Grounding
The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) identified grounding as a current high priority issues facing the photovoltaic (PV) industry.
Some of the most common grounding issues include unclear and inconsistent installation requirements. Additionally, the existing PV grounding standards do not adequately ensure long-term, reliable, and safe grounding of PV modules. Standards also lack guidance for evaluating alternative equipment or methods of PV module grounding.
The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard Technical Panel for UL1703 is currently considering changes to address grounding issues.
Solar ABCs has a number of studies underway to address this issue. An "Issues and Recommendations" report will be published in 2012. In addition, Solar ABCs is beginning a new task on System Grounding Issues.