The main objective of this work package is the quality assurance of testing laboratories as well as the harmonization of the Solar Keymark certification for solar thermal collectors and the CE- marking according to CPD as well ass to update the very successful Solar Keymark scheme for solar thermal collectors.  

As the market is growing with average rates of 20% from year to year so is the technology. Along with the technological developments the existing certification scheme needs some revisions/extensions to keep it practical and ensure high quality.  

The Solar Keymark Network is the experience exchange circle of all parties involved in Solar Keymark certification. Members of the Solar Keymark Network are the testing laboratories for solar thermal products, the certification bodies, inspectors and representatives from industry. This strong network of the main key actors in the professional European solar thermal field has already been established through the ALTENER Solar Keymark project [5] and the IEE Solar Keymark II project [6]. The network has proved its ability to work together in a very positive “European spirit”, despite the different specific interests of the participants and has a very strong urge to continue its successful co-operation. The participants are:

1. on the industry side: The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) + representatives from national associations and individual industry representatives
2. on the testing side: Far most of the main EU test (and research) institutions + a few representatives from certification bodies.
3. CEE representatives: They will be invited in order to provide them first hand information about the work of the Solar Keymark network as well as to establish personal contacts as a basis for information and experience exchange. The currently ongoing project TRANS SOLAR has activities to transfer general information about the Solar Keymark to the solar industry and policy makers in CEE. The proposed initiative targets certification bodies and test laboratories from the CEE new member states. 

Within the Solar Keymark Network the process of Solar Keymark certification is further developed and quality assurance measures such as round robin tests are performed. Furthermore the Solar Keymark Network operates in close co-operation with the Solar Keymark secretariat in order to ensure a smooth process of Solar Keymark certification.  

Updating the European Solar Keymark certification scheme and prompting the Solar Keymark label to make the Solar Keymark accepted in all national building regulations and renewable energy subsidy schemes is one important activity of the Solar Keymark Network.  

Quality assurance measures within the Solar Keymark Network

Within the Solar Keymark network the industry should be as flexible as possible in the choice of the test labs and inspection bodies. Even if only the results of accredited test labs and inspectors will be accepted, it is essential for the mutual acceptance of test results that the tests and inspections that are carried out have a uniform quality level. In order to ensure this, common quality assurance measures will be carried out within the involved test labs and inspection bodies.  

The main measures will be:

• regular meetings of the Solar Keymark Network (approximately every 6 month)
• definition of working rules for the Solar Keymark Network
• round robin testing of performance testing of solar thermal collector
• round robin testing of factory made systems according to EN 12976 [2]. 

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITY

 

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Solar Keymark Network

As developed under the IEE Solar Keymark II project the network consists of Solar Keymark certification bodies, test labs, inspectors and manufacturers. The main tasks of the “The Solar Keymark Network“ are:

• exchange of experience and procedures
• definition of guidelines how to proceed in cases where the available standards and scheme rules are not detailed enough
• improvement and further development of the Solar Keymark scheme rules
• act as a clearing body in case of conflicts

The experience with the Solar Keymark Network has been very good. From many different stakeholders of the solar thermal market strong interest exists and participation at the meetings is high. Since decisions are made during meetings with a strong influence on the solar thermal market, it is necessary to raise the Solar Keymark Network from an informal basis to a regular instrument with specific working rules.

Round robin performance testing solar thermal collectors

A round robin test of solar thermal collectors will be performed between all accredited test labs for EN12975. The Round Robin testing is an important aspect of quality assurance of testing Laboratories (see EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, section 5.9 [7]). The Round Robin test will be carried out according to the ISO/IEC Guide 43-1 “Proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons -- Part 1: Development and operation of proficiency testing scheme” in order to ensure an appropriate evaluation of the results.

The results of the round Robin testing will be evaluated and analysed in detail by an independent body. The results will be published in an appropriate way in order to strengthen the confidence of the industry in testing of solar thermal collectors.

Round robin testing of factory made systems according to EN 12976

A round robin test of factory made solar thermal systems will be performed between all accredited test labs for EN12976.  

In this work package it is proposed that a Round Robin for the test of factory made systems according to both methods described in EN 12976 [2] is performed. Participating laboratories will define conditions for Round Robin based on most common types of systems tested and methods used. It includes a thermosyphon system as well as a forced circulation systems

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• Minutes of Solar Keymark Network Meetings and Working rules for the Solar Keymark Network
• Report describing the results of the collector round robin test
• Report describing the results of the system round robin test     
• Solar Keymark Network in operation
• Results from the round robin test of solar thermal collectors
• Results from the round robin testing of factory made systems according to EN 12976.
• Stakeholders in the CEE new member states informed about Solar Keymark

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