Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
The purpose of this rule is to clarify the scope of work for
solar installations. It does not affect the scope of licenses established in
ORS 479.630.
(1) For the purposes of this rule the
following definitions apply:
(a) "Building
Integrated" means photovoltaic (PV) cells, devices, modules, or modular
materials that are integrated into the outer surface or structure of a building
and serve as the outer protective surface of that building or structure, such
as the roof, skylights, windows or facades.
(b) "Module" means a complete,
environmentally protected unit consisting of solar cells, optics, and other
components, exclusive of tracker, designed to generate dc power when exposed to
sunlight.
(c) "Racking" means the
material, supports, attachment, frame, skeleton used to attach a solar system
or module to a building, structure, or ground mounting.
(d) "Rack mounted PV module" means a PV
module that is attached to racking.
(2) Persons placing or installing structural
elements, including footings, roofs, carports, racking, and building integrated
PV modules are not required to possess an electrical license.
(3) The total generating capacity of a PV
system, measured in KW AC, is determined by calculating the sum of the
manufacturer's rated capacity of the AC side of the inverters connected to the
solar panels.
(4) The following
licensing requirements apply to PV system installations:
(a) For PV systems not exceeding 50 KW AC a
Limited Renewable Energy Technician, General Journeyman Electrician, General
Supervising Electrician or a Limited Residential Electrician working within the
scope of their license is required to perform the following:
(A) Installation or attachment of PV modules
to racking.
(B) Making electrical
connections between modules, including installation of all conductors that
connect to and/or interconnect all PV modules regardless of the type of
electrical connection including plug-type interconnections.
(C) Making electrical connections to combiner
boxes and inverter(s), including installation of all conductors between arrays
and combiner boxes, up to the load side of the inverter.
(D) All elements of system grounding
utilizing wire-type conductors on the DC side of the inverter.
(E) Making AC electrical wiring and
connections to the termination of the final factory-provided interconnecting
cable on the exterior of a structure that extends a maximum distance of 10 feet
from the renewable energy system, and extends no more than three feet within an
accessible space of a structure, and does not connect to the structure's wiring
system.
(b) For PV
systems exceeding 50 KW AC a General Journeyman Electrician, General
Supervising Electrician or a Limited Residential Electrician working within the
scope of their license is required to perform the following:
(A) Installation or attachment of PV modules
to racking.
(B) Making electrical
connections between modules, including installation of all conductors that
connect to and/or interconnect all PV modules regardless of the type of
electrical connection including plug-type interconnections.
(C) Making electrical connections to combiner
boxes and inverter(s), including installation of all conductors between arrays
and combiner boxes, up to the load side of the inverter.
(D) All elements of system grounding
utilizing wire-type conductors.
(E)
Electrical connections to building electrical system including all AC
connections on the line side of the inverter(s).
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
455.117, ORS
479.730 & ORS
479.630
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
479.730 & ORS
479.630
