The Solar ABCs is a collaborative effort among experts to formally gather and prioritize input from the broad spectrum of photovoltaic stakeholders resulting in coordinated recommendations to codes and standards making bodies for existing and new solar technologies.
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Solar ABCs Newsletter
| September 2010
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Greetings!
Greetings! Welcome to the September newsletter for the Solar America
Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs). The Solar ABCs Newsletter provides the latest news and
information about solar codes and standard achievements, announcements, and
events. The Solar ABCs also provides industry and other interested
organizations the opportunity to co-fund a Solar ABCs research study focused on
a PV codes and standards issue. Co-funding participation provides organization direct access to PV codes
and standards research and development. Current co-funding opportunities include: recommended protocol for
accelerated aging testing, high wind loads and model code for PV arrays, snow
load issues, other structural load issues, and grounding. If you are interested contact me for
more information.
Sincerely,  Larry Sherwood
Project Administrator
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards
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Solar America Board for Codes and Standards Annual Meeting
October 15, 2010, 8am - 12:30pm, Los Angeles, California
Register Now for the Solar ABCs Annual 2010 Stakeholder Meeting, which will be held on
October 15, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Solar ABCs holds an annual meeting to provide PV
stakeholders an update and overview of Solar ABCs codes and standards projects
and also includes other industry PV codes and standards activities. This meeting is free to attend
and is conveniently scheduled at the conclusion of Solar Power International
2010. View the Agenda.
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 Flammability Interim Report
The Solar ABCs and
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) have released a new Interim Report. The report,
entitled Flammability Testing of Standard
Roofing Products in the Presence of Standoff-mounted Photovoltaic Modules, summarizes
the results of laboratory tests conducted at the UL Fire Research Laboratory in
Northbrook, Ill. to investigate how roofs and PV modules behave as a "system"
when exposed to external fire and flames. Based on this stage of laboratory testing, the results indicate there is
no immediate need to revise current standard practices for installation of
standoff-mounted solar modules. A one one-page summary and the report are
available on the Solar ABCs web site.
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Solar Wind Load Report Released
The Solar ABCs released a report, Wind Load Calculations for PV
Arrays, which provides sample calculations for determining wind loads on PV
arrays based on ASCE Standard 7-05. The focus of the report is on applying the
existing codes and standards to the typical residential application of PV
arrays mounted parallel to the roof slope and relatively close (3 to 6 inches)
to the roof surface. It does not address other array configurations or
building-integrated PV. A
one-page summary and the report are available on the Solar ABCs web site.
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Solar ABCs Gap Analysis Report Released
The Solar ABCs has released its 2010 Gap Analysis Report,
which lists the consensus national and international PV codes and standards
issues hindering the PV market. This report summarizes the method used to conduct the gap analysis,
lists the potential topics identified, and establishes the priorities of the
topics that will become the future work by Solar ABCs and others. Download the 2010 Gap Analysis Report.
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IREC Releases Field Inspection Guidelines for PV Systems
The Interstate Renewable
Energy Council (IREC) has released the 2010 Edition of Field Inspection Guidelines
for PV Systems, authored by Bill Brooks. The intent of the 2010 Guidelines is to consolidate the most import
aspects of a field inspection into a simple process that can be performed in as
little as 15 minutes. Explanation and illustrative pictures are provided to
instruct the inspector on the specific details of each step. Download the full report.
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Meeting of ASTM Subcommittee on Glass for Solar
The ASTM E44.20 Glass for Solar Subcommittee recently met to begin the process of
creating standards and guides for the solar glazing industry. The Subcommittee's scope is focused on
developing an edge classification scale for glass used in all glass
applications in solar technology. This meeting began the discussion to define a set of edge finishes,
geometry, and defects that can be used by manufacturers to specify their
needs. Read more.
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ASTM Committee to Meet
ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy
Sources will meet November 16-17 in San Antonio, TX. The committee will discuss current work on PV Fire Safety,
PV Electric Power Conversion, and Glass for Solar Applications. Click here for more information.
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2011 National Electrical Code and Handbook Available
The 2011 NEC Code will be available on October 10, 2010 and
the Handbook will be available November
19, 2010. The code highlights
major changes in meeting consumer demand for alternate energy and green
technologies, such as revised Article 705 which covers interconnecting
generators, windmills, and solar and fuel cells with other power supplies,
revised Article 690 which covers solar electric systems, and the new Article
694 with first-time requirements for small wind electric systems. Read highlights and purchase the 2011 Code or Handbook.
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