Balance of system and applicable Standards
The market access requirements for PV equipment are segmented in two main areas - safety and performance - that are integral to each other in the overall construction. The focus of the UL standards is in providing requirements for materials, construction and the evaluation of the potential electrical shock and fire safety hazards. The focus of the IEC requirements is in terms and symbols, testing, design qualification and type approval.
UL certifies that PV equipment complies with the safety, environmental and other performance requirements of the appropriate standards. UL supports manufacturers with the compliance to both the UL and the IEC requirements utilizing a combined project or if needed, as individual evaluations.
In addition, UL provides balance of systems equipment certification to the standards identified in the diagram. These certifications include materials (such as polymerics used for backsheets, encapsulants, and adhesives), components (like junction boxes and connectors) and end-products (for example, inverters and meters).
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| Photovoltaic modules and panels | IEC 61215 (crystalline) IEC 61646 (thin film) IEC 61730 | EN 61215 and EN 61730 EN 61646 and EN 61730 | UL 1703 | Photovoltaic Global Approval Program - PV GAP |
| Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies – design qualification and type approval | IEC 62108 | EN 62108 | UL-SU 8703 | |
| Junction boxes | EN 50548 | |||
| Roofing materials | UL 790 (fire test) | |||
| Inverters, converters, controllers and interconnection system equipment for use with distributed energy resources | UL 1741 | |||
| Combiner boxes | UL 1741 | |||
| Photovoltaic wire | UL-SU 4703 UL 854 Service Entrance Cables | |||
| Fuses | UL-SU 6703 | |||
| Photovoltaic connector | EN50521 | UL 1703 UL 486A / 486B | ||
| Polymeric materials | UL-SU 5703 | |||
| Procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections to measured I-V characteristics of crystalline silicon Photovoltaic | IEC 60891* *Devices Amendment 1: 06-1992 | |||
| Photovoltaic devices | IEC 60904 Series | |||
| Characteristic parameters of stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems | IEC 61194 | |||
| UV test for photovoltaic (PV) modules | IEC 61345 | |||
| Rating of direct coupled photovoltaic (PV) pumping systems | IEC 61702 | |||
| Crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) array – on-site measurement of I-V characteristics | IEC 61829 | |||
| Portable solar photovoltaic (PV) lanterns – blank detail specification. Approval under the IEC system for conformity testing and certification of electrical equipment (IECEE) | IEC PVRS11 | |||
| Portable solar photovoltaic (PV) lanterns – design qualification and type approval. Amendment 1, extension to include lanterns with nickel-metal hydride batteries | IEC PVRS11A | |||
| Used as facades or building glass | ANSIZ97, 1–1984 | |||
| Tracking system | UL-SU 9703 | |||
| Mounting system | UL-SU 1703-A | |||
| Mounting and wiring methods are evaluated with the PV modules for impact resistance | National Electric Code (NEC) Chapter 6, Article 690 |
