SIST EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022

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

Terrestrische Photovoltaik(PV)-Module - Bauarteignung und Bauartzulassung - Teil 1-4: Besondere Anforderungen an die Prüfung von Photovoltaik(PV)-Dünnschichtmodulen aus Cu(In,GA)(S,Se)2

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

Prizemni fotonapetostni (PV) moduli - Ocena zasnove in odobritev tipa - 1-4. del: Posebne zahteve za preskušanje fotonapetostnih modulov iz tankoslojnega Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 - Dopolnilo A1

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 16-Jun-2022
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: PVS - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 02-Jun-2022
• Due Date: 07-Aug-2022
• Completion Date: 17-Jun-2022
• Ref Project: EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022 - 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

Relations

• Amends: SIST EN 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: 01-Jul-2022

Overview

EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022 is an amendment (A1) to the IEC/CENELEC standard that defines special testing and documentation requirements for terrestrial thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules based on Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (commonly referred to as CIGS). It complements the IEC 61215 series for design qualification and type approval by addressing technology-specific issues for thin‑film CIGS modules and was adopted by CENELEC in 2022.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and status
  • Amendment A1 modifies EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021 without altering core intent; published by CENELEC and IEC TC 82.
• Technology focus
  • Special requirements apply to thin‑film Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS) photovoltaic modules.
• Marking and documentation
  • Modules must include clear nameplate markings; new items for reduced mechanical load modules are required.
  • Required phrasing for reduced-load modules (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."
  • Type/model designations for reduced-load modules must include a unique identifier (e.g., suffix “-X”).
• Reduced mechanical load concept
  • Defines a reduced mechanical load module (test load < 2 400 Pa).
  • Documentation must explain intended engineered-use scenarios (e.g., ground‑mounted utility‑scale systems with restricted access) and limitations (not for rooftop use).
• Static mechanical load test (MQT 16)
  • Modifies minimum test loads: modules without special marking retain a minimum test load of 2 400 Pa (design load 1 600 Pa).
  • Modules with the “reduced design load” marking may be tested at a lower minimum test load of 1 200 Pa (design load 800 Pa), with a safety factor of 1.5 referenced in documentation.
• Terminology and access
  • Introduces terms such as “reduced mechanical load module” and “restricted access area” to clarify installation and safety conditions.

Applications and users

• PV module manufacturers developing and certifying CIGS thin‑film products.
• Independent test laboratories performing IEC 61215 qualification and type‑approval tests.
• Project engineers, structural and electrical designers specifying modules for ground‑mounted utility‑scale arrays.
• Certification bodies, regulators, and compliance teams ensuring correct marking, documentation, and safe use restrictions (e.g., not for rooftop installations).
• Installers and EPC contractors assessing suitability of reduced-load modules for site‑specific engineered systems.

Related standards

• IEC 61215 series - Terrestrial PV modules: design qualification and type approval
• EN IEC 61215-1:2021 and EN IEC 61215-2:2021 (referenced for general test flow and procedures)
• National adoptions and CENELEC implementation documents and notes

Keywords: EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022, thin-film Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2, CIGS PV modules, design qualification, type approval, static mechanical load, reduced mechanical load, PV testing, IEC 61215.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2022
Prizemni fotonapetostni (PV) moduli - Ocena zasnove in odobritev tipa - 1-4. del:
Posebne zahteve za preskušanje fotonapetostnih modulov iz tankoslojnega Cu
(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 - Dopolnilo A1
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
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022
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 61215-1-4:2021/A1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM May 2022
ICS 27.160
English Version
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
(IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022)
Modules photovoltaïques (PV) pour applications terrestres - Terrestrische Photovoltaik(PV)-Module - Bauarteignung und
Qualification de la conception et homologation - Partie 1-4: Bauartzulassung - Teil 1-4: Besondere Anforderungen an
Exigences particulières d'essai des modules die Prüfung von Photovoltaik(PV)-Dünnschichtmodulen aus
photovoltaïques (PV) au Cu(In,GA)(S,Se)2 à couches Cu(In,GA)(S,Se)2
minces (IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022)
(IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022)
This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021; it was approved by CENELEC on 2022-05-02. 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, 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
© 2022 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022 E

European foreword
The text of document 82/1998/FDIS, future IEC 61215-1-4/AMD1, prepared by IEC/TC 82 "Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN IEC 61215-1-4:2021/A1:2022.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2023-02-02
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2025-05-02
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.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61215-1-4:2021/AMD1:2022 was approved by CENELEC
as a European Standard without any modification.

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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Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
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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 publicat
...