IEC 61730

Version 2009-01-22
PV module safety qualification
according to
IEC 61730:2004
EN 61730:2007
TÜV Rheinland Immissionsschutz und Energiesysteme GmbH
Renewable Energies
January 2009 2 / 6
Overview
The long term environmental tests of the EN IEC 61215 (resp. EN IEC 61646) do not cover
the aspects of electrical safety adequately. Therefore, in the past, the TÜV developed test
procedure for the qualification of PV modules as Safety Class II equipment (double or
reinforced insulation) has gained world wide reputation.
Most parts of this TÜV-standard, together with some other international requirements,  were
accepted as the international standard  IEC 61730 “Photovoltaic (PV) module safety
qualification”, which was later issued as the European standard EN 61730 (with minor
modifications).
The EN IEC 61730 consists of 2 parts:
-  Part 1: Requirements for construction
-  Part 2: Requirements for testing
Part 1 of the EN IEC 61730 defines the mandatory design characteristics of the modules
(such as minimum distances of conductive parts from the module edges, wall thickness of
the junction boxes, etc.) as well as requirements on the materials used in the module (UVstability, temperature parameters, protection class, etc.).
The qualification work involves checking these requirements on the basis of technical
drawings and approvals provided by the manufacturer. Supplementary tests may be
performed in the absence of such proof.
Part 2 of the EN IEC 61730 defines three different Application Classes for a module design,
specifying the type of use, the related qualification tests and the resulting safety class:
System Voltage
Application Class
acc. IEC 61730  acc. EN 61730
Safety Class
A: General applications > 50 VDC > 120 VDC II
B: Restricted access > 50 VDC > 50 VDC 0
C: Low voltage applications < 50 VDC < 120 VDC III
Tests are performed both on complete solar modules (with and without frames) and on
individual module components (junction box, backside foil).
A special requirement from EN IEC 61730 is that the test samples have to be preconditioned
with environmental tests as described in EN IEC 61215 resp. 61646 (type approval of PV
modules) prior to the actual safety tests.  3 / 6
It is therefore recommendable to combine testing acc. EN IEC 61215 resp. EN IEC 61646
with the tests of EN IEC 61730 for the qualification. In this way test samples that have
already passed the environmental tests of EN IEC 61215 resp. EN IEC 61646 can be used
for the safety tests of the EN IEC 61730.
Such a combination is resulting in a testing tree, which covers both standards in an optimal
way: 4 / 6
Combined Test-sequence for EN IEC 61215/61646/IEC 617305 / 6
Certification and test mark
To obtain a test certificate all relevant requirements on design and materials in accordance
with the specifications of EN IEC 61730 – Part 1 as well as the respective pass criteria of the
individual safety tests corresponding to EN IEC 61730 – Part 2 must be fulfilled.
As with the type approval certification according to EN IEC 61215 resp. EN IEC 61646, a test
certificate always refers to the type of module on which the tests were performed. This
version is supposed to represent the worst case in a PV module type family, generally
defined by the following (deviations possible):
-  Largest module dimensions
-  Maximum output power
-  Minimum cell-, string- and edge-distances
-  Statically most critical module design and module mounting
An issued certificate may also cover smaller, or less critical, modules of the type family with
otherwise identical design (i.e. the same components and materials).
Following certification with a factory inspection, the 'TUVdotCOM' test mark pictured below
is issued and provided to the module manufacturer for that manufacturer's own use.
The assigned individual ID number also allows  direct product-related access in the global
TÜV internet portal (www.tuv.com or www.tuvdotcom.com), where the certified PV module
types, the corresponding test documentation and, if desired, also performance features and
further product and manufacturer information are available.
Qualified, EN IEC 61215
Qualified, EN 61730
Periodic inspection6 / 6
 
Overview of qualification tests according to IEC 61730 – Part 2 (Application class A)
Code  Test name  Test description / Pass criteria
MST 01  Visual inspection According detailed inspection list
MST 11  Accessibility test Resistance always >1 MΩ between test fixture (acc. IEC 61032) and
module life parts
MST 12  Cut susceptibility test Meet insulation requirements after defined cutting on module backside
film
MST 13  Ground continuity test Resistance < 0,1 Ω between marked grounding point and frame points in
distance at  a current that equals 2,5 times the maximum over-current
protection rating of the module (for a minimum of 2 minutes)
MST 14
Impulse voltage test High voltage impulse depending on selected application class  and max.
system voltage with a laminate wrapped in copper foil
MST 15  Partial discharge test Determination of the partial discharge behaviour of the modules
backside foil
MST 16  Dielectric withstand test High voltage test with 2000 V DC + 4 x max. systems voltage at STC for
1 min (Leakage current <50μA),
MST 17  Wet leakage test  Evaluation of insulation of the module under wet conditions;
measurement of leakage current at 500 V DC
MST 21  Temperature-test Compliance of the measured material temperatures with the max.
permissible values given in IEC 61730, Table 9  under >700 W/m²
irradiation, wind speed < 1 m/s, environmental temp. 20 – 55 °C
MST 22  Hot-Spot test 5 hour exposure to > 700 W/m² irradiance in worst-case hot-spot
condition
MST 23  Fire test Proof according to ANSI/UL790, that the module meet the minimum fire
resistance rating of Class C
MST 25  Bypass diode thermal
test
Asses adequacy of thermal design of by-pass diodes at a current of 1.25
x Isc running through the diodes at module temperature of 75°C
MST 26  Reverse current
overload test
Reverse current through the module equal to 135 % of the module’s
over-current protection rating for 2 hours
MST 32  Module breakage test Mechanical impact by a test-bag with a weight of 45,5 kg  (ca. 540 J
kinetic energy); Requirements for breakage (shards < 6,5 cm²)
MST 33  Conduit bending test Test of the ability of a possible conduit fixed to the junction box to
withstand a bending force (220 to 49 N, depending on diameter)
MST 42  Robustness of
Terminations
As in IEC 60068-2-21
MST 44  Terminal knockout test Test of the suitability of terminal knockouts
MST 51
a/b
Thermal Cycling 50 and 200 cycles -40°C to +85°C
MST 52  Humidity Freeze Test 10 cycles -40°C to +85°C, 85% RH
MST 53  Damp Heat 1000 h at +85°C, 85% RH
MST 54 UV-exposure test Min.15 kWh/m² UV-radiation (280 - 400 nm) with 7.5 kWh/m² UVradiation (280 - 320 nm) at 60°C module temperature