MCS Solar PV Working Group Final minutes for 21 st February 2017

Transcription

1 MCS Solar PV Working Group Final minutes for 21 st February 2017 Date: 21st February 2017 Start Time: End Time: Venue: 14.00pm 15.00pm Teleconference Attendees: Apologies: Name Representing Name Representing Chris Roberts (CR) PowerI Amolak Hunjan PV Systems (EETS) Chris East (CE) Solar Century Christine Schams BEIS Cliff Wilson (CW) National Energy Foundation Dr K T Tan Viridian Hamish Watson (HW) Polysolar Graham Perrior NHBC Jan Muller (JM) Solar Century Kevin Lucas Travis Perkins Jonathan Bates (JB) Photon Energy Kevin Webster Romag Les Woolner (LW) Beama Sean Young BBA Steve Davies (SD) Certsure Tom Digby-Rogers BSI Group Cordelia Grey (CG) Gemserv Imogen Jamie (IJ) Gemserv Meeting Agenda: No. Subject Paper reference Led by 1 Welcome, introductions and apologies Verbal Chair 2 Minutes and actions from the previous meeting MCS SPV_ a MCS Administrator 3 SMG Update - Change Requests - Solar PV Guide Site evaluation requirements MCS SPV_ MCS Administrator 4 Bespoke text (Roofing WG feedback) MCS SPV_ MCS Administrator 1

2 5 Battery Storage Guidance Verbal Chair 6 AOB Verbal All 7 Next meeting dates: 08/05/2017 MCS Administrator 1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies The Chair welcomed the dial-in participants to the meeting and the apologies were noted. 2. Minutes and actions from the previous meeting The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and IJ queried whether there should have been an action from Agenda item 6 which was the suggestion that the handover checklist for each technology could be on the back of the MCS certificate. The group concluded that since the handover checklist is already in the Standard then it doesn t need to be repeated on the certificate. The argument for potentially including the checklist on the certificate was that the customer doesn t see the Standard and therefore doesn t know what they should be receiving in a handover pack. The group concluded that the handover checklist should not be amended and this will be fed back to the Standards Management Group (SMG). The group then reviewed the actions from the previous meeting: ACTION SPV_ : CR confirmed the action was now closed and that he had circulated recommendations for fire safety with photovoltaic panel installations from RISC Authority to the MCS Administrator but that this was not a tender document. MCS had also not been consulted on this document. ACTION SPV_ : CR informed the group that SP no longer works for BRE so will be difficult to chase for this action. The group were informed that Mrs Chris Coonick has now picked up the BEIS project on PV fire. Post meeting note: Chris Coonick will be looking at publishing the interim report following sign off from BEIS. This will be available to download from the NSC website. They will also be disseminating the final results to the Solar PV WG at the end of the project. ACTION SPV_ : MCS Administrator to contact National Solar Century to see if they wish to nominate someone to join the PV WG. ACTION SPV : JB to provide contact information for Chris Coonick to MCS Administrator. ACTION SPV_ and ACTION SPV_ : These actions are ongoing and updates provided under Agenda item 3. ACTION SPV_ and ACTION SPV_ : These actions are ongoing and updates provided under Agenda item 4. 2

3 ACTION SPV_ and ACTION SPV_ : These actions are ongoing and updates provided under Agenda item SMG Update - Change Requests - Solar PV Guide Site evaluation requirements - Commercial Client Consumer Code The WG developed a Change Request (012) which was considered by the SMG in September 2016 regarding an amendment to section of the MCS Solar PV Guide to state that site survey requirements do not apply to commercial clients. There is still a requirement for commercial installers to be registered with a Consumer Code which is unnecessary. The Change Requests themselves will be raised with the new board post-novation. ACTION_SPV_ : CR to chase GT to see if any further action is required regarding the definition of commercial contractor and the reference to consumer codes. If so, an update is to be circulated to the WG. 4. Bespoke text (Roofing WG feedback) The MCS Administrator explained that the Roofing Issues WG discussed the feedback raised by the Solar PV WG concerning installations where a custom design is required on a unique project where no MCS 012 certified system is suitable. A fixing system without MCS 012 certification may be used in these circumstances. The WG agreed that the bespoke text specifically relates to roof mounted rather than integrated installations. The text has been amended by the Roofing WG since the last Solar PV WG meeting. JB updated the group and stated that he had drafted revised text to address the issues raised by the Roofing Issues WG. One issue raised is regarding the third-party report covering compliance with Building Regulations which is in the process of being resolved. The group were presented with the Roofing Working Groups last suggestion in the form of words that could simplify the text and requirement significantly; Building Regulations compliance for the bespoke system for weather tightness, fire and wind resistance are confirmed in writing by a Building Control Body. The group questioned whether a Building Control Body would be willing to sign off PV installations and whether they had the technical expertise to do so. As compliance with building regulations is declared via notification post-installation the WG discussed what a building control officer would require in order to sign 3

4 off an installation pre-build as compliant. On a green pitched roof, variations in the degree of pitch makes each installation unique and therefore require a mounting system. It was highlighted that bespoke systems are often expensive which could make them an unviable option, the group agreed to be mindful of deterring installers from bespoke systems by making the requirements too onerous and also of bypassing MCS 012 completely by incorrectly identifying the installation as bespoke which would result in non-compliant systems. 5. Battery Storage Guidance It was noted in the minutes from the last meeting that there is little information publicly available for consumers and installers regarding battery storage despite the demand. The WG emphasized that the Scheme should influence the information available. At the previous WG meeting, the WG indicated that the battery storage document may be more appropriate as a Standard so that it is enforceable and can be audited against. The WG agree that the document should be drafted as guidance document, with the potential to become a standard in the future. The WG highlighted that a technical guidance document has been drafted but not finalised as several issues had been raised. Previously, Gavin Andrews had flagged the need in the guidance document for some energy or cost saving calculations as well as details on average battery life, energy savings, voltage optimisation, immersion heaters etc. In terms of funding the development, the WG heard that the SMG funding application form has been circulated to Gavin Andrews by the MCS Administrator. The Management Panel have confirmed that there is potential budget available for projects so an application for funding can be made to the SMG. ACTION_SPV_ : MCS Administrator to update Gavin Andrews that SMG project funding is available and an application should be made to the SMG. The Chair explained that there is a draft business plan in place for consideration post-novation that develops certification requirements around battery storage and that there are no incentives for batteries. Due to the technical nature of battery storage and the associated hazards and risks, the Chair expressed a real need for a framework which had also been highlighted by the Consumer Codes. The WG support the adoption of the IET CoP which is a decision to be deferred to the new Board of Directors, post-novation. The Chair asked if anyone from the group would like to be involved in developing the battery storage guidance or if they knew of any professional bodies that should be involved. LW put himself forward on behalf of BEAMA and it was suggested that two contacts from the Electricity Storage Network should be consulted. ACTION_SPV_ : MCS Administrator to circulate the list of interested parties in the development of battery storage scheme documentation to the Chair. 4

5 6. AOB and date of next meeting Product Data Template IJ raised a discussion at the last Certification Body Forum meeting where it was queried what information is needed from manufacturers for the product datasheets. The issue is that the questions being asked for each technology type allows unstandardised information to be inputted. IJ asked if anyone from the group would be willing to review the product datasheets for Solar PV and JB volunteered. ACTION_SPV_ : MCS Administrator to circulate the product datasheet to JB for review. Energy Networks Association Guidance Document LW informed the WG that the Energy Networks Association (ENA) have published a new guidance document (G100) that defines the technical design requirements for Export Limitation Schemes which limit the net site export to below an agreed maximum and are installed on the customer s side of that connection point. Bonfield review ACTION_SPV_ : LW to send G100 guidance document to MCS Administrator for circulation to the Working Group. LW raised that since the Each Home Counts outputs have been published, which mention retrofit systems in consumer premises as a focus, this could provide an opportunity for working group members to be involved in this work stream. CR informed the group that some members are already involved but that if anyone else would like to be then they should get in touch with him. Fire Regulations Document HW requested an update on the fire regulations document that has been discussed previously. CR explained that there were no updates to be given as there is currently a project being carried out by National Solar Centre to find out empirical data such as the number of fires etc. Further work on the fire regulations will continue once these results are published. Lightning The issue of lightning and solar panels was also raised by the WG. The update was that there was no further progress to be made. This was because the IET CoP contains more information for lightning protection systems but that there is a need to know how exactly to reference the IET CoP in the Standard. Registered PV Installers JB requested an update on the number of registered PV Installers over the past few months which the MCS 5

6 Administrator provided: Month Total Number of Active PV Installers October November December January IJ explained that any PV installers who are currently suspended will not appear in these statistics. MCS 001 WG IJ provided a brief update from the MCS 001 WG that requested all other technical working groups to take consider whether an MCS Contractor must have access to all or part of any external standards referenced. CR requested that an Action be created in the future for a review of the references and specific sections. ACTION_SPV_ : Solar PV WG to review the references to external standards in MCS 005 and MIS Next meeting dates: - 08/05/2017 6