposed revisions with Bulletins Issued:

November 2, 2015: Addition of an Option for Including a QR Code for

Installation Instructions.

Current Topics under discussion within the UL2703 STP :

• Bonding and grounding
• Mechanical loading
• Manuals and markings
• Corrosion resistance

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 17

UL - IEC Standards Adoption Activities
IEC 61730-1/-2: Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification.
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 62093: Balance-of-system components for photovoltaic systems - Design qualification natural
environments
IEC 62738: Design guidelines and recommendations for photovoltaic power plants
IEC 62548: Photovoltaic (PV) arrays - Design requirements
IEC 62446: Grid connected photovoltaic systems - Minimum requirements for system documentation,
commissioning tests and inspection
IEC 61724: Photovoltaic system performance monitoring - Guidelines for measurement, data
exchange and analysis
IEC 61215 -1./-1.1/-2 : Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval
IEC TS 62941: Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Guidelines for increased confidence
in PV module design qualification and type approval
* US Technical Advisory Group assigned to UL
August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 18
UL Standards Certification and Labeling

• Third-Party certification to UL standards for PV products is required

by many programs and codes.
• Certification to a given standard may be done by an accredited
certification body.
• Right to mark product with certification marks.
• Online listings of certifications available from most certifiers

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 19

Want to learn more about UL Standards Development?

Find out how you can

become involved in the UL
standards development
process:
http://csds.ul.com/

Or learn more about UL

Standards:
http://UL.com/standards

Thank you!

Scott Jezwinski
scott.jezwinski@ul.com

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 20

Solar Heating and Cooling
Shawn Martin
Director of Technical Services, ICC-SRCC
smartin@solar-rating.org
Solar Heating & Cooling

• Solar thermal technology

uses solar energy to directly
heat fluids.
• No electrical energy
generation (usually).
• Applications:
– Domestic water heating
– Space heating (air and water)
– Pool heating
– Cooling

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 22

Standards in Solar Heating and Cooling
Laws,
Regulations
&
Ordinances
Building Other
Codes Standards

Product
Incentive SHC
Certification
Programs Standards
Programs

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 23

Key Standard Developers for SHC

• Solar Rating and Certification

Corporation (ICC-SRCC)
• Underwriter’s Laboratories
(UL)
• ASTM International
• International Association of
Plumbing & Mechanical
Officials (IAPMO)
• ENERGY STAR
• Florida Solar Energy Center
(FSEC)
July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 24
SRCC Solar Thermal Standards

• Non-profit organization certifying and rating solar

thermal systems and components.
– Established in 1980’s through the efforts of several states,
DOE and SEIA.
• Current SRCC ANSI-approved standards
– ICC 901/SRCC 100-2015 Solar Thermal Collectors
– ICC 900/SRCC 300-2015 Solar Thermal Systems
• Cited by dozens of incentive programs nationwide, IRS
tax code, ICC International Residential Code (IRC),
IAPMO Uniform Solar Energy Code (USEC)

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 25

UL Solar Thermal Standards

• UL 1279-2010 Outline of Investigation for Solar

Collectors
• Addresses factory-built collectors used in active
and thermosiphon systems.
• Referenced by the IAPMO Uniform Solar Energy
Code (USEC)
• Where PV modules are used within solar thermal
systems, compliance with UL 1703-2014 Flat-Plate
Photovoltaic Modules and Panels is required

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 26

ASTM Solar Thermal Standards

• ASTM E44.25 Heat Metering

– Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other
Alternative Energy Sources
• Addresses performance and operational
characteristics for heat meters, regardless of
energy source.
• Final draft nearly ready to be submitted to ASTM
for ballot, final version ~ end of 2016.
• No current references.

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 27

IAPMO Solar Thermal Standards

• Non-profit association of plumbing and mechanical

officials.
– Develops related codes and standards and offers
certifications and ratings for solar thermal systems and
components.
• Current IAPMO SHC standards
– IAPMO S1001.1-2013 Design and Installation of Solar Water
Heating Systems
– IAPMO S1001.4-2015 Energy Production Rating of Solar
Heating Collectors
• Referenced by a limited number of incentive programs.

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 28

SHC Certification and Labeling

• Third-Party certification to several of the standards for collectors and

systems is required by many programs and codes.
– Certification to a given standard may be done by any accredited certification
body.
• Right to mark product with certification marks.
• Online listings of certifications available from most certifiers.

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 29

Getting Involved

• SEIA Codes and Standards Committee

– Monitor standard development
– Help to establish SEIA position
• Direct standard development
– Contact the committee chair or staff secretariat
– Participate in public comment periods
• SHC Industry groups
– SEIA SHC Alliance
– ICC-SRCC Codes and Standards Committee

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 30

Structural
Joe Cain
Chair, SEIA Codes & Standards Working Group
joecainpe@gmail.com
Referenced Standards for Structural Engineering

Structural standards directly referenced in IBC Chapter 35:

• American Society of Civil Engineers/Structural Engineers Institute
– ASCE/SEI 7-10
• Aluminum Association (AA)
– ADM1 2015
• American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
– North American Specification (a family of standards)
• American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
– Manual of Steel Construction, 14th Edition
• American Concrete Institute (ACI)
– ACI 318-14
August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 32
Example Referenced Standard – ASCE 7

Structural standards directly referenced in IBC

Chapter 35
• ASCE/SEI 7-10

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 33

Referenced Standards for Structural Engineering

AISI for Cold-Formed

Steel (CFS)

AISC for Hot-

Rolled Steel
August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 34
AISC – American Institute of Steel Construction

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 35

American Concrete Institute - ACI 318-14

American Concrete Institute

• ACI 318-14

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 36

ICC Acceptance Criteria AC 428 Modular Framing Systems

Additional guidance that is not a referenced standard

• ICC Evaluation Services Acceptance Criteria 428
• Acceptance Criteria for Modular Framing Systems
Used To Support Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
• Required to obtain an evaluation report
• Also useful as voluntary guidance
• Wind calculation method specific to “flush
mounted” PV systems on sloping “pitched” roofs
• Primary development conducted by Dr. Tim
Reinhold of IBHS and Todd Ganshaw, P.E., of
Unirac
• Allows internal pressure set equal to zero (within
constraints) in Components & Cladding method

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 37

ICC Acceptance Criteria AC 365 for BIPV

Additional guidance that is not a referenced standard

• ICC Evaluation Services Acceptance Criteria 365
• Applies to Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) Roof
Covering Systems
• Structural provisions are the same as for any other roof
covering materials and systems

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 38

FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets

Additional guidance that is not a referenced standard

• FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-15
• Roof Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Panels
• Wind
• Fire Exposure and Classification
• Gravity Loads and Roof Drainage
• Hail
• Earthquake
• Operation and Maintenance
• Electrical
• Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Testing and Ballasted PV Systems
• PV Systems Fastened to Standing Seam Roofs
• Fires and Electrical Ignition Sources

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 39

FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets

Additional guidance that is not a referenced standard

• FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 7-106
• Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Power
• Natural Hazards
• Fire
• Electrical
• Lightning and Transient Protection
• Hot Work
• Supervision of Property

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 40

SEAOC Seismic white paper PV1, August 2012

Incorporated
with
modifications
into ASCE 7-16

• SEAOC developed seismic method to justify use of ballasted, non-penetrating PV

mounting systems.
• Primary research conducted by Joe Maffei, PhD, S.E. of Maffei Structural
Engineering and Rob Ward, S.E. of SunLink.
• Based on displacement method of analysis.

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 41

SEAOC Wind paper PV2, August 2012

Incorporated
with
modifications
into ASCE 7-16

• SEAOC developed low-profile wind calculation method based on combined solar-specific

wind tunnel data points.
• Wind Tunnel Researchers: David Banks, Gregory Kopp, Timothy Reinhold.
• Includes commentary on Effective Wind Area.

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 42

Future DRAFT SEAOC White Papers in Development

• SEAOC PV Systems Committee is

actively working on new white
papers
• Gravity Design Loads by primary
author Gwen Searer of WJE
• Structural testing requirements by
primary author Rob Ward of
SunLink
• Also in progress is:
– PV2 Wind update to ASCE 7-16
– Rack stiffness/load sharing

July 22, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 43

SEIA Engagement

Codes & Standards Working Group

• Member and industry driven initiatives focused on existing, new and

upcoming new codes and standards proposals and requirements

• Meets bi-weekly by teleconference, in-person at Solar Power

International

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 44

SEIA Membership & Benefits

• Market & industry intelligence and research

• Powerful advocacy and influence
• New business development opportunities
• Tools and programs to advance your business

• Upcoming SEIA Codes & Standards Webinars / Events:

– Solar Installed: The People and the Process enabling Market Acceptance
and Implementation (August, free)
• Exploring the Rules of Engagement: An Introduction to Codes & Standards and
the State of Regulations for Designing and Installing Solar (SPI, fee)

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 45

 Q&A

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 46

 SEIA Contacts
Membership:
Thomas Kiggen,
Director of Membership
E-mail: tkiggen@seia.org
Phone: +1-202-540-5347

Codes & Standards:

Evelyn M. Butler
Director of Codes & Standards
E-mail: ebutler@seia.org
Phone: +1-202-681-4156

August 2, 2016 © 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association® 47

Thank you for attending!