EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018

Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 1: Grid connected systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection

Photovoltaik (PV) Systeme - Anforderungen an Prüfung, Dokumentation und Instandhaltung - Teil 1: Netzgekoppelte Systeme - Dokumentation, Inbetriebnahmeprüfung und Prüfanforderungen

Systèmes photovoltaïques (PV) - Exigences pour les essais, la documentation et la maintenance - Partie 1: Systèmes connectés au réseau électrique - Documentation, essais de mise en service et examen

Fotonapetostni sistemi - Zahteve za preskušanje, dokumentiranje in vzdrževanje - 1. del: Sistemi, priključeni na omrežje -Dokumentacija, prevzemni preskusi in nadzor - Dopolnilo A1

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Oct-2018
• Withdrawal Date: 13-Sep-2021
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 82 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 82 - IEC_TC_82
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 12-Oct-2018
• Completion Date: 12-Oct-2018
• Ref Project: SIST EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018 - Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 1: Grid connected systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection

Relations

• Amends: EN 62446-1:2016 - Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 1: Grid connected systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection
• Effective Date: 23-Jan-2023
• Revised: prEN IEC 62446-1:2025 - Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 1: Grid connected systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection
• Effective Date: 14-Apr-2025

Overview

EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018 (IEC 62446-1:2016/A1:2018) defines documentation, commissioning tests and inspection requirements for grid‑connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. This European amendment updates the original EN 62446-1:2016 with clarifications on test regimes, new terms (for example string wiring harness and Harness Sub Array (HSA)), and revised test procedures for safe, repeatable commissioning and inspection.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Grid‑connected PV systems - emphasis on documentation, commissioning tests and inspection protocols.
• Documentation: Copies of all test and commissioning data must be provided; minimum results are those from verification tests in Clauses 5–9 (model forms in Annexes A–C).
• Terminology: Introduces terms such as string wiring harness (prefabricated cable assembly aggregating multiple string outputs) and HSA (group of strings in parallel; limit defined in the standard: combined current ≤ 30 A and up to 10 strings for HSA testing).
• Test regimes: Defined Category 1 and Category 2 regimes. Category 1 includes basic string/HSA open‑circuit voltage and circuit current tests; Category 2 includes full I‑V curve and array performance checks.
• String tests: Short‑circuit (Isc) and operational current tests-measured values should typically be within ±10% of expected or adjacent string values; procedures address unstable irradiance (use reference meters, delay testing, or perform I‑V).
• I‑V curve testing: Procedures for string/HSA and array performance checks; require stable irradiance (minimum threshold specified) and refer to IEC 60891 for irradiance/temperature corrections.
• Insulation and polarity checks: Guidance for insulation resistance testing and practical polarity checks at combiner boxes (use DMM or alternate methods where appropriate).
• Module‑level electronics: Notes that I‑V and electroluminescence may not be possible; use module‑level data for diagnostics.
• Safety and references: Updates normative references (e.g., IEC 62548:2016 replaces IEC TS 62548:2013) and cross‑refers relevant IEC standards for design and performance measurements.

Applications and users

This standard is practical for:

• PV installers and commissioning engineers conducting handover tests
• Inspection bodies and accredited testers verifying compliance
• Maintenance teams performing periodic inspections and fault finding
• System designers and integrators ensuring documentation and testability
• Owners and certifiers requiring recorded commissioning data for warranties

Use cases: pre‑commissioning checks, handover documentation, troubleshooting underperforming arrays, safety verification after modifications, and routine maintenance inspections.

Related standards (selection)

• IEC 62548:2016 - PV arrays design requirements (referenced replacement)
• IEC 60891:2009 - Corrections for I‑V measurements (irradiance/temperature)
• IEC 61730 series - PV module safety qualification
• IEC TS 61724‑2:2016 - PV system performance assessment (cross‑reference)

Keywords: EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018, photovoltaic PV systems, grid connected, commissioning tests, I‑V curve, insulation resistance, string wiring harness, HSA, documentation, inspection, maintenance.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2018
)RWRQDSHWRVWQLVLVWHPL=DKWHYH]DSUHVNXãDQMHGRNXPHQWLUDQMHLQY]GUåHYDQMH
GHO6LVWHPLSULNOMXþHQLQDRPUHåMH'RNXPHQWDFLMDSUHY]HPQLSUHVNXVLLQ
QDG]RU'RSROQLOR$
Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance -
Part 1: Grid connected systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection
Photovoltaik (PV) Systeme - Anforderungen an Prüfung, Dokumentation und
Instandhaltung - Teil 1: Netzgekoppelte Systeme - Dokumentation,
Inbetriebnahmeprüfung und Prüfanforderungen
Systèmes photovoltaïques (PV) - Exigences pour les essais, la documentation et la
maintenance - Partie 1: Systèmes connectés au réseau électrique - Documentation,
essais de mise en service et examen
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 62446-1:2016/A1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2018
ICS 27.160
English Version
Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing,
documentation and maintenance - Part 1: Grid connected
systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection
(IEC 62446-1:2016/A1:2018)
Systèmes photovoltaïques (PV) - Exigences pour les Photovoltaik (PV) Systeme - Anforderungen an Prüfung,
essais, la documentation et la maintenance - Partie 1: Dokumentation und Instandhaltung - Teil 1: Netzgekoppelte
Systèmes connectés au réseau électrique - Documentation, Systeme - Dokumentation, Inbetriebnahmeprüfung und
essais de mise en service et examen Prüfanforderungen
(IEC 62446-1:2016/A1:2018) (IEC 62446-1:2016/A1:2018)
This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN 62446-1:2016; it was approved by CENELEC on 2018-09-14. CENELEC
members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment the
status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as
the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018 E

European foreword
The text of document 82/1415/FDIS, future IEC 62446-1:2016/A1, prepared by IEC/TC 82 "Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 62446-1:2016/A1:2018.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2019-06-14
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2021-09-14
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62446-1:2016/A1:2018 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
Replace the Annex ZA of EN 62446-1:2016 by the following:
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60364-6 -  Low voltage electrical installations - Part 6: HD 60364-6 -
Verification
IEC 60891 2009 Photovoltaic devices - Procedures for EN 60891 2010
temperature and irradiance corrections to
measured I-V characteristics
IEC 61010 series Safety requirements for electrical EN 61010 series
equipment for measurement, control, and
laboratory use
IEC 61557 series Electrical safety in low voltage distribution EN 61557 series
systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500 V
d.c. - Equipment for testing, measuring or
monitoring of protective measures
IEC 61730 series Photovoltaic (PV) module safety EN IEC 61730 series
qualification
IEC 62548 2016 Photovoltaic (PV) arrays - Design - -
requirements
IEC 62446-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AM ENDMENT 1
AM ENDEMENT 1
Photovoltaic (PV) systems – Requirements for testing, documentation and

maintenance –
Part 1: Grid connected systems – Documentation, commissioning tests and

inspection
Systèmes photovoltaïques (PV) – Exigences pour les essais, la documentation

et la maintenance –
Partie 1: Systèmes connectés au réseau électrique – Documentation, essais de

mise en service et examen
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-5786-9

– 2 – IEC 62446-1:2016/AMD1:2018
© IEC 2018
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by the IEC technical committee 82: Solar photovoltaic
energy systems.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/1415/FDIS 82/1426/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report
on voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC website under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
_____________
2 Normative references
Replace the following standard:
IEC TS 62548:2013, Photovoltaic (PV) arrays – Design requirements
By:
IEC 62548:2016, Photovoltaic (PV) arrays – Design requirements
Add the following new note after IEC 62548:
NOTE In some countries IEC 60364-7-712 is preferred over IEC 62548. Both standards are expected to provide
similar results.
Add the following new normative reference:
IEC 60891:2009, Photovoltaic devices – Procedures for temperature and irradiance
corrections to measured I-V characteristics
3 Terms and definitions
Add the following new terms:
IEC 62446-1:2016/AMD1:2018 – 3 –
© IEC 2018
3.17
string wiring harness
prefabricated cable assembly that aggregates the output of multiple PV string conductors
along a single main cable
Note 1 to entry: The harness may or may not include fusing on the individual string conductors. The wiring
harness typically does not include a disconnect device in line.
Note 2 to entry: An IEC standard for string wiring harnesses is under development.
3.18
Harness Sub Array
HSA
group of PV strings connected in parallel using a string wiring harness
Note
...