BS EN IEC 62446-2:2020

This standard BS EN IEC 62446-2:2020 Photovoltaic (PV) systems. Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.160 Solar energy engineering

This clause of IEC 62446-1:2016 is applicable with the following exception:

Addition:

This Part 2 of IEC 62446 describes basic preventive, corrective, and performance related maintenance requirements and recommendations for grid-connected PV systems. The maintenance procedures cover:

• Basic maintenance of the system components and connections for reliability, safety and fire prevention

• Measures for corrective maintenance and troubleshooting

• Worker safety

This document also addresses maintenance activities for maximizing anticipated performance such as module cleaning and upkeep of vegetation. Special considerations unique to rooftop or ground-mounted systems are summarized. This document does not cover off-grid systems or systems that include batteries or other energy storage technologies; however, parts may be applicable to the PV circuits of those systems.

This document also does not cover maintenance of medium and high voltage a.c. equipment that are sometimes integral to larger scale systems, as those requirements are not specific to PV systems.

Maintenance of PV systems is often lumped into the catch-all term operations and maintenance (O&M.) This document does not address business or management operational processes (e.g. forecasting, utility pricing incentives, etc.) or other considerations driven by factors outside of basic system working condition, safety and performance.

The confirmation of a system’s compliance with the appropriate design and installation standards is covered in Part 1 and takes place during initial project commissioning.

The objectives of this document are to:

• Identify a baseline set of maintenance requirements which may differ by system type (residential, commercial, utility scale), owner, or financing requirements.

• Identify additional maintenance steps that are recommended or optional.

• Identify factors to be used to determine appropriate maintenance intervals.

• Ensure that remote diagnostic methods are allowed as means for periodic verification, problem identification and early failure detection.

• Ensure that alternate means of achieving maintenance related requirements are allowed to accommodate for innovation, manufacturer specific methods, evolving customer requirements, etc.