Who Regulates the Labeling Standards for PV Systems?

When installing or upgrading any type of photovoltaic (PV) system, you need to make sure that everything is set up and configured properly. This, of course, starts with making sure that the system is handled correctly, but you also need to ensure that you have the proper safety requirements in place. This means making sure that you have warning labels in place in all the required areas.

The standards for labeling PV systems are set up and updated in the National Electric Code (NEC). This set of standards is used for just about all types of electrical equipment and wiring, including solar panels. The NEC standards have been approved and are used by many countries around the world. In the United States, the NEC has been adopted by the America National Standards Institute (ANSI) which is dedicated to ensuring that set standards are established and adopted by relevant organizations.

While ANSI is not a governmental agency that has the power to enforce these standards, their rules and recommendations do carry a lot of weight. Agencies such as OSHA generally take the recommendations from ANSI and make them a requirement for businesses in the USA. These same standards are often adopted by other countries, especially those that do a lot of business with the United States.

As is almost always the case, looking at who regulates labeling standards for PV systems can get quite complicated. That being said, however, it is always important to know what standards you must always follow. Taking the time to learn what the current regulatory requirements are, and then staying updated on them as they change over the years, will help you to avoid any unnecessary citations or fines. It will also help you to keep your facility operating as safely as possible.