There are two primary concerns regarding solar domestic water heating: component and installation certification (section 2.1), and warranty requirements (section 2.2).

2.1 Component and installation certification (applies to all solar thermal systems):

2.1.1 All installations must meet or exceed the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPS), Uniform building Code (UBC) and the National Electric Code (NEC), at a minimum, and any code(s) adopted by the municipality in which the device is being installed.

2.1.2 As of June 1, 1995, all solar water heating products and systems and their installations must conform to the guidelines and procedures of the current (at time of sale) Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) OG-300 document, or equal, with the following exceptions, additions and/or alterations.

a. If the system is installed in any manner other than test conditions, the installing company is responsible for determining and providing for proper collector design flow rate as required to maximize performance and minimize system malfunctions, especially those malfunctions due to water quality conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, pump/pipe sizing calculations and providing a larger pump where necessary to accommodate the system's own specific flow requirements.

b. If the system is installed in any manner other than test conditions, the installing company is responsible for determining and providing for proper collector design flow rate as required to maximize performance and minimize system malfunctions, especially those malfunctions due to water quality conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, pump/pipe sizing calculations and providing a larger pump where necessary to accommodate the system's own specific flow requirements.

c. All materials exposed to sunlight, direct or indirect, will be suitable for outdoor use. This includes pipe and pipe insulation (includes coatings), sensor wire, wire connections, etc.

d. The solar collector must not be shaded during the time period from 9 AM to 3 PM at any time during the year. If future shading is expected, for example, due to vegetation growth, the purchaser must be notified. If avoiding collector shading is not possible, the system purchaser must be given a written statement describing the time periods in which the system can be expected to operate at less than peak performance due to collector shading (see also Section 2.3., below).

e. The installation of a suitable electric water heater element control device is required for all electric-assist sytems to prevent the electric -assist element from operating during normal solar collections hours. A manual override method must be included and the purchaser must be provided written instructions in the use of override and the resetting of the timer after a power failure if applicable.

f. System overheat protection must be included to prevent excessive component temperatures and pressures, and to prevent excessive precipitation of dissolved solids.

2.2 Warranty coverage:

2.2.1 The warranty requirements for the "supplier" (as defined in SRCC documents OG-300) will stand as written in the current (at time of sale) applicable SRCC documents. If the system has been certified under a testing authority other than SRCC, the SRCC warranty requirements will prevail.

2.2.2 The warranty requirements for the installation company will be as follows:

a. The installation company will provide a full parts and labor warranty for the entire system for two (2) years from date of installation.

Full parts and labor warranty includes, but is not limited to, any and all component failure(s). whether it is covered by the original manufacturer or not; any and all installation-related malfunction(s); any and all high-temperature problems(s) including those related to water quality. Any manufacturer's warranty(ies) are in addition to, not in lieu of, the installation warranty requirements. Warranty is not required to cover problems resulting from exposure to harmful materials and chemicals, fire, flood, lightning, hurricane, tornado, hailstorm, earthquake, or other acts of God, vandalism, alteration of system by anyone not authorized by the installation company, or any other cause beyond the control of the installation company.

b. The installation company will provide a full parts and labor warranty against any and all freeze-damaged component(s) for five (5) years. This includes freeze damage due to water quality problems and component failures.

Note b.1: Ambient temperatures below 4 degrees C (39 degrees F) can cause freeze damage to solar collectors, transport pipe and other system components. These cold temperatures and freezing conditions are common throughout the state of Arizona and are not considered an act of God. All freeze damaged system components are subject to the freeze warranty as specified above.

Noteb.2: The freeze protection on some system types can be accidentally disabled by the user. Since this condition is intrinsic in the system design, freeze damage due to accidental disabling by the user is not cause for indemnification of the installing company. The installation company is specifically responsible for any freeze damage due to accidental disabling of the freeze protection.

Note b.3: The freeze protection on some system types can be rendered less effective or completely useless due to electric power failures at the system site. Since this condition is intrinsic in the system design, freeze damage due to lack of electric power at the system site is not cause for indemnification of the installing company. The installing company is specifically responsible for any freeze damage due to electric power failure at the system site.

2.3 Written certifications:

For all solar heating systems, the purchaser must be furnished with a written statement of certification (see A), a statement of performance which include what general thermal performance the purchaser can expect from the system under typical conditions (see B), and a statement of warranty coverage (see C). This is in addition to, not in lieu of, all information required to be given to the purchaser by the product and system test certification documents (SRCC OG-300 or equal).

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