What is BS EN 12976-1 about?
BS EN 12976-1 is the first part of the multi-series standard. It includes thermal solar systems and their components that are factory-made.
BS EN 12976-1 specifies requirements on durability, reliability, and safety for factory-made thermal solar systems and includes provisions for evaluation of conformity to these requirements. Also, it includes the concept of system families.
BS EN 12976-1 gives general requirements for factory-made thermal solar systems such as products.
Note 1: The installation of these systems including their integration with roofs or facades is not considered, but requirements are given for the documentation for the installer and the user to be delivered with the system
Note 2: External auxiliary water heating devices that are placed in series with the factory-made system are not considered to be part of the system.
Note 3: Cold-water piping from the cold-water grid to the system as well as the piping from the system to an external auxiliary heater or to draw-off points is not considered to be part of the system.
Note 4: Piping between components of the factory-made system is considered to be part of the system.
Note 5: Any integrated heat exchanger or piping for space heating option is not considered to be part of the system.
Who is BS EN 12976-1 for?
BS EN 12976-1 on factory-made thermal solar systems is for:
- Manufactures of solar photovoltaic panels and solar system components
- Suppliers of solar system photovoltaic panels and components
- Test/ certification providers of the thermal solar system
Why should you use BS EN 12976-1?
Factory-made solar systems are batch products with one trade name, sold as complete and ready-to-install kits, with fixed configurations. Systems of this category are considered as a single product and assessed as a whole.
BS EN 12976-1 on factory-made thermal solar systems enables the final supplier to classify and choose between a factory-made or a custom-built thermal solar system.
BS EN 12976-1 assist you in modifying a solar heating system by changing its configuration or by changing one or more of its components. Thus, anyone can set up a modified system that is considered as a brand-new system just with the addition of a new test report.
BS EN 12976-1 helps you to validate the general requirements for factory-made solar heating systems and hence authenticating the quality of your solar system components.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 12976-1:2021 supersedes BS EN 12976‑1:2017, which is withdrawn.
Following changes have been made in the BS EN 12976-1:2021
- Electrical safety
- Safety valves: new requirement that safety valves shall conform with EN 1489
- Resistance to external influences: e. g. roofs and facades
- Labelling: harmonization with Energy-Related Products Directive
- Annex C (new): definition of system families
