Solar Thermal Systems

Testing for Solar Thermal Services

TÜV Rheinland offers inspection, safety tests, and quality assurance for the manufacture, fabrication, and installation, of residential and commercial solar thermal systems. The testing center performs in-service examination of solar thermal collectors, and associated systems and subsystems. In addition TÜV Rheinland PTL tests and certifies systems for the European Union, Asian, and North American markets.TÜV Rheinland is recognized for SRCC and Solar Keymark Programs as well as various global and US safety standards for solar thermal systems. For more information, visit www.tuvptl.com

Benefits at a Glance

With TÜV Rheinland as your partner for testing and certifying solar thermal products, you can:

  • Certify the quality of your products’ performance, reliability, safety, and functionality
  • Facilitate access to European and American markets, increasing your sales potential
  • Obtain certification of your products’ eligibility for subsidies in Germany

Our Services for Solar Thermal Systems

Solar Thermal technologies are tested according to a variety of standards. In many cases solar thermal systems require corresponding PV standards. In addition many states require certain testing and certification protocols for Solar Thermal Technologies:

  • Impact strength
  • Cyclical pressure and tensile stress
  • Material testing in climate chamber: freeze resistance
  • Material testing in UV chamber
  • Thermographic studies with infrared cameras
  • Verification of the safety and reliability of electrical components

Overview of Solar Thermal Qualification Testing

  • Collector testing on flat and vacuum tube collectors that comply with European standard EN 12975 and SRCC standard 100 includes:
    • Reliability and performance tests and manufacturing site inspections
    • Evaluation of open-air weathering in Germany and Italy
    • Pressure testing
    • Temperature testing
  • Performance testing of warm water storage in compliance with European standard EN 12977-3
  • Inspection of absorbers and internal thermal shock test
  • Inspection of standardized systems
    • Performance and quality testing based on European standard EN 12976, for example, for integrated storage collectors and thermo-siphon systems
  • Inspection of customer-specific systems
    • Testing of collectors, regulators, and storage systems with component testing system simulation (CTSS) based on the European prestandard ENV 12977

60730-2-7:2008

IEC 60730-2-7:2008 applies to timers and time switches for household and similar use that may use electricity, gas, oil, solid fuel, solar thermal energy, etc. or a combination thereof, including heating, air conditioning and similar applications. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1990 and its Amendment 1 (1994). This second edition constitutes a technical revision. This new edition incorporates requirements for tungsten filament lamp loadings as well as updates the standard to IEC 60730-1:1999, Amendment 2 (2007). This Part 2-7 is to be used in conjunction with IEC 60730-1. It was established on the basis of the third edition of that standard (1999) and its Amendment 1 (2003) and Amendment 2 (2007). Consideration may be given to future editions of, or amendments to, IEC 60730-1.