ASTM E1799-08
(Practice)Standard Practice for Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Modules
Standard Practice for Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Modules
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Environmental stress tests, such as those listed in 1.2, are normally used to evaluate module designs prior to production or purchase. These test methods rely on performing electrical tests and visual inspections of modules before and after stress testing to determine the effects of the exposures.
Effects of environmental stress testing may vary from no effects to significant changes. Some physical changes in the module may be visible when there are no measurable electrical changes. Similarly, electrical changes in the module may occur with no visible changes.
It is the intent of this practice to provide a recognized procedure for performing visual inspections and to specify effects that should be reported.
Many of these effects are subjective. In order to determine if a module has passed a visual inspection, the user of this practice must specify what changes or conditions are acceptable. The user may have to judge whether changes noted during an inspection will limit the useful life of a module design.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures and criteria for visual inspections of photovoltaic modules.
1.2 Visual inspections of photovoltaic modules are normally performed before and after modules have been subjected to environmental, electrical, or mechanical stress testing, such as thermal cycling, humidity-freeze cycling, damp heat exposure, ultraviolet exposure, mechanical loading, hail impact testing, outdoor exposure, or other stress testing that may be part of photovoltaic module testing sequence.
1.3 This practice does not establish pass or fail levels. The determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is beyond the scope of this practice.
1.4 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: E1799 − 08
StandardPractice for
1
Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Modules
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1799; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Significance and Use
4.1 Environmental stress tests, such as those listed in 1.2,
1.1 This practice covers procedures and criteria for visual
are normally used to evaluate module designs prior to produc-
inspections of photovoltaic modules.
tion or purchase. These test methods rely on performing
1.2 Visual inspections of photovoltaic modules are normally
electrical tests and visual inspections of modules before and
performed before and after modules have been subjected to
after stress testing to determine the effects of the exposures.
environmental, electrical, or mechanical stress testing, such as
4.2 Effectsofenvironmentalstresstestingmayvaryfromno
thermal cycling, humidity-freeze cycling, damp heat exposure,
effects to significant changes. Some physical changes in the
ultraviolet exposure, mechanical loading, hail impact testing,
module may be visible when there are no measurable electrical
outdoor exposure, or other stress testing that may be part of
changes. Similarly, electrical changes in the module may occur
photovoltaic module testing sequence.
with no visible changes.
1.3 This practice does not establish pass or fail levels. The
4.3 It is the intent of this practice to provide a recognized
determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is beyond
procedure for performing visual inspections and to specify
the scope of this practice.
effects that should be reported.
1.4 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
4.4 Many of these effects are subjective. In order to deter-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
mine if a module has passed a visual inspection, the user of this
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
practice must specify what changes or conditions are accept-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
able.Theusermayhavetojudgewhetherchangesnotedduring
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
an inspection will limit the useful life of a module design.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Procedure
2. Referenced Documents 5.1 Pre-Test Inspection—Inspections performed prior to any
environmentalstresstestsmustdocumentthemodulecondition
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
so that any changes that occur during testing can be identified
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
during the post-test inspection.
E1328 Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar Energy
5.1.1 Visually inspect each module to determine the pres-
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Conversion (Withdrawn 2012)
ence or absence of anomalies or defects. Optical magnification
is not required. Such anomalies or defects should include, but
3. Terminology
are not limited to:
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms used in this practice 5.1.1.1 Shipping damage,
may be found in Terminology E772 and Terminology E1328. 5.1.1.2 Poor workmanship,
5.1.1.3 Defects in mounting brackets or structures,
5.1.1.4 Cracking, shrinkage, distortion, or tacky surfaces of
polymeric materials,
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,
5.1.1.5 Failure of adhesive bonding,
Geothermal and OtherAlternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
5.1.1.6 Bubbles or delamination of encapsulant materials,
Current edition approved April 1, 2008. Published May 2008. Originally
5.1.1.7 Presence of foreign material,
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E1799-02. DOI:
5.1.1.8 Corrosion of fasteners, mechanical members, or
10.1520/E1799-08.
2
electrical circuit elements,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1.1.9 Voids in or corrosion of any thin-film photovoltaic
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
layers,
the ASTM website.
3
5.1.1.10 Discoloration of superstrate encapsulating
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. materials,
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E1799 − 08
5.1.1.11 Discoloration of active photovoltaic elements, 5.2.2 Repeat 5.1.2. It is not necessary to record anomalies or
5.1.1.12 Broken, cracked, etched, scratched, w
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E1799–02 Designation: E 1799 – 08
Standard Practice for
1
Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Modules
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1799; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers procedures and criteria for visual inspections of photovoltaic modules.
1.2Visual inspections of photovoltaic modules are normally performed before and after modules have been subjected to
environmental stress testing, such as Test Methods E1038, E1171, E1596 or E1830 .
1.2 Visual inspections of photovoltaic modules are normally performed before and after modules have been subjected to
environmental, electrical, or mechanical stress testing, such as thermal cycling, humidity-freeze cycling, damp heat exposure,
ultraviolet exposure, mechanical loading, hail impact testing, outdoor exposure, or other stress testing that may be part of
photovoltaic module testing sequence.
1.3 This practice does not establish pass or fail levels. The determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is beyond the
scope of this practice.
1.4 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 772 Terminology Relating to Solar Energy Conversion E1038Test Method for Determining Resistance of Photovoltaic
2
Modules to Hail by Impact With Propelled Ice Balls
2
E1171Test Method for Photovoltaic Modules in Cyclic Temperature and Humidity Environments
2
E 1328Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion
2
E1596Test Methods for Solar Radiation Weathering of Photovoltaic Modules
2
E1830Test Methods for Determining Mechanical Integrity of Photovoltaic Modules Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic
Solar Energy Conversion
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms used in this practice may be found in Terminology E 772 and Terminology E 1328.
4. Significance and Use
4.1Environmental stress tests, such as Test Methods E1038, E1171, or E1596
4.1 Environmental stress tests, such as those listed in 1.2, are normally used to evaluate module designs prior to production or
purchase. These test methods rely on performing electrical tests and visual inspections of modules before and after stress testing
to determine the effects of the exposures.
4.2 Effects of environmental stress testing may vary from no effects to significant changes. Some physical changes in the
modulemaybevisiblewhentherearenomeasurableelectricalchanges.Similarly,electricalchangesinthemodulemayoccurwith
no visible changes.
4.3 It is the intent of this practice to provide a recognized procedure for performing visual inspections and to specify effects that
should be reported.
4.4 Manyoftheseeffectsaresubjective.Inordertodetermineifamodulehaspassedavisualinspection,theuserofthispractice
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal, and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2002.April 1, 2008. Published March 2003.May 2008. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 19962002 as
E1799-96.E 1799-02.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 12.02.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1799–08
must specify what changes or conditions are acceptable. The user may have to judge whether changes noted during an inspection
will limit the useful life of a module design.
5. Procedure
5.1 Pre-Test Inspection—Inspections performed prior to any environmental stress tests must document the module condition so
that any changes that occur during testing can be identified during the post-test inspe
...
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