Solar Installed. The People and the Process enabling Market Acceptance and Installations. August 30, 2016

Transcription

1 Solar Installed The People and the Process enabling Market Acceptance and Installations August 30, 2016

2 About SEIA U.S. National Trade Association for Solar Energy Founded in ,000 member companies from all 50 states Our Mission: Build a strong solar industry to power America Our Goal: 100 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2020 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 2

3 Speakers Evelyn M. Butler SEIA Director, Codes & Standards Joseph Cain, P.E. Chair, SEIA Codes & Standards Working Group Don Hughes Codes & Standards Specialist, Center for Sustainable Energy Mostafa Kashe, Chief Electrical Inspector, County of LA Department of Public Works Keith Lofland, Director of Education, International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) Thomas Kiggen SEIA Director, Membership August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 3

4 Agenda How Codes & Standards Come Together at Installation Tools & Best Practices A Day in the Life of a Building Inspector Continued Professional Development & Collaboration with the Solar Industry August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 4

5 How Codes & Standards Come Together at Installation Joe Cain, P.E. Chair, SEIA Codes & Standards Working Group

6 International Fire Code (IFC) and NFPA 1 Rooftop access pathways and fire setbacks IFC Section NFPA 1 Section Residential Access pathways to ridge Setbacks at ridge 2015 IRC Section printed in error Nonresidential (low-slope) Perimeter & interior pathways Smoke & heat vents; hatches; skylights August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 6

7 PV Standards System Reference (Courtesy of UL) PV Modules w/ Junction Box Roof or Ground mounted PV Modules UL 1703 UL/IEC UL/IEC UL/IEC IEC UL-SU 8703 BIPV UL 1703 / UL 790 Connector UL 6703 Fuse UL-SU 2579 Fuse Holder UL-SU ANSI-UL Disconnects UL-SU 98B UL-SU 508i Circuit Breakers UL 489B Arc Fault Protection UL 1699B Combiner Box Charge Controller Inverter Cable for PV UL 4703 UL 9703 UL854 (USE-2) Combiner Box UL 1741 Charge Controller UL 1741 Inverter UL 1741 UL/IEC (PV+ only) IEEE 1547 Rack Mounting & Clamping Devices UL 2703 Solar Trackers UL 3703 Fire Test UL 1703 (roof mounted modules) Polymeric Materials UL 1703 UL 94 UL-SU5703 UL 746A/B/C Storage UL 1989 UL 2054 UL 9540 UL 1973 Batteries Many of the components or functions can be built into one product, such as the inverter. AC Loads Grid Tied or Stand Alone August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 7

8 Required UL Standards and Fire Classification Brief overview of key standard considerations demonstrated on plans: Photovoltaic panels listed to UL 1703 Photovoltaic panel (module) is type-rated by construct, spread-of-flame, and burning brand Photovoltaic panel system is tested, listed, and labeled with a fire classification per UL 1703 (fire test protocol is intended to be moved to UL 2703) Grounding and bonding per UL 2703 Inverters, combiner boxes, charge controllers listed to UL 1741 In development for future version of UL 1741: Rapid Shutdown System (RSS) requirements August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 8

9 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) Brief overview of key electrical considerations demonstrated on plans: AC/DC conductor size and type per NEC Chapter 3, 690.7, 690.8, and If micro-inverters or AC modules installed, quantities per branch circuit are in accordance with NEC and manufacturer s installation instructions Required disconnecting means per NEC Sections through and/or utility Marking and labeling per NEC Sections , , , and Location and rating of PV system over-current protection per NEC and Rapid Shutdown System (RSS) per NEC Section Future 2017 NEC, 2018 IFC, and 2018 NFPA 1 will have RSSspecific labeling required August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 9

10 Calculation of Wind Pressure: ASCE 7-10 and ICC-ES AC 428 Determine design wind speed and calculate design wind pressures using ASCE 7-10 ICC Evaluation Services Acceptance Criteria AC 428: Acceptance Criteria for Modular Framing Systems Used To Support Photovoltaic (PV) Panels AC 428 is required to obtain an ICC-ES Evaluation Report; it is also useful as voluntary guidance AC 428 allows internal pressure set equal to zero (within constraints) in Components & Cladding method In future ASCE 7-16, there will be a calculation method specific to flush mounted PV systems on sloping pitched roofs August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association

11 Structural Considerations: IBC, IRC, National Design Specification Rooftop installations: Live load offset IBC Section (24 threshold) IRC Section R Rafter and/or truss check per National Design Specification (NDS) Determine quantity and spacing of array structural attachments appropriate for the mounting system and the building Attachment and weather sealing detail must be included on plan August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 11

12 Solar Heating and Cooling (Solar Thermal): IPC and IMC Solar Heating & Cooling (SHC) aka Solar thermal Solar thermal panels Storage tanks Heat exchangers Roof anchors for fall protection August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 12

13 Tools and Best Practices Expedited Permitting Don Hughes, Codes & Standards Specialist Center for Sustainable Energy

14 Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 14

15 California Solar Permitting Guidebook August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 15

16 The Qualifying Box PV & SHW Less than 10 kw or 30 kwth (SHW) Rooftop installations String inverter, micro inverter, or DC converter (PV) Complies with eligibility checklist Installed on a single or duplex family dwelling 90% of all installed systems August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 16

17 PV toolkit Document #1 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 17

18 PV toolkit Document #1, Section 1 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 18

19 PV Toolkit Document 1, section #2 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 19

20 PV Toolkit Document #1, section #3 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 20

21 PV Toolkit Document #1, section #4 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 21

22 PV Toolkit Document #1, section #5 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 22

23 PV Toolkit Document #1, section #6 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 23

24 PV Toolkit Document #2 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 24

25 PV Toolkit Document #3 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 25

26 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 26

27 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 27

28 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 28

29 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 29

30 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 30

31 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 31

32 PV Toolkit Document #3 equipment specifics August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 32

33 PV Toolkit Document #4 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 33

34 PV Toolkit Document #5 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 34

35 PV Toolkit Document #5 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 35

36 PV Toolkit Document #5 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 36

37 PV Toolkit Document #6 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 37

38 PV Toolkit Document #7 August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 38

39 PV Toolkit Document #7 inspection checklist August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 39

40 PV Toolkit Document #7, inspection checklist August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 40

41 A Day in Life of a Building / Electrical Inspector Mostafa Kashe, Chief Electrical Inspector and Engineer County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works mkashe@dpw.lacounty.gov

42 County of Los Angeles Building and Safety Electrical Section Mostafa Kashe, Chief Electrical Inspector and Engineer

43 The day starts early in the office and can include a wild combination of: General Customer Service ~ Voic s, s, Messages, Phone Calls, etc. Plan Check: Over the Counter Review, Electronic Submittals, and Hard Copy Paper Submittals Permit Issuance Inspections 43

44 The County of Los Angeles offers 3 approaches to Solar PV Plan Check 1) Electronic Plan Check 2) Over the Counter Plan Check 3) Paper Submittals for Plan Check There are currently FIVE Electrical Section members who share the responsibility of PV plan check for all of LA County No matter the method selected, the plan check is completed well within the 1-3 days required by AB2188 A large percentage of the plans are even reviewed the same day! 44

45 Typical morning at the Building & Safety Headquarters Office during counter plan check hours 45

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47 Benefits to E-Plan Check Completely eliminates excess paper waste No driving to the HQ office to have plans reviewed Allows for easy tracking and organization for both the applicant and the plan reviewer managing multiple jobs at one time Automatically creates a digital record of approved plans E-Plan Check does involve an added processing time Submittals are considered temporary until the documents and application are screened by a staff member and converted to a true permit application (with the help of a permit technician) 47

48 Counter plan check is offered Mon Thurs 7 11am Staff members rotate assigned days to serve the public counter Compared to E-Plan check, the plans are reviewed on the spot; however, this method misses out on all other benefits of E-Plan check Paper plan submission is also an option, though not commonly chosen by applicants Some statistics for reference So far for 2016: ~82% of plan submittals have been via the E-Plan system ~13.5% of plans are reviewed during counter hours < 5% of plans are hard copies submitted for review There has been an average of ~235 plans reviewed per week (That s roughly 12 plans per person per day) 48

49 Accomplishing so many plan checks per week is a challenge The County of LA has implemented multiple means to facilitate this load: Adopted Tool Kit documents following the AB2188 templates (General information, Electrical and Structural plan check forms, and Inspection guides/checklists) Link: Tool kit docs Online plan check system available for all offices Online payment available for County Unincorporated District Offices Link: Online Plan Check 49

50 The County of LA has implemented multiple means to facilitate this load (continued): Each plan reviewer was matched to a solar company to be their dedicated assistant should there be any questions/concerns with LA County procedures and requirements The County website provides up to date installation instructions to the public for the LA County Recognized UL2703 Racking Systems 50

51 The infamous AB2188 and its 1-3 day turnaround requirement is limited to projects meeting the Small PV definition The County applies the same timeline to jobs that are outside of the AB2188 guidelines that may include: Systems larger than 10 kw Systems that require de-rated main breakers Systems that involve main panel upgrades Plans may be submitted on either the Standard Tool Kit Documents or any company s own design Review time is the same for either format 51

52 Permit issuance is completed at the local field office and can be done at anytime throughout the day The County uses a flat rate for both plan check and permit fees for all systems up to 15 kw A standard fee helps applicants anticipate costs The total cost comes in below the maximum set forth by SB1222 and AB

53 Calls to request an inspection can be made at any time Phone Messages are taken once inspectors have left for the field Voic / requests may also be left for an inspector The response time to an inspection depends on the total number of requests for an area An request for inspection is answered on the following business day Inspection times begin around 9 am and can last through the end of the day An inspector can regularly have up to 10 inspections per day! 53

54 Given the number of plans approved per week, there is usually about the same number of PV inspections per week To help ease the inspection process, the Inspection Guideline is available publicly on the County Website Provides the inspector with a focused checklist Gives installers an idea of what the inspectors will be looking for Link: Inspection Guide 54

55 The County of LA offers an option for one inspection as long as the installers are able to provide video/photo evidence of the information concealed by nature of the installation (the module s nameplate data for example) Installers otherwise can opt for a rough and then a final inspection Typically on two consecutive days 55

56 Rough inspection 56

57 Final Inspection 57

58 On any inspection, first impressions are key! One of the first things to look for is actually applicable to all inspections: The installation shall be done in a neat and workmanlike manner. 58

59 There s also plenty of equipment to check when on a job site. Modules Central Inverters Disconnects Microinverters Racking System Plus: Conductors, Connectors, Conduit, J- box, etc 59

60 The base objective of the inspection is a matching game between the installation and the approved plans! 60

61 Remember to always keep an eye out for working space and clearance requirements! 61

62 When all inspections are done, one last trip to the office is needed to document and log all the updates for the day With all inspections done and updates properly filed, there is just enough time to peek at the requests for tomorrow when we do it all again! 62

63 Continued Professional Development and Collaboration with the Solar Industry Keith Lofland, Director of Education International Association of Electrical Inspectors

64 Continued Professional Development and Collaboration with the Solar Industry Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Presentation by: International Association of Electrical Inspectors

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66 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code IAEI promotes the use and adoption of the latest NEC

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68 Other IAEI Educational Publications IAEI s Soares Grounding and Bonding IAEI s One and Two Family Dwelling Systems IAEI s Hazardous (Classified) Locations IAEI s Photovoltaic System Requirements IAEI s Swimming Pools IAEI s Health Care Facilities IAEI s Common Code Calculations IAEI s Electrical Service Inspections IAEI s Motor Installations IAEI s Transformer Installations

69 The NFPA Revision Process- NFPA NEC First Draft meeting Public Inputs (4102 total) First Draft (1233 First Revisions) 2017 NEC Second Draft meeting Public Comments (1513 total) Second Draft (559 Second Revisions) The NFPA Standards Council will issue the 2017 NEC in August 2016 with a publication date of September of 2016 IAEI supports this process with 38 members who represent the interest of the inspection community (CMP 4- covers PV)

70 How the NEC Applies to the Solar Industry IAEI utilizes various training material to train inspectors and installers as to the proper installation requirements of the NEC An understanding of the pertinent articles that apply to PV installations found within the NEC is crucial to having a safe and compliant electrical system IAEI supports and promotes consistency in understanding and applying the requirements of the NEC The following are examples of the illustrations that IAEI uses to provide this training

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74 Photovoltaic Online Training IAEI has been involved in the development and updating of the Photovoltaic Online Training program (PVOT) IAEI provided training to regional providers to discuss the training material and answer questions from the instructors IAEI provided subject matter experts to help in the development of the PVOT material and to review the final product prior to going live IAEI provides a certification to individuals who successfully complete the program upon notification from that individual

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76 Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) Program IAEI is currently involved with IREC in the development of training material for this grant provide by the Department of Energy (DOE) IAEI is excited to be in partnership with IREC, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Association of State Fire Marshalls (NASFM), and the International Code Council s Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) IAEI is currently working with IREC and other partners on a Plan Review module as well as another future module to educate inspection department personnel and installers throughout the country

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80 IAEI Industry Partners IAEI has many industry partners who provide material or promote solar installations These partners provide valuable insight into industry products that are or are becoming available for use in the electrical industry Through these partnerships IAEI is able to bring the entire electrical industry into their meeting and distribute and discuss electrical information to all aspects of the industry

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82 Continuing Education for Inspectors IAEI provides continuing education for electrical inspectors who need electrical training or require continuing education for certification renewal We provide this training in person or via online training This training is available at various IAEI section, chapter or division meeting in an area near you IAEI will also come to your location to conduct training specific to your needs Our CEU s are accepted by many state or industry entities

83 Becoming an Electrical Inspectors Becoming an electrical inspector can be a rewarding career move It's not as taxing physically as being an electrician, but it's more demanding mentally Look for a city that employs specific construction trade inspectors rather than combination inspectors I would suggest the IAEI s Electrical Inspectors General Certification as a starting point A more advanced electrical inspector s certification program is IAEI s Certified Electrical Inspector (CEI) certification program You can find all the information you need concerning IAEI s electrical inspector certification programs on our website at

84 Importance and Benefits of IAEI IAEI offers everyone a level, nom-combative environment to meet and discuss the requirements of electrical installations and code compliance These meetings allow you to meet and discuss issues that effect you face-to-face with industry experts Members of IAEI receive a bi-monthly magazine throughout the year with articles that further take the mystery out of various electrical issues Members receive a free National Electric Code book upon three years of concurrent membership IAEI members build strong working bonds for a lifetime (members can call each other for advice or the International Office)

85 In Conclusion IAEI is well respected in the electrical industry and can provide the electrical training as well as the recognized certifications that attendees need and desire IAEI has many partners (such as IREC) in which we can provide PV training requirements based on various codes and standards IAEI brings the inspectors, installers, manufacturers, and others from the electrical industry into meetings where electrical training takes place and questions are asked and answered IAEI members build great bonds and friendships

86 Continued Professional Development and Collaboration with the Solar Industry Thanks for Participating Presentation by: International Association of Electrical Inspectors

87 SEIA Engagement Codes & Standards Working Group Member and industry driven initiatives focused on existing, new and upcoming new codes and standards proposals and requirements Meets bi-weekly by teleconference, in-person at Solar Power International August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 87

88 SEIA Membership & Benefits Market & industry intelligence and research Powerful advocacy and influence New business development opportunities Tools and programs to advance your business Upcoming SEIA Codes & Standards Events: Exploring the Rules of Engagement: An Introduction to Codes & Standards and the State of Regulations for Designing and Installing Solar (SPI) August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 88

89 Q&A August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 89

90 SEIA Contacts Membership: Thomas Kiggen, Director of Membership Phone: Codes & Standards: Evelyn M. Butler Director of Codes & Standards Phone: August 30, Solar Energy Industries Association 90

91 Thank you for attending!