推进BIPV标准化：解决监管空白与性能挑战

Advancing BIPV Standardization:Addressing Regulatory Gaps andPerformance Challenges J U L Y 2 0 2 5PVPS Task 15 Managers:Francesco Frontini, SUPSI, SwitzerlandJose M. Vega de Seoane, Becquerel Institute España, Spain What is BIPV? Building integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) are innovative buildingmaterials or elements such as roofs, facades and windows thatintegrated solar technologies. BIPV has a dual purpose:electricity generation; andfunctioning as traditional building components Challenges Adressed in the Report Testing Complexity: Need for harmonized standards to avoid redundant testing and certifications. Market Barriers: High costs, long timelines, and unclear procedures for BIPV approval hinder adoption. Regulatory Gaps: Existing standards mainly focus on either photovoltaic or building requirements but lack aunified and precise integration of BIPV-specific testing requirements. Benefits of Standardization Ensuressafety, reliability, and performance consistencyacross global markets. Simplifiesmarket access for manufacturers, fostering international collaboration. Promotes BIPV adoptionto meet renewable energy and building efficiency goals. BIPV Testing Procedures and Requirements Electrical Safety Mechanical Safety BIPV modules must withstand mechanicalstresses such as snow loads, windpressures, and impacts, often under moresevere conditions, such as hightemperatures. As such, tailored impacttesting procedures are required for BIPV toreflect real-world risks to building envelopes,and existing PV mechanical load tests needto be adapted. BIPV modules must demonstrate safeoperation under all expected conditions,including shadow resilience, resistance tohotspots, insulation integrity, and long-termperformance under varying environmentalfactors. Challenges that create non-standardoperating conditions must be accounted forin testing. Wind-Driven Rain Test Structural Integrity inStandardization Development Tests must ensure that BIPV roofing andfacade products maintain watertightnessunder simulated storm conditions involvingstrong wind and rain forces. Otherwise,water ingress can cause building damage,reduce insulation performance, andcompromise system electrical safety. BIPV products must contribute reliably to theoverall structural stability of the buildingenvelope, so testing must address long-termexposure to weather, mechanical fatigue,and material aging effects that couldcompromise building safety or energygeneration. Needs for Standardization Adaptation BIPV Retesting PV-Related Retesting Under current IEC standards, variation inmaterials, design, or manufacturing requires retesting to maintain product certification. Flexible certification modelsshould be introduced, where families of similar products arequalified under one umbrella certification with definedtolerances for changes. BIPV products require independentassessments for PV electrical performance and constructionmaterial performance, and overlapping standards can lead toduplicate or conflicting procedures. Developing unifiedprocesses and integrated retesting frameworks would reduceunnecessary duplication and simplify compliance pathways. Double Certification Cost, Time and Uncertainty Full BIPV certification processes can take 12–24 months, high certification costs can prove challenging forsmall-scale production, and standards are interpreted differentlyaccording to country and region. These barriers slow thedeployment of cutting-edge BIPV technologies. Performing several certification processesfor the same product leads to higher costs and complexity.Harmonized certification approaches that validate bothelectrical and building functionality through a combinedassessment process are urgently needed. Regulatory Gaps Dual Compliance Challenges BIPV products must satisfy both photovoltaic standards (focused on electrical safety and energy generation) andconstruction regulations (focused on durability, safety, and performance as building materials). Fragmented Standards he standardisation framework for BIPV systems is fragmented, with reference standards coming from bothelectrical and building sectors, leading to diverse and incomplete testing requirements for the correctassessment of active construction elements. A unified performance-based testing tailored to façade or roofconditions (thermal, impact, water) can better support the adoption and implementation of BIPV in theconstruction sector. Consequences for the Industry The absence of a unified regulatory pathway increases costs, delays market entry, and discourages innovationand investment, particularly from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). International Efforts Underway ISO/IEC Joint Working Group 11 (JWG 11) is working to harmonise PV and building standards, but significantregulatory integration is still required, also harmonising the standard and tests across countries. Want to know more? If you are interested in more insights and detail