[RE-wrenches] What is a solar installer...?

[Drake]

At least in the U.S., in jurisdictions I have 
worked in, an installer can connect "plug and 
play" connectors.  If a wire is to be cut, pulled 
or connected to a terminal, an electrician is needed.




At 04:11 PM 10/14/2010, you wrote:
>Wrenches,
>a colleague of mine is looking for feedback to 
>the following email he received regarding PV 
>installers and electrical work.  I have 
>responded to him, however, I am quite interested 
>to hear this list's response....
>
>
>LETTER--
>'Colleague'  - next week Alberta’s “major 
>municipalities” electrical chief inspectors are 
>getting together to talk about issues. One item 
>I have asked to put on the agenda is 
>qualifications of solar installers. I hope to 
>see a start on forming some type of agreement on 
>is who is qualified to do what work on a solar 
>installation and what is considered electrical 
>work that only electricians can perform. There 
>seems to be courses popping up all over to teach 
>everyman to be a solar installer, but what work 
>is clearly reserved for electricians to do? The 
>Safety Codes Act speaks to Electrical Systems, 
>CE (Canadian Electrical) Code defines electrical 
>installation and electrical equipment.
>
>  What I hope we accomplish is a stance we can 
> take to the EIAA (Electrical Inspectors 
> Association of Alberta) conference then to 
> Apprenticeship and Industry Training who 
> ultimately enforces who does work in the trade.
>
>  To me the PV module racking can be done by 
> anyone, but almost all of the rest of the 
> installation – from wire pulling to 
> interconnecting modules, mounting of the 
> inverters etc falls clearly into the scope of practice for electricians.
>
>  One of the bigger players in the industry is 
> saying “its now getting to be all plug and 
> play” and anyone can be an installer.
>
>  Hoping an agreement like this can make it a 
> level playing field and consistent across the Province.
>
>  What are your thoughts?
>
>
>BACK TO ME
>my thoughts are similar to the ones above, that 
>the racking alone can be installed by any 
>'properly trained' person.  However pretty much 
>every other aspect of a PV install directly 
>falls under the scope of an electrician and 
>needs to be preformed by a journeyman or 
>apprentice under the supervision of a journeyman electrician.
>
>
>the following paragraph is from recent past EIAA technical conference minutes.
>  "Alberta Municipal Affairs (AMA) was asked 
> (earlier in 2009 by a Municipality) for an 
> opinion on the Permit Regulation regarding 
> Homeowner Permits. The Permit Regulation states 
> a homeowner may be issued a permit where the 
> electrical system serves that dwelling. A 
> photovoltaic system that is tied to the grid 
> (utility interactive) serves other than that 
> dwelling. The response back from AMA confirmed 
> utility interactive PV systems do serve other 
> than the dwelling and as such permit issuers 
> should not be issuing homeowner permits for utility interactive PV systems."
>
>My thinking is that this would include the 
>addition of 'plug and play' modules/inverters to 
>an existing system as well  ...any comments on this one?
>
>cheers,
>benn
>
>DayStar Renewable Energy Inc.
>benn at daystarsolar.ca
>780-906-7807
>HAVE A SUNNY DAY
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