There are three primary concerns regarding solar electric/photovoltaic systems: installer certification (section 3.1), component and installation certification (section 3.2), and warranty requirements (section 3.3).

3.1. Installer certification:

At the time of this document's adoption, there are no installer certification requirements other than those rules and regulations of other State and local entities including, but not limited to, the Registrar of Contractors.

3.2. Component and installation certification:

At the time of this document's adoption, there are no complete system installation specifically described herein. There are, however, some component and subsystem installation requirements (see 3.2.1).

Those conditions as required by other entities are in effect -- the Registrar of Contractors, for example, requires an electrical contracting license for installation of many solar photovoltaic systems. All installations must meet or exceed the UBC and NEC at a minimum, and any code(s) adopted by the municipality in which the device is being installed.

3.2.1 Subsystem installation and component certification requirements:

There are subsystem installation and component certification requirements for photovoltaic modules and battery systems as required by the specific application. The installer is responsible for ensuring that the subsystem and product installed meets or exceeds all applicable requirements.

a. The photovoltaic (PV) modules and installation must meet or exceed the following testing/safety/performance standards as required by the specific installation (asterisk * denotes required for all modules and installations):

All applicable NEC requirements*, U.L. 1703*, JPL Block V,CEC Specification 503, IEC 904-3, IEC 1215.

In addition, the PV modules and related components must meet or exceed the following testing/safety/performance standards as required by the specific installation:

USHUD approval, RVIA approval.

b. The battery storage subsystem must meet or exceed the following testing/safety/performance standards as required by the specific installation:

ANSI/IEEE 929-1988 (if utility interface), ANSI/IEEE 937-1987, ANSI/IEEE 1013-1990.

c. Wind energy systems generating electricity )as opposed to water pumping, etc.) must conform to the American Wind Energy Association standard AWEA 1.1-1985.

d. The solar collector must not be shaded during the time period from 9 AM to 3 PM at any tme 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 3.4., below).

e. Any and all connections to the electric utility grid must be made with the permission, approval and cooperation of the utility owning, operating and/or maintaining the distribution system. All components and their installation must be capable of protecting the existing grid and its operators and maintenance personnel from damage and injury per the instruction and approval of the utility responsible for the line access.

3.3 Warranty coverage:

3.3.1 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; and any and all installation-related malfunction(s). 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.

3.4 Written certifications:

For all solar electric/photovoltaic systems, the purchaser must be furnished a written statement of certification (see A), a statement of performance (see B), which must include what general performance the purchaser can expect from the system under typical conditions, and a statement of warranty (see D).

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