Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) glass - Part 2: Measurement of transmittance and reflectance

IEC 62805-2:2017 specifies methods for measuring the transmittance and reflectance of glass used in photovoltaic (PV) modules and provides instructions on how to calculate the effective hemispherical transmittance and reflectance of this glass. This document is applicable to PV glasses used in PV modules, including ultra-clear patterned glass, anti-reflective coated (AR) glass, transparent conductive oxide coated (TCO) glass and other kinds of PV glass used in PV modules. These test methods are designed to provide reproducible data appropriate for comparison of results among laboratories or at different times by the same laboratory and for comparison of data obtained on different PV glasses.

Verfahren für die Messung von photovoltaischem (PV) Glas - Teil 2: Messung von Transmissionsgrad und Reflexionsgrad

Méthode de mesure du verre photovoltaïque (PV) – Partie 2: Mesurage du facteur de transmission et du facteur de réflexion

L'IEC 62805-2:2017 spécifie des méthodes de mesure du facteur de transmission et du facteur de réflexion du verre utilisé dans les modules photovoltaïques (PV) et fournit des instructions concernant la façon de calculer le facteur de transmission et le facteur de réflexion hémisphériques effectifs dudit verre. Le présent document est applicable aux verres PV utilisés dans les modules PV, y compris le verre imprimé ultra transparent, le verre revêtu d’une couche antireflet, le verre revêtu d’oxyde conducteur transparent (TCO) et les autres types de verres PV utilisés dans les modules PV. Ces méthodes d’essai sont conçues pour fournir des données reproductibles appropriées à des fins de comparaison des résultats fournis par différents laboratoires ou à différentes périodes de temps par le même laboratoire et à des fins de comparaison des données obtenues pour les différents verres PV.

Metode za merjenje fotonapetostnega (PV) stekla - 2. del: Merjenje transmitance in reflektance

Ta del standarda IEC 62805 določa metode za merjenje transmitance in reflektance stekla, ki se uporablja za fotonapetostne module, ter podaja navodila za izračun efektivne polkrožne transmitance in reflektance tega stekla.
Ta dokument se uporablja za fotonapetostno steklo, ki se uporablja za fotonapetostne module, vključno z ultraprozornim ornamentnim steklom, steklom z antireflektivnim (AR) premazom, prosojnim prevodnim steklom z oksidovim premazom (TCO) in drugimi vrstami fotonapetostnega stekla, ki se uporabljajo za fotonapetostne module.
Te preskusne metode so zasnovane za zagotavljanje ponovljivih podatkov, ki so primerni za primerjavo rezultatov med laboratoriji ali ob različnih časih v istem laboratoriju in za primerjavo podatkov, pridobljenih o različnih fotonapetostnih steklih.
Te preskusne metode so se izkazale kot uporabne za steklo z odsevnimi in razpršilnimi optičnimi lastnostmi.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
09-Nov-2017
Withdrawal Date
20-Sep-2020
Drafting Committee
IEC/TC 82 - IEC_TC_82
Current Stage
6060 - Document made available - Publishing
Start Date
10-Nov-2017
Completion Date
10-Nov-2017

Relations

Effective Date
10-Feb-2026
Effective Date
09-Feb-2026
Effective Date
03-Feb-2026
Effective Date
03-Feb-2026
Effective Date
03-Feb-2026

Overview

EN 62805-2:2017 is a European standard developed by CENELEC (CLC), based on IEC 62805-2:2017, that specifies standardized methods for the measurement of transmittance and reflectance in photovoltaic (PV) glass. The standard provides detailed procedures for calculating the effective hemispherical transmittance and reflectance of PV glass within the wavelength range relevant to photovoltaic applications. This standard is essential for ensuring that optical measurements of PV glass - such as ultra-clear patterned glass, anti-reflective (AR) coated glass, transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coated glass, and other PV glasses - are accurate, repeatable, and comparable across different laboratories and over time.

Key Topics

  • Measurement Methods: Defines standardized procedures for measuring spectral hemispherical transmittance and reflectance of PV glass within the 280 nm to 1,250 nm wavelength range, which corresponds to the spectral response of common solar cells.
  • Test Conditions: Specifies environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) and handling of samples for reliable and reproducible results.
  • Calibration and Reference Standards: Details requirements for instrument calibration using air layers and laboratory-certified reference standards to ensure baseline accuracy.
  • Sample Handling: Describes the orientation and conditioning of different PV glass types, such as AR and TCO coatings, prior to testing.
  • Calculation Procedures: Provides formulas and instructions for integrating spectral data (using photon irradiance) to derive effective hemispherical transmittance and reflectance for PV materials.
  • Reporting: Sets out guidelines for comprehensive test reports including sample identification, measurement data, test methods, instrument data, and uncertainty estimates.

Applications

EN 62805-2:2017 is applicable throughout the solar energy industry, especially for:

  • PV Module Manufacturing: Standardizes optical characterization of cover glass and other functional glass components in PV modules, supporting quality control and product development.
  • Material Research and Development: Enables evaluation and comparison of new PV glass types (e.g., with advanced coatings) based on their transmittance and reflectance properties.
  • Certification and Testing Laboratories: Facilitates reproducibility and comparability of measurement data across different facilities, making it possible to benchmark PV glass performance globally.
  • Product Specification and Procurement: Assists manufacturers, developers, and buyers in selecting PV glass with desired optical properties, ensuring module efficiency and reliability.
  • Performance Optimization: Informs decisions on glass selection and process improvements to maximize light transmission and minimize reflection losses in PV modules.

By following this standard, stakeholders can ensure that PV glass installed in solar modules meets industry benchmarks for optical performance, directly impacting module efficiency and long-term reliability.

Related Standards

For comprehensive PV glass testing and certification, EN 62805-2:2017 references and aligns with several key related standards:

  • EN 62805-1: Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) glass - Part 1: Measurement of total haze and spectral distribution of haze.
  • EN 60904-3: Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: Measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data.
  • EN 62788-1-4: Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules – Part 1-4: Encapsulants – Measurement of optical transmittance and calculation of solar-weighted photon transmittance.
  • ISO 9050: Glass in building - Determination of light transmittance, solar direct transmittance, total solar energy transmittance, ultraviolet transmittance, and related glazing factors.

These standards provide a framework for the consistent measurement and evaluation of optical properties in PV glass and related materials.


Keywords: EN 62805-2:2017, photovoltaic glass measurement, PV glass reflectance, PV glass transmittance, solar energy standards, optical properties, module efficiency, PV industry, glass testing, CLC standards, photovoltaic module materials.

Buy Documents

Get Certified

Connect with accredited certification bodies for this standard

DNV

DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider.

NA Norway Verified

Lloyd's Register

Lloyd's Register is a global professional services organisation specialising in engineering and technology.

UKAS United Kingdom Verified

DNV Energy Systems

Energy and renewable energy certification.

NA Norway Verified

Sponsored listings

Frequently Asked Questions

EN 62805-2:2017 is a standard published by CLC. Its full title is "Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) glass - Part 2: Measurement of transmittance and reflectance". This standard covers: IEC 62805-2:2017 specifies methods for measuring the transmittance and reflectance of glass used in photovoltaic (PV) modules and provides instructions on how to calculate the effective hemispherical transmittance and reflectance of this glass. This document is applicable to PV glasses used in PV modules, including ultra-clear patterned glass, anti-reflective coated (AR) glass, transparent conductive oxide coated (TCO) glass and other kinds of PV glass used in PV modules. These test methods are designed to provide reproducible data appropriate for comparison of results among laboratories or at different times by the same laboratory and for comparison of data obtained on different PV glasses.

IEC 62805-2:2017 specifies methods for measuring the transmittance and reflectance of glass used in photovoltaic (PV) modules and provides instructions on how to calculate the effective hemispherical transmittance and reflectance of this glass. This document is applicable to PV glasses used in PV modules, including ultra-clear patterned glass, anti-reflective coated (AR) glass, transparent conductive oxide coated (TCO) glass and other kinds of PV glass used in PV modules. These test methods are designed to provide reproducible data appropriate for comparison of results among laboratories or at different times by the same laboratory and for comparison of data obtained on different PV glasses.

EN 62805-2:2017 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

EN 62805-2:2017 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ISO 9050:2003, EN ISO 8676:2011, EN 62805-1:2017, EN 60904-3:2016, EN 62788-1-4:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

EN 62805-2:2017 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2018
Metode za merjenje fotonapetostnega (PV) stekla - 2. del: Merjenje transmitance in
reflektance
Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) glass - Part 2: Measurement of transmittance
and reflectance
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 62805-2:2017
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 62805-2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2017
ICS 27.160
English Version
Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) glass - Part 2:
Measurement of transmittance and reflectance
(IEC 62805-2:2017)
Méthode de mesure du verre photovoltaïque (PV) - Partie 2: Verfahren für die Messung von photovoltaischem (PV) Glas
Mesurage du facteur de transmission et du facteur de - Teil 2: Messung von Transmissionsgrad und
réflexion Reflexionsgrad
(IEC 62805-2:2017) (IEC 62805-2:2017)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2017-09-21. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 62805-2:2017 E
European foreword
The text of document 82/1298/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 62805-2, prepared by IEC/TC 82 “Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 62805-2:2017.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2018-06-21
• latest date by which the document has to be
implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national (dow) 2020-09-21
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62805-2:2017 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant

EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60904-3 2016 Photovoltaic devices - Part 3: EN 60904-3 2016
Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with
reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 62788-1-4 -  Measurement procedures for materials EN 62788-1-4 -
used in photovoltaic modules - Part 1-4:
Encapsulants - Measurement of optical
transmittance and calculation of the solar-
weighted photon transmittance, yellowness
index, and UV cut-off frequency
IEC 62805-1 2017 Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) EN 62805-1 2017
glass - Part 1: Measurement of total haze
and spectral distribution of haze
ISO 9050 -  Glass in building_- Determination of light - -
transmittance, solar direct transmittance,
total solar energy transmittance, ultraviolet
transmittance and related glazing factors

IEC 62805-2 ®
Edition 1.0 2017-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) glass –

Part 2: Measurement of transmittance and reflectance

Méthode de mesure du verre photovoltaïque (PV) –

Partie 2: Mesurage du facteur de transmission et du facteur de réflexion

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-4721-1

– 2 – IEC 62805-2:2017 © IEC 2017
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Apparatus . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Performance of test instrument . 7
5 Test specimens and reference standards . 7
5.1 Test specimens . 7
5.2 Reference standard . 7
6 Conditioning . 7
7 Procedure . 8
7.1 General . 8
7.2 Measurement of spectral hemispherical transmittance . 8
7.2.1 Instrument calibration . 8
7.2.2 Sample measurement . 8
7.3 Measurement of spectral hemispherical reflectance . 8
7.3.1 Instrument calibration . 8
7.3.2 Sample measurement . 9
8 Calculation and expression of results . 10
8.1 Effective hemispherical transmittance of photon irradiance . 10
8.2 Effective hemispherical reflectance of photon irradiance . 10
9 Test report . 11
Bibliography . 12

Figure 1 – Schematic of the integrating sphere for reflectance measurement . 9

IEC 62805-2:2017 © IEC 2017 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
METHOD FOR MEASURING PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) GLASS –

Part 2: Measurement of transmittance and reflectance

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 62805-2 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar
photovoltaic energy systems.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/1298/FDIS 82/1322/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 62805, published under the general title Method for measuring
photovoltaic (PV) glass, can be found on the IEC website.

– 4 – IEC 62805-2:2017 © IEC 2017
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 62805-2:2017 © IEC 2017 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
This document differentiates from the other standards related to transmittance and reflectance
test as follows:
• the scope of this document is restricted to transmittance and reflectance measurement for
PV glass,
• the wavelength range is typically from 280 nm to 1 250 nm which is related to the spectral
response of common solar cells,
• in order to harmonize the calculation of the transmittance and reflectance of PV glass, the
photon irradiance was used instead of the spectral solar irradiance,
• apparatus conditions such as the integrating sphere type and diameter are specified.
This part of IEC 62805 establishes IEC requirements for providing procedures and calculation
methods for measuring the transmittance and reflectance of glass used in photovoltaic (PV)
modules.
Types of PV glass include ultra-clear patterned glass, anti-reflective coated glass, transparent
conductive oxide (TCO) glass and other kind of glass used in PV modules. With the rapid
growth of the global PV industry, the amount of PV glass being used has increased
tremendously. The optical properties including t
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.

Loading comments...