Certification For Building Integrated Solar PV Modules

• TÜV Rheinland has come out with a new test standard for BIPV modules
• It certifies their compliance with uniform safety and quality standards, required by building authorities before these can come online
• TÜV says this will strengthen the confidence of distributors, manufacturers and purchasers

Germany headquartered global independent testing and certification agency TÜV Rheinland has launched what it calls a 'globally unique' test standard for the certification of building integrated PV (BIPV) modules that address this growing market space and strengthen the confidence of distributors, manufacturers and purchasers of this application.

The Segment Manager at TÜV Rheinland, Lukas Jakisch explains, "The new TÜV Rheinland certification offers a solution for subjecting building-integrated photovoltaic modules to an independent and standardized testing and quality assurance procedure even before they are sold."

It claims, so far there has not yet been a test standard for BIPV systems to certify their compliance with uniform safety and quality standards.

The 2 current BIPV standards, namely EN 50583 and IEC 63092, are not mandatory product certifications, but serve as a technical basis for the development of the TÜV standard dubbed 2 PfG 2796/02.22. It paves the way for tests and qualifications required for approval by the building authorities before the systems can come online.

Under the standard developed, TÜV will examine the properties of the BIPV modules relevant to both building requirements and electrotechnical requirements including risk analysis, roof integration and façade integrated systems.

Earlier this month, TÜV completed the acquisition of Inspection Verification Bureau Ltd (IVB) of the UK to help strengthen its position as a full-service provider to the renewable energy, power, gas and oil industries in the UK as well as globally.