Comment invited on new solar standard

The Australian Solar Council is inviting comments on a draft of the revised Australian standard AS/NZS 5033 Installation and Safety Requirements for Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays. The draft is available for comment and review until 28 October.

The main amendments to the standard include:

• Requirements for arrays using maximisers/optimisers/DC conditioning units (clause 2.1.5)
• Definition of requirements of fire emergency sign with respect to short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage when there are multiple arrays and DC conditioning units (clause 5.4.1)
• Arrays with maximisers/optimisers/DC conditioning units to be oriented differently (clause 2.1.6)
• Labelling of conduit to every two metres (clause 5.3.1)
• Removal of requirement of array framing to be anodised in a marine environment (clause 2.2.7)
• Clearer definition for maximum voltage of domestic installation (clause 3.1)
• Removal of requirement for flaps on enclosures to automatically latch (clause 4.3.3.1)
• Revised definition of ‘restricted access’ (clause 1.4.60)
• Life of a PV system to be defined as 15 years (clause 4.3.6.3.1 Note 3)
• Definition of the shutdown procedure signage requirements (clause 5.5.3)
• Definition of when heavy-duty conduit is required; some DC cable to not be in conduit (such as connecting to inverter); methods other than heavy-duty conduit when installed in non-domestic situations (clause 4.3.6.3.2)
• Definition of micro inverters; may have multiple (up to two) micro inverters in one package (clause 4.3.12)
• Definition of when isolators are required for multiple strings arrays (clause 4.4.1.4 and 4.4.1.5)
• Earthing requirements for micro inverters (clause 4.4.2.1 and 4.4.2.2)
• Voc of each parallel string to be within 5% of each other (clause 2.1.6)
• Define fire emergency information sign for micro inverters (clause 5.4.1)

To review and comment on the draft, visit the Standards Hub here.