European Standards

What are European Standards?

Standard is a technical document designed to be used as a rule, guideline or definition. It is a consensus-built, repeatable way of doing something. These consist on a set of technical specifications, defined based on consensus among all interested parties (industry, consumers, trade unions, public authorities or other entities) within independent standards bodies, acting at national, European and international level.

There are two main types of standard:

Technical standards: consist of technical specifications or other precise criteria that ensure products, manufacturing processes and services meet fixed quality benchmarks

Management and leadership standards: provide a framework for a business to manage its business processes and activities (Quality Management Standards)

Some of these standards are voluntary, whereas other standards such as harmonized standards have been made effectively mandatory under EU law.

Harmonised European standards provide detailed technical information that allows manufacturers to conform with the requirements in the directives.

More information on Standards:

• International Organisation for Standardisation
• European Committee for Standardisation
• European Commission

Which are the applicable standards for solar thermal?

Published Standards

• EN 12975-1. Thermal solar systems and components - Solar collectors - Part 1: General Requirements.
• EN ISO 9806. Solar Energy - Solar thermal collectors - Test methods.
• EN 12976-1. Thermal solar systems and components - Factory made systems - Part 1: General requirements.
• EN 12976-2. Thermal solar systems and components - Factory made systems - Part 2: Test methods.
• EN 12977-1 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 1: General requirements for solar water heaters and combisystems
• EN 12977-2 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Test methods for solar water heaters and combisystems
• EN 12977-3 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 3: Performance test methods for solar water heater stores
• EN 12977-4 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 4: Performance test methods for solar combistores
• EN 12977-5 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 5: Performance test methods for control equipment
• EN ISO 9488. Solar energy - Vocabulary.

What is the relation with the CE marking of solar collectors?

The Solar Keymark is a quality label based on a voluntary third party certification.
The CE-marking is a self attestation that the product fulfils minimum legal requirements according to specific European directives.
A CE-marking of collectors is underway, covering safety and structural requirements.

CE-marking related to Construction Product Directive (CPD)

CE-marking of solar collectors related to the Construction Product Directive (CPD) is under preparation.
More specific info related to collectors.

CE-marking related to Pressure Equipment Directive (PED)

As solar collectors are pressurized, the question arises if they are touched by the regulations of the EU pressure equipment directive (PED).
More specific info related to collectors.