Chapter SPS 371

SPS 371.25(6)(a) (a) All solar energy systems, except draindown and drainback systems, utilized during periods when outdoor temperatures are below 40ºF, shall be provided with freeze protection.

SPS 371.25(6)(b) (b) Components containing liquid heat transfer fluids shall be provided a means of protection from freeze damage. Automatic freeze protection shall be provided in a power failure mode.

SPS 371.25(6)(c) (c) Any nonautomatic freeze protection shall be noted as such in the operation and maintenance manual.

SPS 371.25(6)(d) (d) Collectors and piping which must drain for freeze protection shall be installed with a slope of at least 1/8 inch per foot.

SPS 371.25(7) (7) Potable water protection.

SPS 371.25(7)(a) (a) Prohibited connections to fixtures and equipment. Protection against backflow or back siphonage shall be provided for connections to potable water supply systems in accordance with s. SPS 382.41.

SPS 371.25(7)(b) (b) Recirculating water. Water used for space heating may not be returned to the potable water system.

SPS 371.25(7)(c) (c) Toxic elements. Heat transfer fluids, heat storage media and thermal storage materials, including any interior protective coatings, may not impart toxic elements to potable water.

SPS 371.25 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; corrections in (1) (c) 4., (3) (c) 2., (4) (intro.) and (7) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2002 No. 558; correction in (1) (b) 2., 4., 5., 6., (c) 1., 4., (3) (c) 2., (4) (intro.) (b), (f), (5) (a), (7) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 371.26 SPS 371.26 Electrical requirements. All electrical work shall conform to the Wisconsin Electrical Code, ch. SPS 316.

SPS 371.26 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; CR 01-139: am. Register June 2002 No. 558, eff. 7-1-02; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 371.30 SPS 371.30 Photovoltaic solar energy systems.

SPS 371.30(1) (1) General installation requirements. Photovoltaic solar energy systems shall comply with s. SPS 371.21 (1), (2), (4), (6) and (7).

SPS 371.30(2) (2) Electrical requirements. All electrical wiring, installation, equipment and materials used in the construction and installation of photovoltaic solar energy systems shall comply with the Wisconsin Electrical Code, ch. SPS 316.

SPS 371.30 Note Note: For design requirements and definitions for photovoltaic solar energy systems, see Article 690, of the National Electrical Code (NEC), as adopted by reference in the Wisconsin Electrical Code, Volume 2, ch. SPS 316.

SPS 371.30 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; CR 01-139: am. (2) Register June 2002 No. 558, eff. 7-1-02; correction in (1), (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

subch. V of ch. SPS 371 Subchapter V — Warranty

SPS 371.40 SPS 371.40 Purpose. Pursuant to s. 101.175 (4) (a), Stats., this subchapter establishes the requirement of a warranty and minimum warranty requirements for solar energy systems and components.

SPS 371.40 Note Note: The requirements of this subchapter are recommended standards. See s. SPS 371.03.

SPS 371.40 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.

SPS 371.41 SPS 371.41 System designer’s warranty. All new solar energy systems shall be covered by a system designer’s warranty. The system designer’s warranty shall meet or exceed the following requirements:

SPS 371.41(1) (1) Type and duration of warranty. The system designer shall issue to every buyer a written warranty that meets the following minimum requirements:

SPS 371.41(1)(a) (a) A one year warranty on the entire solar energy system and the installation of the solar energy system.

SPS 371.41(1)(b) (b) A 5 year warranty on the collectors and the installation of the collectors.

SPS 371.41(1)(c) (c) The warranty shall specify those items covered and those items not covered.

SPS 371.41(1)(d) (d) The warranty shall begin the day the solar energy system is put into operation.

SPS 371.41(2) (2) Voiding of a warranty.

SPS 371.41(2)(a) (a) The warranty may specify reasonable installation and maintenance procedures, including specifications of incompatible components, and may state reasonable use conditions for the system designer’s warranty to be effective.

SPS 371.41(2)(b) (b) The warranty may not be voided or in any way reduced by conditions that may occur in the normal operation of the solar energy system.

SPS 371.41(2)(c) (c) The warranty shall list any actions that will void the warranty.

SPS 371.41(3) (3) Notification. The warranty shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of the customer service representative.

SPS 371.41 Note Note: By federal law, all warranties must be in accordance with the standards, terms and conditions specified in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, 15 United States Code, Sections 2301-2312 (1976), and the regulations promulgated thereunder as found in 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter G (1981). The requirements of this section are in addition to the federal warranty requirements.

SPS 371.41 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.

subch. VI of ch. SPS 371 Subchapter VI — Operation and Maintenance Manual

SPS 371.50 SPS 371.50 Purpose. Pursuant to s. 101.175 (4) (b), Stats., this subchapter establishes the minimum requirements of an operation and maintenance manual for solar energy systems.

SPS 371.50 Note Note: The requirements of this subchapter are recommended standards. See s. SPS 371.03.

SPS 371.50 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.

SPS 371.51 SPS 371.51 General requirements.

SPS 371.51(1) (1) The operation and maintenance manual shall be supplied by the system designer.

SPS 371.51(2) (2) Additional instructions for operation and maintenance may be added by the installer but may not:

SPS 371.51(2)(a) (a) Contradict the manufacturer’s instructions;

SPS 371.51(2)(b) (b) Contradict the system designer’s instructions;

SPS 371.51(2)(c) (c) Void the manufacturer’s warranty;

SPS 371.51(2)(d) (d) Void the system designer’s warranty; or

SPS 371.51(2)(e) (e) Void the installer’s warranty.

SPS 371.51(3) (3) Any pre-installation instructions shall be supplied by the installer.

SPS 371.51(4) (4) All operation and maintenance manuals, installation instructions and other instructions shall be supplied to the buyer on or before the day the solar energy system is operational.

SPS 371.51 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.

SPS 371.52 SPS 371.52 Operation and maintenance manual for active solar energy systems. The operation and maintenance manual for active solar energy systems shall include, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

SPS 371.52(1) (1) Operating instructions. Operating instructions shall contain the following:

SPS 371.52(1)(a) (a) Operating instructions for normal solar energy system operations;

SPS 371.52(1)(b) (b) Operating instructions for leaving the solar energy system inactive for extended periods of time, such as vacations;

SPS 371.52(1)(c) (c) Operating instructions for disengaging the solar energy system and operating and maintaining the auxiliary energy system, if present, independently of the solar energy system;

SPS 371.52(1)(d) (d) A valving diagram clearly showing the position that each valve should be in, for operation of the solar energy system;

SPS 371.52(1)(e) (e) A detailed explanation of the freeze protection and no-flow protection features of the solar energy system including what the owner needs to do, if anything, in the event a power failure occurs simultaneously with freezing or no-flow conditions. If the solar energy system does not provide freeze or no-flow protection or both, the operation and maintenance manual shall state so in a clear and concise manner;

SPS 371.52(1)(f) (f) The conditions at which the solar energy system may be damaged by freezing or no-flow conditions or both;

SPS 371.52(1)(g) (g) Operating instructions for start-up procedures; and

SPS 371.52(1)(h) (h) Operating instructions for diagnostic procedures. Operating instructions for diagnostic procedures shall state on every page warnings if the diagnostic procedure performed by the owner voids any warranty.

SPS 371.52(2) (2) Maintenance instructions. Routine maintenance, performed by the owner, may not void the system designer’s or installer’s warranty unless certain routine maintenance, performed by the owner, is prohibited by the system designer or installer. If routine maintenance, performed by the owner, is prohibited, it shall be stated accordingly in a contrasting color next to the prohibited routine maintenance. Routine maintenance instructions shall include the following:

SPS 371.52(2)(a) (a) The time intervals for routine maintenance. The operation and maintenance manual shall provide a space for logging maintenance done on the solar energy system by the owner, installer or system designer;

SPS 371.52(2)(b) (b) Instructions for changing the heat transfer fluid, if a heat transfer fluid is present. A detailed description of the heat transfer fluid used in the system shall be provided. The description shall include the following:

SPS 371.52(2)(b)1. 1. The exact name of the heat transfer fluid;

SPS 371.52(2)(b)2. 2. Whether the heat transfer fluid is toxic or non-toxic;

SPS 371.52(2)(b)3. 3. If the heat transfer fluid is toxic, a cautionary statement regarding the poisonous characteristics of the heat transfer fluid;

SPS 371.52(2)(b)4. 4. First aid instructions in case the heat transfer fluid is ingested, splashed on skin or splashed in eyes;

SPS 371.52(2)(b)5. 5. The system designer’s or installer’s recommended heat transfer fluid change interval;

SPS 371.52(2)(b)6. 6. A caution that the heat transfer fluid may be hot;

SPS 371.52(2)(b)7. 7. A warning against the use of toxic heat transfer fluids in systems not designed and installed for the use of toxic heat transfer fluids; and

SPS 371.52(2)(b)8. 8. A proper disposal method for the heat transfer fluid.

SPS 371.52(2)(c) (c) Cleaning instructions, if any, for the following components that are present:

SPS 371.52(2)(c)1. 1. Collector plate and cover;

SPS 371.52(2)(c)2. 2. Heat exchanger; and

SPS 371.52(2)(c)3. 3. Collector absorber.

SPS 371.52(2)(d) (d) Instructions for any other required routine maintenance.

SPS 371.52(3) (3) Component specifications and detailed drawings. Component specifications and detailed drawings for solar energy systems shall contain the following:

SPS 371.52(3)(a) (a) A detailed drawing of the entire solar energy system and each major component;

SPS 371.52(3)(b) (b) A list of the solar energy system’s specifications including all of the following that are applicable:

SPS 371.52(3)(b)1. 1. The collector manufacturer and model number;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)2. 2. Gross collector area;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)3. 3. Collector performance test results or system performance rating or both;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)4. 4. The name of the organization doing the performance rating;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)5. 5. Fluid capacity of the collectors and thermal storage;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)6. 6. Full weights of the collectors and thermal storage;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)7. 7. Temperature and pressure ratings of the thermal storage, collectors and pump;

SPS 371.52(3)(b)8. 8. The size of all piping and ducts; and

SPS 371.52(3)(b)9. 9. The type of thermal storage.

SPS 371.52 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.

SPS 371.53 SPS 371.53 Operation and maintenance manual for photovoltaic solar energy systems. The operation and maintenance manual for photovoltaic solar energy systems shall include, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

SPS 371.53(1) (1) Operating instructions. Operating instructions shall contain the following: