Background information to the intallers guide to the installation of small scale PV

- Investigate the key issues, especially including safety, associated with the installation of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

- Describe design and installation solutions that are acceptable to the building services industry and the relevant regulatory authorities.

- Translate these solutions into practical and authoritative installation guidelines with a particular emphasis on the domestic BIPV sector.

This document contains some of the background information which was used by the writers to produce the guide, named “Photovoltaics in Buildings: Guide to the installation of PV systems” (DTI/Pub URN 02/788). The guide itself contains the considered recommendations of the group after consultation with people in the industry. As such it constitutes the definitive material, not this report. Sometimes the information in this report is not conclusive and may at times present apparently conflicting pieces of information. Nevertheless decisions had to be made in the course of producing the guide which are sometimes based on caution or lack of substantiated background material. This report should be read in conjunction with the guide itself and may present the reader with some useful background information, but will not always be sufficient to fully explain the decisions in the guide. The guide was produced with the assistance of a Steering Committee to review progress from time to time. They consisted of the: ECA - The Electrical Contractor Association, who wish to see clear guidance targeted at their members for their own interest. HSE- The Health and Safety Executive had valuable input to the guide, as well as approving the health and safety aspects. NHBC- The National House Building Council, who publish codes of practice for the building trades and have a strong interest in technical standards from an insurance point of view. PV-UK – The British Photovoltaic Association, who has an obvious interest and have stated there is a need for such a guide. The guide concentrates on the electrical aspects of the installation, as the guide is for installers rather than designers, and it was assumed that the installer is more likely to be an electrician than from any other trade. There was to have been a section on the construction aspects but, because of the huge range of possible mounting methods, only one of which would be relevant for any particular installation, the section had to be either very large or had be pared down to a simple list. In the end it was decided to leave these things to the designer, but make the installer aware of them in the checklist. Generally suppliers can provide comprehensive installation advice as it relates to their particular product.

Some of the source documents, particularly Engineering recommendation G77 and part 712 of IEC60364, are in draft form. Where this is the case, the version at February 2002 should be considered as the version under discussion.