The use of solar PV cable complying with requirements of the 2014 edition of AS/NZS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays has been extended until 19 November 2022 in Queensland.
Electrical contractors must ensure compliance criteria for solar PV cables are met before they are installed, and suppliers must ensure equipment criteria for solar PV cable are met before sale.
Solar PV cable requirements are listed in AS/NZS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays. The 2021 edition of that standard requires solar PV cable, that are not installed underground, to now comply with IEC 62930 Electric cables for photovoltaic systems with a voltage rating of 1.5 kV DC.
The 2021 edition of AS/NZS 5033 standard superseded the 2014 edition on 19 May 2022, after a six-month transition period. The extended six month period to 19 November 2022 will allow suppliers to sell existing solar PV cable, and installers to install that solar PV cable, subject to the conditions listed below.
The change in requirements for solar PV cable provides updated safety standards to relevant international electrotechnical (IEC) standards and is part of continuous improvements in safety standards applied. The extension will not compromise the safety of workers or the community, however we encourage installers to use cable complying with the latest standard, IEC 62930.
If using solar PV cable complying to the requirements of the 2014 edition of AS/NZS 5033, the responsible supplier (importer) must:
- confirm the solar PV cable was already imported into Australia before 19 May 2022
- ensure they are registered as a responsible supplier of that cable on the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS)
- have evidence the cable complies with one of the relevant safety standards listed in AS/NZS 5033:2014 (PV1-F from TUV 2 PfG 1169/08.2007, or UL 4703, or VDE-AR-E 2283-4).
Suitable evidence of compliance for an electrical contractor should include a supplier’s declaration by the responsible supplier (importer) that lists:
- the above information for each cable model being sold (date imported, the relevant standard the cable compiles to)
- the responsible supplier EESS registration number and company details
- the declaration signed by a senior officer of the company.
Alternately, if the responsible supplier has the required evidence, they can provide a supplier’s declaration the cable fully complies with IEC 62930.
Note: Solar PV cable compliant to IEC 62930 will be marked on the cable with the following codes for cable designation:
- 62930 IEC 131
- 62930 IEC 132
- 62930 IEC 133
- 62930 IEC 134.
Some solar PV cable imported before 19 May 2021, which are compliant to requirements listed in the 2014 edition of AS/NZS 5033 may also (after suitable assessment) be able to be shown to substantially comply with the requirements of IEC 62930 except for issues such as required marking on the cable.
In this situation, a responsible supplier may provide a supplier’s declaration that the solar PV cable ‘complies with IEC 62930 except for marking on cable’ (and they provide that required cable marking on the label of the cable drum). If this is provided (and the only non-compliance is a marking issue) this cable can also be installed.
If requested, the responsible supplier must produce the compliance folder used in making any declaration of compliance to ESO inspectors.
Electrical contractors must install solar PV cable in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and all other requirements of AS/NZS 5033:2021 edition and the wiring rules.
A supplier’s declaration (which can be supplied to buyers/installers at their request) would:
- identify the responsible supplier (company name, ABN)
- identify the responsible supplier registration number (E number allocated when registering on EESS)
- have a unique number related to the declaration (which links to the compliance folder)
- be on a document with a company letterhead (including all company name and address details and ABN)
- specifically state the cable model and that it has been assessed by a competent person and is compliant to:
- one of the relevant safety standards listed in AS/NZS 5033:2014 (PV1-F from TUV 2 PfG 1169/08.2007, or UL 4703, or VDE-AR-E 2283-4) and was imported into Australia before 19 May 2021* – declaration listing test report; or
- IEC 62930 except for marking on cable requirements – declaration listing test report, and was imported into Australia before 19 May 2021* and as type specified for the cable:
- 62930 IEC 131
- 62930 IEC 132
- 62930 IEC 133
- 62930 IEC 134
- the relevant safety standards listed in AS/NZS 5033:2021 – IEC 62930 – declaration listing test report, and as type specified for the cable:
- 62930 IEC 131
- 62930 IEC 132
- 62930 IEC 133
- 62930 IEC 134
- list of all markings on the specific model of cable as marked on the actual cable and linked to the cable model number
- state the company making the declaration has a compliance folder proving the cable complies with the standard listed in the declaration
- be signed and dated and clearly identify the name and position of the person making the declaration (signed by the Chief Executive Office / Managing Director / or similar senior person of the company with name / title / position being identified in the signature block).
* These options only valid until 19 November 2022
In addition to the above declaration, the responsible supplier should have one of the following:
- certification from a Recognised External Certification Scheme (RECS) or electrical safety regulator showing compliance to IEC 62930**; or
- a compliance folder showing the cable model has been assessed by a competent person and is compliant to one of the relevant safety standards listed in AS/NZS 5033:2014 (PV1-F from TUV 2 PfG 1169/08.2007, or UL 4703, or VDE-AR-E 2283-4) and was imported into Australia before 19 May 2021 (only suitable until 19 November 2022); or
- if fully compliant to IEC 62930, a compliance folder that has test report and other documents to show full compliance to IEC 62930; or
- if not fully compliant to IEC 62930 a compliance folder that has:
- evidence the cable was imported prior to 19 May 2022 and test report and other documents to show compliance to one of the relevant safety standards listed in AS/NZS 5033:2014 (PV1-F from TUV 2 PfG 1169/08.2007, or UL 4703, or VDE-AR-E 2283-4) and was imported into Australia before 19 May 2021 (only suitable until 19 November 2022); or
- A test report and other documents to show compliance to IEC 62930 – except for marking on cable requirements*** and was imported into Australia before 19 May 2021 (only suitable until 19 November 2022); and
- declaration by a suitably qualified person (competent person) they have reviewed the test reports and documents and confirm the cable complies to the standard listed in the declaration.
See the Equipment Safety Rules of the EESS for details of what should be in test reports – available at eess.gov.au.
** Only if there is an independent accredited test report showing full compliance to IEC 62930.
*** This may be used where test reports are not to IEC 62930 and cable is not compliant only due to marking issues, and an assessment has been conducted by a suitably qualified person (competent person) to verify this.
A compliance folder should contain a copy of the declaration by the responsible supplier, be supplied to buyers/installers, and a more detailed declaration, and other related information including:
- the name of the suitably qualified person (competent person), who performed the assessment and their qualifications and contact details
- a unique identification number relevant to that specific declaration (to link the declaration to the compliance folder)
- a declaration on company letterhead (including all company name and address details and ABN or similar and EESS responsible supplier registration number):
- declarations signed and dated by the suitably qualified person (competent person) (with details of name/qualifications/contact details in signature block
- declarations signed and dated by senior person of the company - name and position of the person making the declaration (signed by the Chief Executive Office / Managing Director / or similar senior person of the company with name / title / position being identified in the signature block)
- details to specifically state the cable model has been assessed by a competent person and is compliant to the standards stated on the declaration
- details of all markings on the specific model of cable as marked on the actual cable (and that detail linked to the relevant model number)
- all the test reports and other documents referenced in the declaration, and other documents required
- photographs of cable, cable drum, cable markings and cable drum markings
- any limitations or conditions that may apply to the cable on the declaration (i.e. cable not marked as required by IEC 62930, but those required markings are on the cable drum).
Where the manufacturer/importer (responsible supplier) has cables that comply to EN 50618 or previous cable standards listed in AS/NZS 5033:2014 (such as PV1-F; UL 4703; VDE-AR-E 2283-4) then a suitably qualified person (competent person) could do a cross mapping exercise. This is to identify where the details in the test reports related to those standards align or show compliance to requirements of IEC 62930 and establish if any gaps or shortcomings have been assessed or tested.
This would then result in a report signed by the suitably qualified person (competent person) listing each clause of each standard side by side to show compliance and so enable the declarations of the above to be made. All this to be retained in the responsible supplier’s compliance folder.
A manufacturer supplying a specification sheet or statement with wording of only ‘deemed to comply with IEC 62930’ or similar would not meet the requirements of a responsible supplier as explained above.