IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022

Amendment 1 - Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 based photovoltaic (PV) modules

Amendement 1 - Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres - Qualification de la conception et homologation - Partie 1-4: Exigences particulières d'essai des modules photovoltaïques (PV) au Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 à couches minces

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Mar-2022
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: TC 82 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• Drafting Committee: WG 2 - TC 82/WG 2
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 15-Apr-2022
• Completion Date: 28-Mar-2022

Relations

• Amends: IEC 61215-1-4:2021 - Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval - Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cu(In,GA)(S,Se)2 based photovoltaic (PV) modules
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61215-1-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2022-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
A MENDMENT 1
AM ENDEMENT 1
Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –
Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cu(In,GA)(S,Se)2 based
photovoltaic (PV) modules
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres – Qualification de la
conception et homologation –
Partie 1-4: Exigences particulières d'essai des modules photovoltaïques (PV) au
Cu(In,GA)(S,Se)2 à couches minces

IEC 61215-1-4:2021-02/AMD1:2022-03(en-fr)

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IEC 61215-1-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2022-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
A MENDMENT 1
AM ENDEMENT 1
Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cu(In,GA)(S,Se) based
photovoltaic (PV) modules
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres – Qualification de la

conception et homologation –
Partie 1-4: Exigences particulières d'essai des modules photovoltaïques (PV) au

Cu(In,GA)(S,Se) à couches minces
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-1089-4

– 2 – IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022
© IEC 2022
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
TERRESTRIAL PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULES –
DESIGN QUALIFICATION AND TYPE APPROVAL –

Part 1-4: Special requirements for testing of thin-film
Cu(In,GA)(S,Se) based photovoltaic (PV) modules
AMENDMENT 1
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Amendment 1 to IEC 61215-1-4:2021 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar
photovoltaic energy systems.
The text of this Amendment is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
82/1998/FDIS 82/2022/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this Amendment is English.

© IEC 2022
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications/.
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.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
___________
3 Terms and definitions
Replace:
This clause of IEC 61215-1:2021 is applicable without modifications.
by:
This clause of IEC 61215-1:2021 is applicable with the following modifications.
Add the following new terms:
3.13
reduced mechanical load module
module where the test load in MQT 16 is less than 2 400 Pa
Note 1 to entry: 2 400 Pa was required in earlier versions of the IEC 61215 series for all technologies (e.g.
IEC 61215-2:2021).
3.14
restricted access area
area accessible only to electrically skilled persons and electrically instructed persons with the
proper authorization
EXAMPLE Utility-scale PV installations which are protected against public access by fences, location, etc., and
where only persons skilled, trained or instructed in electrical safety have access.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-195:1998, 195-04-04, modified – The example has been added]
5 Marking and documentation
Replace:
This clause of IEC 61215-1:2021 is applicable without modifications.

– 4 – IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022
© IEC 2022
by:
This clause of IEC 61215-1:2021 is applicable with the following modifications.
5.1 Name plate
Each module shall include the following clear and indelible markings:
Add the following new items:
l) For modules with reduced mechanical load: the range of positive and negative design loads
[Pa] the module manufacturer’s recommended mounting configurations will allow, preceded
by the phrase, "reduced mechanical design load" and followed by the phrases "Not for roof
mount. For ground mounted installations with restricted access only. May only be used in
systems designed by a licensed professional engineer."
EXAMPLE:
Reduced mechanical design load: ± 800 Pa.
Not for roof mount. For ground mounted installations with restricted access only. May only be used in systems
designed by a licensed professional engineer.
m) For modules with reduced mechanical load: Type or model number designation shall contain
a unique identification that it is used for reduced mechanical load.
EXAMPLE:
Regular mechanical load module type designation: M300W.
Reduced mechanical load module type designation: M300W-X.
Where -X can be e.g. a combination of letters or numbers.
5.2 Documentation
5.2.2 Information to be given in the documentation
Add the following new item:
r) For modules with reduced mechanical load, the documentation shall contain the following:
"When PV modules are intended to be installed in an engineered scenario by qualified
personnel such as in a ground mounted utility scale application with restricted access, they
may be designed for lower loads. The test load may be lower than 2 400 Pa but greater than
1 200 Pa (or any load in between) with a safety factor of 1,5; corresponding to design loads
of 1 600 Pa and 800 Pa (or any load in between), respectively, for the down (positive)
pressures and uplift (negative) pressures. These modules may be used in array locations
where the module mounting and structure in combination are designed to meet a specific
design load by the installer. Alternatively, modules having a higher minimum test load
compatible to the required site-specific loads may be used. The reduced load modules
cannot be used on a rooftop."
NOTE Many large PV installations of today are designed, engineered, and installed by qualified experts in the
electrical, mechanical and structural fields per the prevailing local codes.
...