IEC 62548-1-2025 PDF

Full title and description

St IEC 62548-1-2025 — Photovoltaic (PV) arrays — Part 1: Design requirements. This publication is the 2023 first edition of IEC 62548-1 together with Amendment 1 (2025) consolidated into the 2025 consolidated text: it sets out safety and design requirements for the design of PV arrays, covering array layout, DC wiring, mounting structure requirements, electrical protection, switching and earthing provisions, and additional protections for arrays directly connected to batteries at DC level.

Abstract

This standard provides design requirements intended to address the particular safety and performance characteristics of photovoltaic arrays. It covers mechanical and electrical aspects of PV array design (including DC array wiring, cable and connector requirements, mounting structures and module orientation considerations), electrical protection and isolation means, earthing and earth-fault detection, and additional provisions for systems incorporating DC–DC conditioning units, bifacial modules and systems directly connected to batteries. The 2025 amendment introduces updates to mounting-structure requirements, cable provisions, safety measures (including insulation monitoring and earth-fault detection), and new annex material such as KI-factor calculations for bifacial/non‑optimally oriented systems and guidance on arc flash and anti‑PID equipment.

General information

• Status: Published (consolidated edition incorporating Amendment 1, 2025).
• Publication date: 15 December 2025 (Amendment 1 / consolidated publication date).
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), technical committee TC 82 (Solar photovoltaic energy systems).
• ICS / categories: 27.160 (Solar energy engineering).
• Edition / version: Original IEC 62548-1 Ed. 1.0 (2023) amended by Amendment 1 (2025); consolidated edition shown as Ed. 1.1 (2023+AMD1:2025).
• Number of pages: Consolidated CSV approx. 213 pages (full consolidated text); the standalone Amendment 1 document is 11 pages.

Scope

Specifies design requirements for photovoltaic arrays including DC array wiring, electrical protection devices, switching and earthing provisions for the array and final power conversion equipment (PCE). The scope covers all parts of the PV array up to the PCE but excludes energy storage devices, loads and the AC or DC distribution networks supplying loads. The document also includes additional protection requirements for PV arrays that are directly connected to batteries at DC level.

Key topics and requirements

• Design and layout requirements for PV arrays, including site and orientation considerations (provisions for bifacial modules and non‑optimal orientations).
• Mounting-structure design and mechanical integrity requirements (revised in the 2025 amendment).
• DC wiring, cable selection and installation rules (updated cable requirements and connector guidance).
• Electrical protection: overcurrent protection, isolation means, and updated provisions for insulation monitoring and earth-fault detection.
• Requirements and guidance for systems including DC–DC conditioning units and arrays directly connected to batteries.
• Safety and risk mitigation topics: arc flash considerations, anti‑PID equipment, and KI‑factor calculations (new annex material for bifacial/non‑optimal orientation systems).
• Documentation, marking and commissioning checks required for safe operation and maintenance.
• Interfaces with final power conversion equipment (PCE) but exclusion of downstream distribution and loads.
• Consolidated changes introduced by Amendment 1 (2025) to align the standard with evolving PV technologies and installation practices).

Typical use and users

Used by PV system designers, electrical and structural engineers, installation contractors, inspectors, certification bodies, testing laboratories, product manufacturers (modules, inverters, mounting systems), and regulatory or permitting authorities. The standard is intended to guide safe, compliant design of utility-scale, commercial and rooftop PV arrays and to provide normative requirements for certification and inspection activities.

Related standards

Commonly referenced and related standards include earlier editions of IEC 62548 (2016), IEC 61730 (PV module safety), IEC 61215 (module design and qualification), IEC 62446 (grid-connected PV systems — documentation, commissioning and testing), and national adoptions or harmonized standards that adopt IEC 62548‑1 and its amendment. IEC 62548-1 (2023) with AMD1 (2025) cancels and replaces the 2016 edition of IEC 62548.

Keywords

PV arrays, photovoltaic, array design, DC wiring, mounting structures, insulation monitoring, earth-fault detection, isolation means, bifacial modules, KI factor, anti-PID, arc flash, TC 82, IEC 62548-1, amendment 2025.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 62548-1 (consolidated with Amendment 1, 2025) is the IEC international standard that defines design requirements for photovoltaic arrays — covering mechanical and electrical design, protection and safety provisions specific to PV arrays.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers PV array layout and mechanical design (mounting structures), DC array wiring and cable requirements, protection and switching means, earthing and earth-fault detection, and special provisions for systems with DC–DC units, bifacial modules and arrays directly connected to batteries. It excludes energy storage devices, loads and the wider AC/DC distribution networks supplying loads.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: PV designers and engineers, installation contractors, certification and testing bodies, product manufacturers (modules, inverters, mounting systems), code officials and authorities having jurisdiction who require compliance with recognized design and safety practice for PV arrays.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2023 first edition of IEC 62548-1 was amended by Amendment 1 in 2025; the consolidated text (2023+AMD1:2025) is the current, published consolidated edition (stability date indicated through 2029 in IEC records). This consolidated edition cancels and replaces the earlier IEC 62548 (2016) publication.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. IEC 62548 is a series of documents addressing photovoltaic arrays; Part 1 covers design requirements. Other related parts and documents from IEC TC 82 cover installation, commissioning, testing, and additional PV system aspects — and national standards bodies may publish harmonized adoptions referencing IEC 62548 series texts.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Photovoltaic, PV arrays, array design, DC wiring, mounting structure, earthing, earth-fault detection, insulation monitoring, bifacial modules, KI factor, anti‑PID, arc flash.