IEC 62941:2019 is applicable to organizations manufacturing photovoltaic (PV) modules certified to IEC 61 21 5 series and IEC 621 08 for design qualification and type approval and IEC 61 730 for safety qualification and type approval. The design qualification and type approval of PV modules depend on appropriate methods for product and process design, as well as appropriate control of materials and processes used to manufacture the product. This document lays out best practices for product design, manufacturing processes, and selection and control of materials used in the manufacture of PV modules that have met the requirements of IEC 61 21 5 series, IEC 61 730, or IEC 621 08. These standards also form the basis for factory audit criteria of such sites by various certifying and auditory bodies.
The object of this document is to provide a framework for the improved confidence in the ongoing consistency of performance and reliability of certified PV modules. The requirements of this document are defined with the assumption that the quality management system of the organization has already fulfilled the requirements of ISO 9001 or equivalent quality management system. This document is not intended to replace or remove any requirements of ISO9001 or equivalent quality management system. By maintaining a manufacturing system in accordance with this document, PV modules are expected to maintain their performance as determined from the test sequences in IEC 61 21 5 series, IEC 621 08, or IEC 61 730.
This document is applicable to all PV modules independent of design and technology, i.e. flat panel, concentrator photovoltaic (CPV). Quality controls for CPV and nonconventional flat- plate manufacturing will differ somewhat from those of more conventional designs; this document has not considered these differences.
