DSB letter 23.06.2023:

For those who build solar cell systems
DSB's social mission is to ensure electrical safety in Norway. There is a continuous technological development where new products are used and where products have a wider range of applications than we have seen before. DSB therefore has focus areas in line with the changes taking place in the electrical industry and society. The number of solar cell systems has grown rapidly in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue for many years to come. We are concerned with a safe development that does not lead to undesirable incidents.

DSB would therefore like to remind you of the regulatory requirements that apply to those who build solar cell systems.

Who can build solar cell systems?
A company that offers to perform/performs work related to electrical installations is subject to special rules, including registration and the use of qualified personnel. These provisions also apply to those who build photovoltaic systems, which are electrical installations.

A registered electrical company that meets the company requirements and qualification requirements to be registered in the Register of Electrical Companies, with a checkbox for relevant tasks and types of plant and equipment, can offer and perform electrical installation of photovoltaic systems.

Regulations on electrical companies and qualification requirements for work related to electrical installations and electrical equipment:
https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-06-19-739?q=Forskrift%20om%20elektroforetak%20og%20kvalifikasjonskrav

§3 Obligation to register
More information about the Electricity Business Register here:
https://www.dsb.no/lover/elektriske-anlegg-og-elektrisk-utstyr/tema/info_elvirksomhetsregisteret/#om-elvirksomhetsregisteret

What qualifications must those who build photovoltaic systems have?
The company that will build photovoltaic systems must have a permanently employed technical manager who meets the qualification requirements for this role.

The professional responsible has the main task of ensuring electrical safety in the construction and maintenance of electrical installations, and must ensure that the company uses qualified persons so that the safety of the work and the quality of the deliveries are fully safeguarded.

The electrical installation in a photovoltaic system will include all electrical connections and interconnections, cabling, laying of feeds and installation of inverters and everything else that will be part of the electrical installation. This work must be carried out by qualified personnel, i.e. persons with a relevant certificate in electrical engineering. Unqualified personnel employed by the company may also be used to carry out the construction and maintenance of electrical installations (unqualified personnel means persons who do not have a relevant certificate of qualification in the electrical trade). However, this assumes that unskilled workers, in the same way as qualified personnel, are covered by the electrical company's internal control. The unqualified person has received adequate training and is directly supervised by a person in the electrical company who at least meets the requirement for a relevant certificate of qualification in the electrical trade.

Construction of parts of a photovoltaic system that are not initially a direct part of the electrical system will, for example, be the installation of roof brackets and rails/framework, support and placement of equipment that will become part of the photovoltaic system. This work can be carried out by people without a certificate in electrical engineering. However, this assumes that the electrical company and the company performing the building-related work have regulated this work in accordance with the principles in the regulations on coordination and coordination:
(see section 14 of the Construction Client Regulations, section 6 of the Internal Control Regulations and section 2-2 second paragraph of the Working Environment Act).

The responsible professional has a special responsibility when using unskilled workers in this context.

Regulations relating to electrical enterprises and qualification requirements for work related to electrical installations and electrical equipment
§7. Qualification requirements for those who have professional responsibility for work related to electrical installations

In the magazine Elsikkerhet no. 91, DSB has previously specified the requirements that apply to the construction of solar cell systems.
https://www.dsb.no/globalassets/dokumenter/elsikkerhet-els/elsikkerhet-magasinet/elsikkerhet-91.pdf

DSB is represented in the various parts of the country by regional offices and the Local Electricity Supervisory Authority (DLE). DLE will now focus extra attention on solar cell installations and the work that takes place on this type of installation.

DSB wishes you a happy and electricity-safe summer.

Sincerely
DSB
Electrical safety section

Tom Erik Jonberg Robert Krahl
Regulatory manager fek Regulatory manager fse