SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026
(Amendment)Amendment 1 - Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules - Part 2-1: Polymeric materials - Frontsheet and backsheet - Safety requirements
Messverfahren für Werkstoffe, die in Photovoltaik-Modulen verwendet werden - Teil 2-1: Polymerwerkstoffe - Frontsheets und Backsheets - Sicherheitsanforderungen
Procédures de mesure des matériaux utilisés dans les modules photovoltaïques - Partie 2-1: Matériaux polymères - Face avant et face arrière - Exigences de sécurité
Merilni postopki za materiale, uporabljene v fotonapetostnih modulih - 2-1. del: Polimerni materiali - Prednja in zadnja plast - Varnostne zahteve - Dopolnilo A1
General Information
- Status
- Not Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 09-Mar-2026
- Technical Committee
- PVS - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
- Current Stage
- 5020 - Formal vote (FV) (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 02-Jun-2026
- Due Date
- 21-Jul-2026
Relations
- Effective Date
- 15-Jul-2025
Overview
SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026 is an amendment to the international standard for measurement procedures of materials used in photovoltaic (PV) modules. This specific update addresses Part 2-1, which focuses on polymeric materials, primarily the frontsheet and backsheet. The document refines the safety requirements and updates associated test methodologies for manufacturers, testing laboratories, and engineers within the PV module industry.
Developed by CLC in line with IEC and CENELEC procedures, this standard aims to harmonize procedures and improve the reliability, safety, and performance of PV modules by ensuring polymeric materials meet strict safety and durability criteria. The amendment reflects anticipation of changes in related standards and highlights the importance of optical durability and thermal exposure certification protocols.
Key Topics
- Polymeric Frontsheet and Backsheet Safety: Ensures that both the exposed front layer and protective back layer of PV modules meet clear safety standards for long-term field deployment.
- UV Weathering and Durability Tests: Updates procedures for xenon arc light source testing to simulate sunlight exposure over thousands of hours, evaluating the durability of polymeric sheets against UV degradation.
- Thermal Exposure Protocols: Introduces the concept of “Level” to define thermal exposure certification, aligning terminology for clarity and consistency across documents.
- Layer-Specific Testing: Distinguishes test procedures between the sun-facing side and inner side for frontsheets and backsheets, adapting requirements based on material type and intended installation.
- Evaluation Criteria After Exposure: Requires modules to undergo visual, mechanical, and electrical inspections post-UV and damp heat exposures, including DC breakdown voltage and, for frontsheets, optical transmittance retention.
Applications
The amended standard is crucial for:
- PV Module Manufacturers: Ensures that module designs using polymeric layers comply with updated international safety and durability expectations, reducing the risk of product failure or safety incidents.
- Testing Laboratories: Provides harmonized, credible methods for assessing the longevity and safety of critical polymeric components, improving comparability of results across laboratories.
- Quality Assurance: Supports module certification programs by providing explicit test sequences and pass/fail criteria, particularly for high-performance or extreme-environment modules.
- Component Suppliers: Clarifies requirements for materials intended for PV module use, including specific aging and exposure conditions tailored for a range of operating temperatures (70°C, 80°C, or 90°C cap levels).
- System Integrators and Project Developers: Assures stakeholders that modules meeting these requirements will deliver reliable performance and safety, improving investor and end-user confidence.
Related Standards
- IEC 61730: Safety qualification for PV modules - referenced as the foundation for many safety-specific requirements in this amendment.
- IEC 61215-1: Performance qualification test for PV modules - anticipated to align with new optical durability testing for frontsheets.
- IEC TS 62788-2: Technical specifications for test methods, including the UV weathering methods cited in this amendment.
- IEC TS 63126: Defines additional testing protocols for high-temperature operation scenarios, referenced for modules certified at higher operational temperatures.
- IEC TS 62788-7-2: Contains detailed temperature conditioning protocols for testing.
By incorporating these requirements, SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026 supports continued innovation and safety in the solar energy sector, ensuring PV modules can withstand diverse climates and rigorous use with high safety and performance standards. Compliance with this standard enhances market confidence and supports the global transition to renewable energy.
Get Certified
Connect with accredited certification bodies for this standard
DNV
DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider.
Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register is a global professional services organisation specialising in engineering and technology.
DIN CERTCO
DIN Group product certification.
Sponsored listings
Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Amendment 1 - Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules - Part 2-1: Polymeric materials - Frontsheet and backsheet - Safety requirements". This standard covers: Amendment 1 - Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules - Part 2-1: Polymeric materials - Frontsheet and backsheet - Safety requirements
Amendment 1 - Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules - Part 2-1: Polymeric materials - Frontsheet and backsheet - Safety requirements
SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering; 83.080.01 - Plastics in general. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN IEC 62788-2-1:2024/oprA1:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2026
Merilni postopki za materiale, uporabljene v fotonapetostnih modulih - 2-1. del:
Polimerni materiali - Prednja in zadnja plast - Varnostne zahteve - Dopolnilo A1
Amendment 1 - Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules -
Part 2-1: Polymeric materials - Frontsheet and backsheet - Safety requirements
Messverfahren für Werkstoffe, die in Photovoltaik-Modulen verwendet werden - Teil 2-1:
Polymerwerkstoffe - Frontsheets und Backsheets - Sicherheitsanforderungen
Procédures de mesure des matériaux utilisés dans les modules photovoltaïques - Partie
2-1: Matériaux polymères - Face avant et face arrière - Exigences de sécurité
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62788-2-1:2023/prA1:2025
ICS:
27.160 Sončna energija Solar energy engineering
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
82/2535/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 62788-2-1/AMD1 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-12-26 2026-03-20
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
82/2469/CD, 82/2508A/CC
IEC TC 82 : SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY SYSTEMS
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
United States of America Mr George Kelly
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
Safety
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel voting
The attention of IEC National Committees, members of
CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft
for Vote (CDV) is submitted for parallel voting.
The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
CENELEC online voting system.
This document is still under study and subject to change. It should not be used for reference purposes.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of
which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant “In Some Countries”
clauses to be included should this proposal proceed. Recipients are reminded that the CDV stage is the final stage for
submitting ISC clauses. (SEE AC/22/2007 OR NEW GUIDANCE DOC).
TITLE:
Amendment 1 - Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules - Part 2-1:
Polymeric materials - Frontsheet and backsheet - Safety requirements
PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2031
electronic file, to make a copy and to print out the content for the sole purpose of preparing National Committee positions.
You may not copy or "mirror" the file or printed version of the document, or any part of it, for any other purpose without
permission in writing from IEC.
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
This project was discussed and supported by WG2 during their meeting in 2025-09.
IEC CDV 62788-2-1/AMD1 © IEC 2025
1 PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR:
3 MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES FOR MATERIALS USED IN PHOTOVOLTAIC
4 MODULES –
6 Part 2-1: Polymeric materials – Frontsheet and backsheet – Safety
7 requirements
9 Throughout IEC 62788-2-1 the when the word “level” is used to describe a defined thermal exposure
10 certification protocol, it shall be capitalized as “Level”.
12 In the FOREWORD, the reference to this technical specification should be “IEC TS 62788-2-1”.
14 The third paragraph of the Introduction currently reads:
15 This document focusses on the safety relevant properties of front- and backsheets as required by
16 IEC 61730.
17 Modify this to say:
18 This document focusses on the safety relevant properties of front- and backsheets as required by
19 IEC 61730, but also includes an optical durability test for polymer transmittance of frontsheets that
20 is anticipated to be required by IEC 61215-1 in the upcoming edition 3.
22 In the definitions section, add:
24 temperature Level 0
25 test sequences applied to PV modules where [T98]max is 70°C and all other tests are the defaults
26 for their respected tests in IEC 61730 and IEC 61215
27 The definition for FBST should read indicate a “TS” as:
28 FBST
29 Front- or backsheet safety test in accordance with IEC TS 62788-2-1.
31 The third paragraph in Clause 4 “Designation and ratings”, currently reads:
32 A front- or backsheet is rated for a maximum 𝑇 module operating temperature. The module
33 operating temperature is related to a combination of environment and mounting conditions as
34 described in IEC 61730-1 and IEC TS 63126:
th
35 IEC 61730-1 (by default) specifies PV modules with 98 percentile operating temperatures
36 T ≤ 70 °C.
37 IEC TS 63126 defines extended test conditions for high temperature operation with 𝑇 ≤
38 80 °C [level 1] or ≤ 90 °C [level 2]. The requirements for the thermal endurance test
[ ]
39 (FBST 06) depend on the specified 𝑇 . IEC 62788-2-1 deviates from
98 max
IEC CDV 62788-2-1/AMD1 © IEC 2025
40 IEC TS 63126:2020, in that the UV weathering temperature conditions applied in the UV
41 weathering test (FBST 08) shall be as specified in Table 4.
42 Note: IEC TS 63126:2020 is currently under consideration for modification and will likely be changed to conform with this
43 document.
45 This should be changed to:
46 A front- or backsheet is rated for a maximum 𝑇 module operating temperature. The module
47 operating temperature is related to a combination of environment and mounting conditions as
48 described in IEC 61730-1 and IEC TS 63126:
th
49 IEC 61730-1 (by default) [Level 0] specifies PV modules with 98 percentile operating
50 temperatures T ≤ 70°C.
51 IEC TS 63126 defines extended test conditions for high temperature operation with 𝑇 ≤
52 80°C [Level 1] or ≤ 90°C [Level 2]. The requirements for the thermal endurance test
[ ]
53 (FBST 06) depend on the specified 𝑇 .
98 max
55 Clause 6.7.2 “UV weathering – FBST 08”, currently reads:
56 6.7.2 UV weathering – FBST 08
57 UV weathering is carried out using a xenon arc light source according to the method in IEC TS
58 62788-2 using the following exposures:
59 • For frontsheets, only the sun-facing side is tested:
60 – The sun-facing (air-)side shall be exposed directly to the test light
...