Solar Lattice

Mitigation

Certified product selection

ID
mit:certified-products
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/mit/certified-products
Status
active

Certified product selection is a preventive measure: only certified and tested products are chosen for the PV system. It is named as the basic preventive measure against delamination, which mainly comes from raw material quality, the manufacturing process and environmental exposure in the field. Against backsheet chalking, the recommended preventive step is to check that the IEC 61215 certification is valid and to check the bill of materials. Chalking can be an early sign of backsheet cracking and loss of electrical insulation, so checking the certification and materials early also helps reduce these follow-on risks. Where higher snow or hail loads are expected, the guidance is to use certified modules. This goes together with proper transport and with installation and cleaning done by trained staff. Backsheet cracking of type III usually affects all modules that share the same bill of materials, and the whole system may then need repowering, repair or module replacement. Choosing certified products does not fix defects that are already there. Modules that are no longer electrically safe must be replaced, and modules with minor defects should be checked with regular visual inspections and ground fault detection.

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