IEC 63092-1:2020

Photovoltaics in buildings - Part 1: Requirements for building-integrated photovoltaic modules

IEC 63092-1:2020 specifies BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaic) module requirements and applies to photovoltaic modules used as building products. It focuses on the properties of these photovoltaic modules relevant to basic building requirements and the applicable electro-technical requirements. This document addresses requirements on the BIPV modules in the specific ways they are intended to be mounted but not the mounting structure itself, which is within the scope of IEC 63092-2. This document is based on EN 50583-1.

Standards Content (sample)

IEC 63092-1
Edition 1.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Photovoltaics in buildings –
Part 1: Requirements for building-integrated photovoltaic modules
IEC 63092-1:2020-09(en)
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IEC 63092-1
Edition 1.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Photovoltaics in buildings –
Part 1: Requirements for building-integrated photovoltaic modules
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-8875-7

Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020
CONTENTS

FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................... 3

1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 5

2 Normative references ...................................................................................................... 5

3 Terms and definitions ...................................................................................................... 7

4 Application categories ................................................................................................... 10

5 Requirements ................................................................................................................ 11

5.1 Electrotechnical requirements ............................................................................... 11

5.2 Building-related requirements ............................................................................... 12

5.2.1 General ......................................................................................................... 12

5.2.2 Requirements for products with at least one glass pane ................................ 12

5.2.3 Requirements for products without glass panes ............................................. 16

6 Labelling ........................................................................................................................ 19

7 Documentation and declaration of performance ............................................................. 19

7.1 Data sheet ............................................................................................................ 19

7.2 Further documentation .......................................................................................... 19

8 Modifications (re-test guideline) ..................................................................................... 19

Annex A (normative) Building-related requirements on BIPV modules with at least one

glass pane ............................................................................................................................ 20

A.1 General ................................................................................................................. 20

A.2 Mechanical requirements ...................................................................................... 20

A.2.1 Structural design of insulating glass units containing a PV device .................. 20

A.2.2 Rigidity of laminated glass containing a PV device: ....................................... 20

A.2.3 BIPV modules and post-breakage integrity .................................................... 21

Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 22

Figure 1 – Tilt angles of modules considered sloping and non-sloping .................................... 8

Figure 2 – Example of optically representative area of a crystalline silicon-based (top)

and a thin-film (bottom) BIPV module for the calculation method based on spectral

measurements ...................................................................................................................... 10

Table 1 – Application categories ........................................................................................... 11

Table 2 – Summary of the building-related requirements from IEC 63092-1 for BIPV

modules with at least one glass pane .................................................................................... 16

Table 3 – Summary of the building-related requirements from IEC 63092-1 for BIPV

modules based on polymer waterproofing sheet or metal sheet............................................. 18

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IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAICS IN BUILDINGS –
Part 1: Requirements for building-integrated photovoltaic modules
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

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International Standard IEC 63092-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar

photovoltaic energy systems, in collaboration with ISO technical committee 160: Glass in

building.
This standard is based on EN 50583-1.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/1769/FDIS 82/1792/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in the

report on voting indicated in the above table.

This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

A list of all parts in the IEC 63092 series, published under the general title Photovoltaics in

buildings, can be found on the IEC website.
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– 4 – IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020

The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the

stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://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.

IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates

that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct

understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a

colour printer.
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IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020 – 5 –
PHOTOVOLTAICS IN BUILDINGS –
Part 1: Requirements for building-integrated photovoltaic modules
1 Scope

This part of IEC 63092 specifies BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaic) module requirements

while IEC 63092-2 specifies BIPV system requirements. Both parts specify building

requirements and the applicable electrotechnical requirements (both in general and specific with

respect to module assembly and application category).

This document applies to photovoltaic modules used as building products. It focuses on the

properties of these photovoltaic modules relevant to basic building requirements and the

applicable electro-technical requirements. This document references international standards,

technical reports and guidelines. For some applications, national standards (or regulations) for

building products may also apply in individual countries, which are not explicitly referenced

herein and for which harmonized International Standards are not yet available.

The document is addressed to manufacturers, planners, system designers, installers, testing

institutes and building authorities.
This document does not apply to concentrating photovoltaic modules.

This document addresses requirements on the BIPV modules in the specific ways they are

intended to be mounted but not the mounting structure itself, which is within the scope of

IEC 63092-2.
2 Normative references

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.
IEC 61082-1, Preparation of documents used in electrotechnology – Part 1: Rules

IEC 61215-1, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 1: Test requirements

IEC 61215-1-1, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 1-1: Special requirements for testing of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules

IEC 61215-1-2, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 1-2: Special requirements for testing of thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) based

photovoltaic (PV) modules

IEC 61215-1-3, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 1-3: Special requirements for testing of thin-film amorphous silicon based photovoltaic (PV)

modules

IEC 61215-1-4, 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
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– 6 – IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020

IEC 61215-2, Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval –

Part 2: Test procedures

IEC 61730-1, Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification – Part 1: Requirements for

construction

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 62446-1, Photovoltaic (PV) systems – Requirements for testing, documentation and

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

inspection

IEC TS 62915, Photovoltaic (PV) modules – Type approval, design and safety qualification –

Retesting

IEC 63092-2, Photovoltaics in buildings – Part 2: Requirements for building-integrated

photovoltaic systems

IEC TS 63126, Guidelines for qualifying PV modules, components and materials for operation at

high temperatures

IEC/IEEE 82079-1: Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products – Part 1:

Principles and general requirements

ISO 9050, Glass in building – Determination of light transmittance, solar direct transmittance,

total solar energy transmittance, ultraviolet transmittance and related glazing factors

ISO 10291, Glass in building – Determination of steady-state U values (thermal transmittance)

of multiple glazing – Guarded hot plate method

ISO 10292, Glass in building – Calculation of steady-state U values (thermal transmittance) of

multiple glazing

ISO 10293, Glass in building – Determination of steady-state U values (thermal transmittance)

of multiple glazing – Heat flow meter method

ISO 12543-1, Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated safety glass – Part 1:

Definitions and description of component parts

ISO 12543-2, Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated safety glass – Part 2:

Laminated safety glass

ISO 12543-3, Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated safety glass – Part 3:

Laminated glass

ISO 12543-4, Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated safety glass – Part 4: Test

methods for durability

ISO 12543-5, Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated safety glass – Part 5:

Dimensions and edge finishing

ISO 12543-6, Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated safety glass – Part 6:

Appearance
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IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020 – 7 –
ISO 15099, Thermal performance of windows, doors and shading devices – Detailed
calculations

ISO 16940, Glass in building – Glazing and airborne sound insulation – Measurement of the

mechanical impedance of laminated glass

ISO 19467 Thermal performance of windows and doors – Determination of solar heat gain

coefficient using solar simulator

ISO 22897, Glass in building – Glazing and airborne sound insulation – Product descriptions and

determination of properties

ISO 28278-1, Glass in building – Glass products for structural sealant glazing – Part 1:

Supported and unsupported monolithic and multiple glazing

ISO 29584, Glass in building – Pendulum impact testing and classification of safety glass

ISO 52022-1, Energy performance of buildings – Thermal, solar and daylight properties of

building components and elements – Part 1: Simplified calculation method of the solar and

daylight characteristics for solar protection devices combined with glazing

ISO 52022-3, Energy performance of buildings – Thermal, solar and daylight properties of

building components and elements – Part 3: Detailed calculation method of the solar and

daylight characteristics for solar protection devices combined with glazing
3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, terms and definitions given in IEC 61215-1, IEC 61215-2,

IEC TS 61836, IEC 63092-2 and ISO 12543-1 (in case the module contains one or more glass

sheets), together with the following, apply.

ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following

addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
building product

any product or kit which is produced and placed on the market for incorporation in a permanent

manner in buildings or parts thereof and the performance of which has an effect on the

performance of the buildings with respect to the following basic building requirements:

a) Mechanical resistance and durability
b) Safety in case of fire
c) Hygiene, health and the environment
d) Safety and accessibility in use
e) Protection against noise
f) Energy economy and heat retention
g) Sustainable use of natural resources
3.2
building-integrated photovoltaic module
BIPV module

photovoltaic module that provides one or more of the functions of the building envelope

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Note 1 to entry: The building envelope functions shall be, depending on the application, one or more of the following:

a) Mechanical rigidity or structural integrity.
b) Primary weather impact protection: rain, snow, wind, hail.
c) Shading, daylighting, thermal insulation.
d) Fire protection.
e) Noise protection.
f) Separation between indoor and outdoor environments.
g) Security, shelter or safety.

Note 2 to entry: If a BIPV module is uninstalled, it would have to be replaced by an appropriate building product in

order to meet the building requirements.
3.3
non-sloping module

module installed at a tilt angle of 75° to 90° inclusive from the horizontal plane (see Figure 1), i.e.

a module installed at an inclination of ±15° inclusive from the vertical plane
Key
1 horizontal module
2 angle of module considered to be sloping (including horizontal)

3 angle of module considered to be non-sloping (75° to 90° inclusive, from the horizontal plane)

4 vertical module
Figure 1 – Tilt angles of modules considered sloping and non-sloping
3.4
optically representative area of the module

selected surface area of the module that includes all the components of the module which have

a significant effect on its optical properties and g value. The ratio of electrically active area (i.e.

area covered by PV cells and interconnectors) to electrically inactive area within the optically

representative area should not differ by more than 5 % from the ratio of the total electrically

active area to the total electrically inactive area for the complete module (see Figure 2).

Note 1 to entry: The figure of 5 % was determined to result in an error of 3 % or less in the g value for BIPV modules

consisting of crystalline silicon PV cells spaced over a light-transmitting medium (e.g. glass).

Note 2 to entry: The g value refers to the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) as defined in ISO 19467.

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IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020 – 9 –

Note 3 to entry: If the solar cells themselves consist of opaque and transparent areas, or there are inhomogeneous

layers such as ceramic frits or coloured interlayers in front of the solar cell layer, special care shall be taken in the

selection of the "optically representative area" to ensure that it represents the proportions of all optically different

areas of the BIPV module to within the specified tolerance.

Ratio of electrically active area to electrically inactive area for the complete module:

𝐴𝐴 +𝐴𝐴 +𝐴𝐴
cell,total intercon,total jb,total
𝑟𝑟 = (1)
total,mod
𝐴𝐴
inact,total

Ratio of electrically active area to electrically inactive area for the representative area of the module:

𝐴𝐴 +𝐴𝐴
cell,rep intercon,rep
𝑟𝑟 = (2)
rep,mod
𝐴𝐴
inact,rep

Relation between the ratios associated to the complete module (r ) and the representative area of the module

total,mod
(r ):
rep,mod
𝑟𝑟 −𝑟𝑟
total,mod rep,mod
= ±5 % (3)
𝑟𝑟
total,mod
where

r is the ratio of electrically active area to electrically inactive area for the complete module;

total,mod
A is the surface area covered by cells within total module area;
cell,total
A is the surface area covered by interconnectors within total module area;
intercon,total

A is the surface area covered by junction box, if within area of light-transmitting medium

jb,total
(otherwise A = 0);
jb,total
A is the electrically inactive surface area within total module area;
inact,total

r is the ratio of electrically active area to electrically inactive area for the representative area of the

rep,mod
module;
A is the surface area covered by cells within representative area;
cell,rep
A is the surface area covered by interconnectors within representative area;
intercon,rep
A is the electrically inactive surface area within representative area.
inact,rep
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Key
1 photovoltaic cell or thin film 5 optically representative area of the module
2 interconnection 6 frontsheet
3 junction box 7 backsheet
4 perimeter of total module area

NOTE The same principles apply to modules consisting of other types of solar cell.

Figure 2 – Example of optically representative area of a crystalline silicon-based (top)

and a thin-film (bottom) BIPV module for the calculation method based on spectral

measurements
4 Application categories

Requirements are strongly affected by the location in the building envelope and the way the

BIPV module is installed. Table 1 lists the application categories. The relevant requirements are

listed in Clause 5.
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IEC 63092-1:2020 © IEC 2020 – 11 –
Table 1 – Application categories
Category A Sloping, roof-integrated, not accessible from within the building
The BIPV modules are installed at a tilt angle between 0° and 75° from
the horizontal plane [0°,75°), (see Figure 1), with another building
product installed underneath (see Note).
Category B Sloping, roof-integrated, accessible from within the building
The BIPV modules are installed at a tilt angle between 0°and 75° from
the horizontal plane [0°,75°), (see Figure 1).
Category C Non-sloping (vertically) envelope-integrated, not accessible from
within the building
The BIPV modules are installed at a tilt angle between 75° and 90°
from the horizontal plane [75°,90°], (see Figure 1) with another
building product installed behind (see Note).
Category D Non-sloping (vertically), envelope-integrated, accessible from
within the building
The BIPV modules are installed at a tilt angle between 75° and 90°
from the horizontal plane [75°,90°], (see Figure 1).
Category E Externally-integrated, accessible or not accessible from within
the building
The BIPV modules are installed to form an additional functional layer
(as defined in 3.1) exterior to its envelope (e.g. balcony balustrades,
shutters, awnings, louvers, brise soleil, etc.).

NOTE A BIPV module is considered to be “not accessible” when another building product (represented by a

dashed line in the pictograms) is present, which among other functions prevents:
a) the interior surface of the module from being touched, and

b) large pieces (in case of breakage) falling onto adjacent accessible areas within the building.

5 Requirements
5.1 Electrotechnical requirements

BIPV modules shall comply with IEC TS 61215-1, IEC 61215-2, and with one of the following,

according to the PV technology: IEC 61215-1-1, IEC 61215-1-2, IEC 61215-1-3 or

IEC 61215-1-4 for design qualification and type approval and IEC 61730-1, IEC 61730-2 for

safety qualification.

BIPV modules are often custom-made in sizes larger than test equipment can accommodate. In

such a case, a representative sample (as defined under IEC 61215-1) can be used instead of a

full-size sample.

BIPV modules have many variations in size, configuration and structure based on the original

design. BIPV module retesting shall comply with IEC TS 62915.
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5.2 Building-related requirements
5.2.1 General

As electrotechnical and building products, BIPV modules shall be designed to withstand

mechanical loads (such as caused by wind and snow) as specified either in IEC 61730-1 or in

national or local building codes – whichever are higher. Note that, the pass/fail criteria for

IEC 61730-2 MST 34 differ significantly from building product requirements.

The specific requirements on BIPV modules, which arise from the basic requirements for

buildings and their parts (see 3.1), are listed in the following clauses. Corresponding available

standards are named.

The integration of photovoltaics into an existing building product to create a BIPV module

necessarily changes the properties with respect to the original building product. New evaluation

of the BIPV module with respect to a basic requirement for buildings and their parts is necessary

only if an essential characteristic of the BIPV module needed to meet this basic requirement is

changed with respect to the original building product.

This document distinguishes between BIPV modules that contain at least one pane of glass and

those that do not. In addition to naming the general requirements, this standard classifies BIPV

modules into five different categories as specified in Clause 4, Table 1 (depending on the

intended application).
5.2.2 Requirements for products with at least one glass pane
5.2.2.1 General

Requirements for BIPV modules with at least one glass pane are discussed in more detail in the

following clauses while Table 2 summarizes the requirements for each application category that

is defined in Table 1.
5.2.2.2 Mechanical resistance and durability

In addition to the international requirements for mechanical resistance in the IEC 61215 series,

IEC 61730 series and ISO 12543 series, the requirements specified under the high-temperature

standard IEC TS 63126 and the provisions of Clause A.2 for assessing the shear tie connection

of the encapsulant in the case of laminated BIPV modules shall apply.

The requirements specified under national or local standards or codes are also to be met. BIPV

modules shall withstand the loads that are expected at the location (including position with

regard to the building) of their application. Compliance of the application’s load to the BIPV

module’s design load can be verified either by calculation or by testing.
5.2.2.3 Safety in case of fire

It shall be noted that fundamental requirements for fire safety are not internationally harmonised.

It is therefore not possible to define general requirements for fire safety of BIPV modules, as

international recognition of specific test results is not well established.

The BIPV module shall meet the fire safety requirements of the local national building code (or

similar) for
...