This International Standard is a design qualification standard applicable to solar trackers for photovoltaic systems, but may be used for trackers in other solar applications. The standard defines test procedures for both key components and for the complete tracker system. In some cases, test procedures describe methods to measure and/or calculate parameters to be reported in the defined tracker specification sheet. In other cases, the test procedure results in a pass/fail criterion.
The objective of this design qualification standard is twofold.
First, this standard ensures the user of the said tracker that parameters reported in the specification sheet were measured by consistent and accepted industry procedures. This provides customers with a sound basis for comparing and selecting a tracker appropriate to their specific needs. This standard provides industry-wide definitions and parameters for solar trackers. Each vendor can design, build, and specify the functionality and accuracy with uniform definition. This allows consistency in specifying the requirements for purchasing, comparing the products from different vendors, and verifying the quality of the products.
Second, the tests with pass/fail criteria are engineered with the purpose of separating tracker designs that are likely to have early failures from those designs that are sound and suitable for use as specified by the manufacturer. Mechanical and environmental testing in this standard is designed to gauge the tracker’s ability to perform under varying operating conditions, as well as to survive extreme conditions. Mechanical testing is not intended to certify structural and foundational designs, because this type of certification is specific to local jurisdictions, soil types, and other local requirements.