Photovoltaics in Buildings Guide to the installation of PV systems | 2nd Edition

Scope

The scope of this document is to supply system installers with information to ensure that a mains-connected PV system meets current UK standards and best practice recommendations. It is primarily aimed at small-scale installations (less than 16A per phase, as per the scope of ER G83/1).

The scope has been extended in this 2nd edition to provide some guidance on larger systems and off-grid battery installations.

Mechanical design of the PV array is not within the scope of this document. BRE digest 489 ‘Wind loads on roof-based Photovoltaic systems’, and BRE Digest 495 ‘Mechanical Installation of roof-mounted Photovoltaic systems’, give guidance in this area.

Standards and Regulations

Any PV system must comply with Health and Safety Requirements, BS 7671, and other relevant standards and Codes of Practice. Much of the content of this guide is drawn from such requirements.

While many UK standards apply in general terms, at the time of writing there is still relatively little which specifically relates to a PV installation. However, there are two documents which specifically relate to the installation of these systems that are of particular relevance:

• Engineering Recommendation G83/1 (2003) – Recommendations for the connection of small scale embedded generators (up to 16A per phase) in parallel with public low voltage distribution networks

• IEE Guidance Note 7 to BS 7671 – Special Locations, Section 12 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Supply Systems (ISBN 0 85296 995 3, 2003)

Photovoltaics in Buildings Guide to the installation of PV systems | 2nd Edition

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