Solar PV Panels

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) provides useful industry-specific Solar PV standards for both manufacturers and installers of solar power units.

Most solar system components are built to handle a wide range of climate conditions, including heavy rain, hail, wind, heat and cold. During the manufacturing process, each solar panel is tested for extreme weather conditions to receive an Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certification . It doesn’t mean that all solar panels are the same quality, it means that a solar panel manufacturer has met the minimum requirements. Sometimes the testing beyond UL certifications is needed.

One of the key factors impacting the amount of electricity the solar panels produce is the temperature at which they operate. The best panels are designed to handle extreme variations in temperature in both hot and cold climates.

The solar panel is covered by the durable glass and designed to take a significant hit from hail. Solar panels are tasted to withstand hail of up to an inch in diameter falling at about 50 miles per hour.

Most solar panels are certified to withstand winds of about 140 mph, while 76% of extreme wind storms have wind speeds ranging between 40-112 mph.

Most inclement weather won’t have a huge impact on solar PV panels so long as they are high quality and boast durability as one of their main attributes. Many top-rated solar panels have a proven track record of durability, degrading at a slower rate than others. In fact, the manufacturer guarantees that the system will produce 92% of its rated power after 25 years of use.