Five per cent of all solar battery systems installed under the Solar Homes Program are audited every year as part of our commitment to safety and quality, and ensuring installations comply with the latest standards (see Audits).
Download the battery audit checklist
Independent auditors use this checklist when they conduct audit inspections of solar battery installations:
They look at the safety and quality of battery installations and determine where opportunities for improvement need to be followed up with the solar retailer.
Analysis of these audits led to Solar Victoria commissioning a series of technical guidance sheets to help installers in our programs comply with all relevant industry standards and regulations when installing home battery systems and home battery storage systems.
Battery installation technical guidance sheets
These technical guidance sheets are part of a series we commissioned TechSafe Australia (2.1 and 2.2) and Grey Sky Solar Consulting (2.3–2.5) to develop. Energy Safe Victoria has also reviewed this guidance.
2.1 Physical protection of battery systems
This guidance provides further information to support installers’ understanding of applicable requirements in AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment.
It includes installation advice and examples of installations that may not be meeting the requirements relating to the physical protection of battery systems.
2.2 Battery system protection against the spread of fire and battery system restricted locations
This guidance provides further information to support installers’ understanding of applicable requirements in:
- AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment
- AS/NZS 1530.1-1994 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures, Part 1: Combustibility test for materials
- AS/NZS 4777.1:2016 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters, Part 1: Installation requirements.
It includes installation advice and examples of installations that may not be meeting the requirements relating to battery system protection against the spread of fire and battery system restricted locations.
2.3 Protection of wiring and wiring systems
This guidance provides further information to support installers’ understanding of applicable requirements in:
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules).
- AS/NZS 4777.1:2016 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters Part 1: Installation requirements.
- AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installation – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversation equipment (PCE).
It includes installation advice and examples of installations that may not be meeting the requirements relating to the protection of wiring and wiring systems.
2.4 Labelling requirements
This guidance provides further information to support installers’ understanding of applicable requirements in:
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
- AS/NZS 4777.1:2016 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters Part 1: Installation requirements
- AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
- AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installation – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversation equipment (PCE)
It includes installation advice and examples of installations that may not be meeting the requirements relating to labelling requirements.
2.5 Earthing
This guidance provides further information to support installers’ understanding of applicable requirements in:
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
- AS/NZS 4777.1:2016 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters Part 1: Installation requirements
- AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
- AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installation – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversation equipment (PCE)
It includes installation advice and examples of installations that may not be meeting the requirements relating to earthing.
More information
For other sheets in our series and more information about guidance installers can use to help keep workers and customers safe and put industry leading standards into practice, see Solar industry guidance.
For more information about audits in the Solar Homes program, see Audits.
Solar PV audit checklist and guidance
Installers can use our audit checklist and guidance to advance their understanding of compliance standards.
Audits
We are working closely with regulators, retailers and installers to create a safer solar industry through rigorous safety and quality standards and our audit program.
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