Thin Film Photovoltaics
Following are the basic design qualification and type approval and safety standards applied to thin film photovoltaic systems.
IEC 61646, "Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic Modules - Design qualification and type approval"
The IEC 61646 for thin-film PV modules is in many aspects identical to the international standard IEC 61215 for crystalline modules. The main difference between the two standards lays in the additional test procedures adapting to the special properties of thin-film technologies. These additional tests take the degradation behaviour of amorphous silicon due to temperature and irradiance exposure into account.
The IEC 61646 standard was developed in 1996. A new edition is now in the work, and issues regarding the CIS modules have been of great concerns lately, because the IEC 61646 was developed mostly with amorphous silicon technology in mind.
IEC 61730-2 “Document Information Photovoltaic module safety qualification Part 2”
Published on Oct 1, 2004 This part of IEC 61730 describes the testing requirements for photovoltaic (PV) modules in order to provide safe electrical and mechanical operation during their expected lifetime. Specific topics are provided to assess the prevention of electrical shock, fire hazards, and personal injury due to mechanical and environmental stresses. IEC 61730-1 pertains to the particular requirements of construction. This part of IEC 61730 outlines the requirements of testing.
This standard attempts to define the basic requirements for various application classes of photovoltaic modules, but it cannot be considered to encompass all national or regional building codes. The specific requirements for marine and vehicle applications are not covered. This standard is not applicable to modules with integrated AC inverters (AC modules).
This standard is designed so that its test sequence can co-ordinate with those of IEC 61215 or IEC 61646, so that a single set of samples may be used to perform both the safety and performance evaluation of a photovoltaic module design.
The test-sequences of this standard are arranged in an optimal way so that tests of IEC 61215 or IEC 61646 can be used as basic preconditioning tests.
ANSI/UL 1703 – Recommended Practice for Safety Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels
Published in Mar 15, 2002, these requirements cover flat-plate photovoltaic modules and panels intended for installation on or integral with buildings, or to be freestanding (that is, not attached to buildings), in accordance with the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, and Model Building Codes.
