Standard Practice for Ultraviolet Conditioning of Photovoltaic Modules or Mini-Modules Using a Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Photovoltaic modules and components must be resistant to prolonged exposure to solar radiation, moisture and heat. Degradation of polymeric components, delamination at the encapsulant and other interfaces, and moisture ingress are among the degradation modes known to decrease the output of photovoltaic modules. IEC qualification standards for PV modules include tests intended to uncover whether solar ultraviolet radiation induced degradation may cause early-life failures. This practice provides general and specific guidance on performing tests that meet the requirements of the ultraviolet radiation conditioning exposures in the IEC qualification standards.4 Other protocols exist that may also conform to the IEC test requirements.  
5.2 In the qualification test sequence, this UV preconditioning exposure is conducted prior to the thermal cycling and humidity freeze tests. These tests were included to replicate a delamination failure observed in modules.5  
5.3 IEC exposure methods should not be considered as long term weathering tests. Exposure to moisture in the form of condensation or water spray is not a requirement of the UV exposure tests in IEC PV module qualification standards. Inclusion of moisture is typically a consideration in weathering tests.  
5.4 Variation in test results may be expected when operating conditions are varied within the acceptable limits of this standard. In particular, reciprocity of degradation among varying irradiance levels should not be assumed. Consequently, no reference to this practice should be made without an accompanying report prepared in accordance with Section 9 that describes the specific operating conditions used.  
5.5 Correlation between this practice and long term performance of PV modules in real-world installations has not been determined. Although experience has shown these methods are effective in screening for unstable materials and systems, it is unknown at this time if degradation due to prolonged solar...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test conditions for performing ultraviolet conditioning exposures on photovoltaic modules or mini-modules using fluorescent ultraviolet lamps in accordance with Practices G151 and G154. This practice covers test conditions that meet the requirements for UV preconditioning in initial qualification tests of photovoltaic modules or mini-modules as published in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Publication Date
31-Jan-2015
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ASTM E3006-15 - Standard Practice for Ultraviolet Conditioning of Photovoltaic Modules or Mini-Modules Using a Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E3006 −15 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Ultraviolet Conditioning of Photovoltaic Modules or Mini-
Modules Using a Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp
1
Apparatus
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3006; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope G151PracticeforExposingNonmetallicMaterialsinAccel-
erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test condi-
G154Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV)
tions for performing ultraviolet conditioning exposures on
Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
photovoltaic modules or mini-modules using fluorescent ultra-
G177Tables for Reference Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Distri-
violet lamps in accordance with Practices G151 and G154.
butions: Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
This practice covers test conditions that meet the requirements
3
2.2 IEC Standards:
for UV preconditioning in initial qualification tests of photo-
IEC 61215Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV)
voltaic modules or mini-modules as published in International
modules – design qualification and type approval, Second
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.
Edition
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
IIEC 61345UV test for photovoltaic (PV) modules, First
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Edition
standard.
IEC61646Thin-filmterrestrialphotovoltaic(PV)modules–
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Design qualification and type approval, Edition 2.0
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2.3 ISO Standards:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ISO 4892-3Plastics – Method of exposure to laboratory
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
light sources—Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1 The definitions given in Terminology G113 and Termi-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
nology E772 are applicable to this practice.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4. Summary of Practice
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.1 Specimens are exposed to fluorescent ultraviolet lamps
of types UVA-340 and UVB-313 as needed to achieve specific
2. Referenced Documents
dosagesofultravioletradiationasrequiredbyIECqualification
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: standards for photovoltaic modules and materials or by agree-
E772Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion ment between contractual parties.
G113Terminology Relating to Natural andArtificialWeath-
5. Significance and Use
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
G130Test Method for Calibration of Narrow- and Broad-
5.1 Photovoltaic modules and components must be resistant
Band Ultraviolet Radiometers Using a Spectroradiometer
to prolonged exposure to solar radiation, moisture and heat.
Degradation of polymeric components, delamination at the
encapsulant and other interfaces, and moisture ingress are
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, among the degradation modes known to decrease the output of
GeothermalandOtherAlternativeEnergySourcesandisthedirectresponsibilityof
photovoltaic modules. IEC qualification standards for PV
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
modules include tests intended to uncover whether solar
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2015. Published April 2014. DOI: 10.1520/
ultraviolet radiation induced degradation may cause early-life
E3006-15
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 3, rue de
the ASTM website. Varembé, P.O. Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iec.ch.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E3006−15
failures. This practice provides general and specific guidance used shall be stated in the test report. The particular qualifica-
on performing tests that meet the requirements of the ultravio- tion test requirement or application de
...

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