ASTM E1799-12
(Practice)Standard Practice for Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Modules
Standard Practice for Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Modules
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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 module may be visible when there are no measurable electrical changes. Similarly, electrical changes in the module may occur with 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 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 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 − 12
Standard Practice 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 4.2 Effectsofenvironmentalstresstestingmayvaryfromno
effects to significant changes. Some physical changes in the
1.1 This practice covers procedures and criteria for visual
module may be visible when there are no measurable electrical
inspections of photovoltaic modules.
changes. Similarly, electrical changes in the module may occur
1.2 Visual inspections of photovoltaic modules are normally
with no visible changes.
performed before and after modules have been subjected to
4.3 It is the intent of this practice to provide a recognized
environmental, electrical, or mechanical stress testing, such as
procedure for performing visual inspections and to specify
thermal cycling, humidity-freeze cycling, damp heat exposure,
effects that should be reported.
ultraviolet exposure, mechanical loading, hail impact testing,
outdoor exposure, or other stress testing that may be part of 4.4 Many of these effects are subjective. In order to deter-
photovoltaic module testing sequence.
mine if a module has passed a visual inspection, the user of this
practice must specify what changes or conditions are accept-
1.3 This practice does not establish pass or fail levels. The
able.Theusermayhavetojudgewhetherchangesnotedduring
determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is beyond
an inspection will limit the useful life of a module design.
the scope of this practice.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Procedure
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.1 Pre-Test Inspection—Inspections performed prior to any
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
environmentalstresstestsmustdocumentthemodulecondition
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
so that any changes that occur during testing can be identified
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
during the post-test inspection.
2. Referenced Documents
5.1.1 Visually inspect each module to determine the pres-
2 ence or absence of anomalies or defects. Optical magnification
2.1 ASTM Standards:
is not required. Such anomalies or defects should include, but
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
are not limited to:
5.1.1.1 Shipping damage,
3. Terminology
5.1.1.2 Poor workmanship,
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms used in this practice
5.1.1.3 Defects in mounting brackets or structures,
may be found in Terminology E772.
5.1.1.4 Cracking, shrinkage, distortion, or tacky surfaces of
polymeric materials,
4. Significance and Use
5.1.1.5 Failure of adhesive bonding,
4.1 Environmental stress tests, such as those listed in 1.2,
5.1.1.6 Bubbles or delamination of encapsulant materials,
are normally used to evaluate module designs prior to produc-
5.1.1.7 Presence of foreign material,
tion or purchase. These test methods rely on performing
5.1.1.8 Corrosion of fasteners, mechanical members, or
electrical tests and visual inspections of modules before and
electrical circuit elements,
after stress testing to determine the effects of the exposures.
5.1.1.9 Voids in or corrosion of any thin-film photovoltaic
layers,
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, 5.1.1.10 Discoloration of superstrate encapsulating
Geothermal and OtherAlternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility of
materials,
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
5.1.1.11 Discoloration of active photovoltaic elements,
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2012. Published December 2012. Originally
5.1.1.12 Broken, cracked, etched, scratched, wrinkled, or
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E1799–08. DOI:
10.1520/E1799-12.
torn external surfaces,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1.1.13 Broken or cracked active photovoltaic elements,
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1.1.14 Broken, cracked, or faulty electrical
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. interconnections,
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1799 − 12
5.1.1.15 Cracked or damaged structural elements, tion unless the anomalies or defects have visibly changed
during the subsequent testing.
5.1.1.16
...
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 − 08 E1799 − 12
Standard Practice 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
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.
1.4 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:
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
3
E1328 Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion (Withdrawn 2012)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms used in this practice may be found in Terminology E772 and Terminology E1328.
4. Significance and Use
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
module may be visible when there are no measurable electrical changes. Similarly, electrical changes in the module may occur with
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 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.
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 inspection.
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 April 1, 2008Dec. 1, 2012. Published May 2008December 2012. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20022008 as
E1799-02.–08. DOI: 10.1520/E1799-08.10.1520/E1799-12.
2
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 Standards
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 − 12
5.1.1 Visually inspect each module to determine the presence or absence of anomalies or defects. Optical magnification is not
required. Such anomalies or defects should include, but are not limited to:
5.1.1.1 Shipping damage,
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,
5.1.1.5 Failure of adhesive bonding,
5.1.1.6 Bubbles or delamination of encapsulant materials,
5.1.1.7 Presence of foreign material,
5.1.1.8 Corrosion of fasteners, mechanical members, or electrical circuit elements,
5.1.1.9 Voids in or corros
...
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