EN IEC 62938:2020
(Main)Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Non-uniform snow load testing
Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Non-uniform snow load testing
IEC 62938:2020 provides a method for determining how well a framed PV module performs mechanically under the influence of inclined non-uniform snow loads. This document is applicable for framed modules with frames protruding beyond the front glass surface on the lower edge after intended installation and as such creates an additional barrier to snow sliding down from modules. For modules with other frame constructions, such as backrails formed in frames, on the side edges, on the top edge and on the lower edge not creating an additional snow slide barrier, this document is not applicable. The test method determines the mechanical non-uniform-load limit of a framed PV module.
Ungleichmäßige Schneelastprüfung von Photovoltaikmodulen
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) - Essais de charges de neige non uniformes
l'IEC 62938:2020 fournit une méthode pour déterminer le comportement mécanique d'un module photovoltaïque (PV) encadré sous l'effet de charges de neige non uniformes. Le présent document s'applique aux modules encadrés dont les cadres dépassent de la façade vitrée avant au niveau du rebord inférieur lorsqu'ils se trouvent dans la position de montage prévue, ce qui crée une barrière supplémentaire contre les glissements de neige accumulée sur les modules. Le présent document ne s'applique pas aux modules reposant sur d'autres constructions de cadre, par exemple les rails arrière qui sont mis en œuvre dans les cadres, sur les rebords latéraux, sur le rebord supérieur et sur le rebord inférieur, mais qui n'empêchent pas les glissements de neige. La méthode d'essai détermine la limite mécanique d'un module photovoltaïque encadré aux charges de neige non uniformes.
Obremenilni preskus fotonapetostnih (PV) modulov pri neenakomerni snežni odeji
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2020
Obremenilni preskus fotonapetostnih (PV) modulov pri neenakomerni snežni odeji
Non-uniform snow load testing for photovoltaic (PV) modules
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62938:2020
ICS:
27.160 Sončna energija Solar energy engineering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 62938
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2020
ICS 27.160
English Version
Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Non-uniform snow load testing
(IEC 62938:2020)
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) - Essais de charges de neige Ungleichmäßige Schneelastprüfung von
non uniformes Photovoltaikmodulen
(IEC 62938:2020) (IEC 62938:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2020-06-18. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard 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 European Standard 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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, 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
© 2020 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 62938:2020 E
European foreword
The text of document 82/1670/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 62938, prepared by IEC/TC 82 "Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN IEC 62938:2020.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2021-03-18
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2023-06-18
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 62938:2020 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
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/TS 60904-13 2018 Photovoltaic devices - Part 13: - -
Electroluminescence of photovoltaic
modules
IEC 61215-1 2016 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - EN 61215-1 2016
Design qualification and type approval -
Part 1: Test requirements
IEC 61215-2 2016 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - EN 61215-2 2017
Design qualification and type approval -
Part 2: Test procedures
EN 61215-2:2017/AC 2017-
IEC/TS 61836 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems - - -
Terms, definitions and symbols
IEC/TS 62915 - Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Type - -
approval, design and safety qualification -
Retesting
IEC 62938 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Non-uniform snow load testing
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) – Essais de charges de neige non uniformes
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-8074-4
– 2 – IEC 62938:2020 IEC 2020
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Sampling . 6
5 Prerequisites . 7
6 Testing . 7
6.1 General . 7
6.2 Projections of the test results . 7
6.3 Test plan . 7
7 Test procedures . 9
7.1 Visual inspection . 9
7.2 Maximum power determination . 9
7.3 Insulation test . 9
7.4 Wet leakage current test . 9
7.5 Humidity-freeze test . 9
7.6 Electroluminescence imaging . 9
7.7 Non-uniform snow load test . 9
7.7.1 Purpose . 9
7.7.2 Load specification . 9
7.7.3 Apparatus . 11
7.7.4 Procedure . 13
8 Fail criteria . 15
9 Verification of the test results . 15
10 Statistical analysis . 15
10.1 General . 15
10.2 5 % fractile value with Student's distribution . 16
10.3 Safety factor . 16
10.4 Example. 16
10.5 Quantiles of the t distribution (Student's distribution) . 16
11 Test report . 17
12 Modifications . 18
Annex A (informative) Use of determined values . 19
A.1 Estimated snow loads and use of the determined resistance . 19
A.2 Calculate the bearable loads for different angles . 19
Bibliography . 20
Figure 1 – Test plan for inhomogeneous snow load test . 8
Figure 2 – Distribution of load on the test specimen at inclination . 10
Figure 3 – Simplified cross-sectional view of module width along bottom frame . 12
Figure 4 – Test procedure for the snow load test . 14
Figure 5 – Different deflection graphs under static load . 14
Table 1 – Applicable load in relation to angle of pitch of roof . 10
Table 2 – Quantiles of the t distribution (Student's distribution) . 17
IEC 62938:2020 IEC 2020 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES –
NON-UNIFORM SNOW LOAD TESTING
FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 62938 has been prepared by IEC technical comm
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