EN 61215-1:2016

Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1: Test requirements

IEC 61215-1:2016 lays down requirements for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules suitable for long-term operation in general open-air climates, as defined in IEC 60721-2-1. This standard is intended to apply to all terrestrial flat plate module materials such as crystalline silicon module types as well as thin-film modules. The objective of this test sequence is to determine the electrical and thermal characteristics of the module and to show, as far as possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time, that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in climates described in the scope. This edition of IEC 61215-1 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the second edition of IEC 61215:2005: new standard series structure consistent with other IEC standards: Part 1 lists general requirements, Part 1-x specifics for each PV technology and Part 2 defines testing. All tests defined in Part 2 are MQTs (module quality tests).

Terrestrische Photovoltaik-(PV-)Module - Bauarteignung und Bauartzulassung - Part 1: Prüfanforderungen

Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres - Qualification de la conception et homologation - Partie 1: Exigences d'essai

L'IEC 61215-1:2016 établit les exigences pour la qualification de la conception et l'homologation des modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres et pour une utilisation de longue durée dans les climats généraux à l'air libre, définis dans l'IEC 60721-2-1. La présente norme est destinée à s'appliquer à tous les matériaux de modules à plaque plane au silicium cristallin pour applications terrestres (p. ex.: types de modules au silicium cristallin et modules à couches minces). L'objet de cette séquence d'essais est de déterminer les caractéristiques électriques et thermiques du module et de montrer, dans la mesure du possible avec des contraintes de coût et de temps raisonnables, que le module est apte à supporter une exposition prolongée aux climats définis dans le domaine d'application. Cette édition de l'IEC 61215-1 inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à la deuxième édition de l'IEC 61215:2005: Réorganisation de la série de normes selon une structure cohérente avec les autres normes de l'IEC. La Partie 1 répertorie les exigences générales, les Partie 1-x établissent les exigences spécifiques à chaque technologie photovoltaïque (PV), tandis que la Partie 2 définit les essais. Tous les essais définis dans la Partie 2 sont des essais de qualité des modules (MQT, Module Quality Test).

Prizemni fotonapetostni (PV) moduli - Ocena zasnove in odobritev tipa - 1. del: Zahteve za preskušanje

Ta del standarda IEC 61215 določa zahteve IEC za oceno zasnove in odobritev tipa prizemnih fotonapetostnih (PV) modulov, primernih za dolgotrajno uporabo v običajnih okoljih na prostem, kot je opredeljeno v standardu IEC 60721-2-1. Ta standard je namenjen za uporabo za vse materiale ploščatih prizemnih modulov, kot so vrste modulov iz kristalnega silicija in tankoplastni moduli.
Ta standard se ne uporablja za module za uporabo s koncentrirano sončno svetlobo, lahko pa se uporablja za nizkokoncentracijske module (1 do 3 sončni viri). Za nizkokoncentracijske module se vsi preskusi izvedejo s tokovno, napetostno in močnostno ravnjo, ki so pričakovane pri načrtovani koncentraciji.
Ta standard ne obravnava posebnosti prizemnih fotonapetostnih modulov z vgrajeno elektroniko, vendar se lahko uporablja kot podlaga za preskušanje takšnih fotonapetostnih modulov.
Namen tega preskusnega zaporedja je določiti električne in toplotne lastnosti modula ter prikazati (kot je mogoče v razumnih stroškovnih in časovnih omejitvah), da lahko modul prenese učinke dolgotrajne izpostavljenosti v okoljih, opisanih v okviru področja uporabe. Dejanska pričakovana življenjska doba tako ocenjenih modulov je odvisna od njihove zasnove, okolja uporabe in pogojev delovanja.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 08-Dec-2016
• Withdrawal Date: 08-Dec-2019
• 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: 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
• Start Date: 30-Mar-2024
• Completion Date: 30-Mar-2024
• Ref Project: SIST EN 61215-1:2017 - Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval - Part 1: Requirements for testing

Relations

• Replaces: EN 61215:2005 - Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval
• Effective Date: 29-Jan-2023
• Replaced By: EN IEC 61215-1:2021 - Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1: Test requirements
• Effective Date: 08-Dec-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2017
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 61215:2005
Prizemni fotonapetostni (PV) moduli - Ocena zasnove in odobritev tipa - 1. del:
Zahteve za preskušanje
Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval - Part 1:
Requirements for testing
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61215-1:2016
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 61215-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2016
ICS 27.160 Supersedes EN 61215:2005 (partially)
English Version
Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and
type approval - Part 1: Test requirements
(IEC 61215-1:2016)
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres - Terrestrische Photovoltaik-(PV-)Module - Bauarteignung
Qualification de la conception et homologation - Partie 1: und Bauartzulassung - Part 1: Prüfanforderungen
Exigences d'essai (IEC 61215-1:2016)
(IEC 61215-1:2016)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2016-04-13. 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, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, 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: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 61215-1:2016 E
European foreword
The text of document 82/1046/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 61215-1, prepared by IEC/TC 82 “Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 61215-1:2016.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2017-01-13
• latest date by which the document has to be
implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national (dow) 2019-04-13
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes partially EN 61215:2005.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61215-1:2016 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, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1 When 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 60050 series International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - series
IEC 60269-6 -  Low-voltage fuses -- Part 6: EN 60269-6 -
Supplementary requirements for fuse-links
for the protection of solar photovoltaic
energy systems
IEC 60891 -  Photovoltaic devices - Procedures for EN 60891 -
temperature and irradiance corrections to
measured I-V characteristics
IEC 60904-1 -  Photovoltaic devices -- Part 1: EN 60904-1 -
Measurement of photovoltaic current-
voltage characteristics
IEC 60904-3 -  Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: EN 60904-3 -
Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with
reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 60904-10 -  Photovoltaic devices -- Part 10: Methods of EN 60904-10 -
linearity measurement
IEC 61215-2 -  Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - EN 61215-2 -
Design qualification and type approval --
Part 2: Test procedures
IEC 61730-2 -  Photovoltaic (PV) module safety EN 61730-2 -
qualification -- Part 2: Requirements for
testing
IEC 61853-1 -  Photovoltaic (PV) module performance EN 61853-1 -
testing and energy rating -- Part 1:
Irradiance and temperature performance
measurements and power rating
IEC 61853-2 -  Photovoltaic (PV) module performance - -
testing and energy rating -- Part 2: Spectral
response, incidence angle and module
operating temperature measurements
IEC/TS 61836 -  Solar photovoltaic energy systems - CLC/TS 61836 -
Terms, definitions and symbols
IEC/TS 62915 -  Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Retesting for - -
type approval, design and safety
qualification
ISO/IEC 17025 -  General requirements for the competence EN ISO/IEC 17025 -
of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 -  Uncertainty of measurement -- Part 3: - -
Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
measurement (GUM:1995)
IEC 61215-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2016-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 1: Test requirements
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres – Qualification de la

conception et homologation –
Partie 1: Exigences d'essai
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-3206-4

– 2 – IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope and object . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations . 7
4 Test samples . 8
5 Marking and documentation . 8
5.1 Name plate . 8
5.2 Documentation . 9
5.2.1 Minimum requirements . 9
5.2.2 Information to be given in the documentation . 9
5.2.3 Assembly instructions . 10
6 Testing . 10
7 Pass criteria . 11
7.1 General . 11
7.2 Power output and electric circuitry . 11
7.2.1 Verification of rated label values  Gate No. 1 . 11
7.2.2 Maximum power degradation during type approval testing  Gate No. 2 . 12
7.2.3 Electrical circuitry. 13
7.3 Visual defects . 13
7.4 Electrical safety . 13
8 Major visual defects . 13
9 Report . 14
10 Modifications . 15
11 Test flow and procedures . 15

Figure 1 – Full test flow for design qualification and type approval of photovoltaic
modules . 18

Table 1 – Summary of test levels . 16

IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
TERRESTRIAL PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES –
DESIGN QUALIFICATION AND TYPE APPROVAL –

Part 1: Test requirements
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61215-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar
photovoltaic energy systems.
This first edition of IEC 61215-1 cancels and replaces the second edition of IEC 61215,
published in 2005; it constitutes a technical revision.
This edition of IEC 61215-1 includes the following significant technical changes with respect
to the second edition of IEC 61215:2005 and the second edition of IEC 61646:2008:
a) New standard series structure consistent with other IEC standards: Part 1 lists general
requirements, Part 1-x specifics for each PV technology and Part 2 defines testing. All
tests defined in Part 2 are MQTs (module quality tests).
b) Sampling procedure rewritten (Clause 4).
c) Marking requirements better defined for name plate and general documentation.

– 4 – IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016
d) Pass/fail criteria have been divided into two “gates”. Gate No. 1 verifies the initial
maximum power at STC with respect to name plate rating and Gate No. 2 defines the
power loss during accelerated aging testing.
e) Revised hot-spot endurance test (MQT 09).
f) Update of the other tests to be consistent with changes in IEC 61646.
g) Removal of the method for measuring temperature coefficients and reference to
IEC 60891.
h) Definition of NMOT as the nominal module operating temperature measured with the
module under maximum power conditions.
i) Rewriting of the standard using NMOT instead of NOCT and reference to future
IEC 61853-2 for the test procedure.
j) Rewriting of the robustness of termination test (MQT 14) to include evaluation of both
cables and junction boxes.
k) Stabilization of PV modules implemented. This replaces either light soaking procedure
from IEC 61646 or preconditioning from IEC 61215.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/1046/FDIS 82/1074/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61215 series, published under the general title Terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval, can be found on the
IEC website.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site 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.
IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
Whereas Part 1 of this standard series describes requirements (both in general and specific
with respect to device technology), the sub-parts of Part 1 define technology variations and
Part 2 defines a set of test procedures necessary for design qualification and type approval.
The test procedures described in Part 2 are valid for all device technologies.

– 6 – IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016
TERRESTRIAL PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES –
DESIGN QUALIFICATION AND TYPE APPROVAL –

Part 1: Test requirements
1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 61215 lays down IEC requirements for the design qualification and type
approval of terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules suitable for long-term operation in general
open-air climates, as defined in IEC 60721-2-1. This standard is intended to apply to all
terrestrial flat plate module materials such as crystalline silicon module types as well as thin-
film modules.
This standard does not apply to modules used with concentrated sunlight although it may be
utilized for low concentrator modules (1 to 3 suns). For low concentration modules, all tests
are performed using the current, voltage and power levels expected at the design
concentration.
This standard does not address the particularities of PV modules with integrated electronics,
it may however be used as a basis for testing such PV modules.
The objective of this test sequence is to determine the electrical and thermal characteristics of
the module and to show, as far as possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time,
that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in climates described in the
scope. The actual lifetime expectancy of modules so qualified will depend on their design,
their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60050 (all parts), International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (available at
http://www.electropedia.org)
IEC 60269-6, Low-voltage fuses – Part 6: Supplementary requirements for fuse-links for the
protection of solar photovoltaic energy systems
IEC 60891, Photovoltaic devices – Procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections to
measured I-V characteristics
IEC 60904-1, Photovoltaic devices – Part 1: Measurement of photovoltaic current-voltage
characteristics
IEC 60904-3, Photovoltaic devices – Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 60904-10, Photovoltaic devices – Part 10: Methods of linearity measurement
IEC 61215-2, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –
Part 2: Test procedures
IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016 – 7 –
IEC 61730-2, Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification – Part 2: Requirements for testing
IEC TS 61836, Solar photovoltaic energy systems – Terms, definitions and symbols
IEC 61853-1, Photovoltaic (PV) module performance testing and energy rating – Part 1:
Irradiance and temperature performance measurements and power rating
IEC 61853-2, Photovoltaic (PV) module performance testing and energy rating – Part 2:
Spectral response, incidence angle, and module operating temperature measurements
IEC TS 62915, Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Retesting for type approval, design and safety
qualification
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration
laboratories
ISO/IEC Guide 98-3, Uncertainty of measurement – Part 3: Guide to the expression of
uncertainty in measurement (GUM:1995)
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in IEC 60050 and IEC 61836
apply, as well as the following.
3.1
bins of power classes
power (typically maximum power) sorting criteria from the PV module manufacturer
3.2
tolerances
value range of electrical parameters on the label of the PV module as given by the
manufacturer
3.3
MQT
Module Quality Test
3.4
type approval
conformity test made on one or more items representative of the production
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-581:2008, 581-21-08 – Type test]
3.5
reproducibility
closeness of agreement between the results of measurements of the same value of a
quantity, when the individual measurements are made under different conditions of
measurement:
– principle of measurement,
– method of measurement,
– observer,
______________
To be published.
– 8 – IEC 61215-1:2016 © IEC 2016
– measuring instruments,
– reference standards,
– laboratory,
– under conditions of use of the instruments, different from those customarily used,
after intervals of time relatively long compared with the duration of a single measurement.
[≈ VIM 3.7]
Note 1 to entry: The concepts of "principle of measurement" and "method of measurement" are respectively
defined in VIM 2.3 and 2.4.
Note 2 to entry: The term "reproducibility" also applies to the instance where only certain of the above conditions
are taken into account, provided that these are stated.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-311:2001, 311-06-07]
4 Test samples
The PV module samples shall have been manufactured from specified materials and
components in accordance with the relevant drawings and process sheets and have been
subjected to the manufacturer’s normal inspection, quality control and production acceptance
procedures. The PV modules shall be complete in every detail and shall be accompanied by
the manufacturer’s handling, mounting, and connection instructions. When the PV modules to
be tested are prototypes of a new design and not from production, this fact shall be noted in
the test report (see Clause 9).
The number of test samples required is derived from the applicable test sequences (see
Clause 11).
Special test samples may be required for tests such as the bypass diode test MQT 18 (see
IEC 61215-2).
For qualification of multiple bins of power classes within the boundaries given in future IEC
TS 62915 at least 2 modules each, from the lower end, median and higher end power class
shall be used for testing. If median power class does not exist the next higher class shall be
used.
If qualification of a single power class shall be extended to further bins of power classes
within the boundaries given in IEC TS 62915 at least 2 modules each, from the lower end,
median and higher end power class shall be used for label verification (see Gate No. 1 in
7.2.1).
It is advisable to provide additional spare samples meeting the same output
...