Code requirements and standards for installations of photovoltaic systems in the US

Electrical code requirements and a broad base of standards for PV installat ions in the US have been written. The National Electrical Code(R) (NEC(R)) focuses primarily on electrical system installation requirements in the US. The NEC addresses both fire and personnel safety. Tills paper describes re cent efforts of the PV industry in the CIS and the resulting requirements i n the 1999 National Electrical Code - Article 690 - Solar Photovoltaic Syst ems. It provides an overview of the most significant changes that appeal in Article 690 of the 1999 edition of the NEC. A summary of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) PV standards and current standar ds development efforts is also provided, Related and coordinated efforts of the other standards-making groups are also briefly reviewed. Published irt 1999 bt, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd This article is a US Government work and i s in the public domain in the United States.