To create STCs for a rooftop solar system, the installation has to meet the standards and regulations that apply. AS/NZS 5033 covers the installation and safety requirements for PV arrays. If a system does not comply, the claim is at risk.
Why a standard decides a certificate
The installer declaration for each claim states that the system complies. An audit tests that statement. A system that fails the standard is a system that was declared wrongly, so the certificates are exposed. The scale of the consequence depends on how serious the failure is. See what happens when an install fails an audit.
What auditors check under AS/NZS 5033
- DC isolator. A correctly rated, correctly placed isolator, with the right label at each point.
- Labelling. Warning labels on the array, isolators, junction boxes and switchboards. These show up in photos.
- Cables. Protected, supported and routed to avoid damage, with proper connectors.
- Earthing and bonding. Correct, tested and recorded.
- Array mounting. Fixings suited to the roof and wind region.
Rapid shutdown
Some installations now need arrangements that de-energise or reduce voltage on roof circuits in an emergency. Whether it is required depends on the edition of the standard in force, the system design and local rules, so confirm with your state’s electrical regulator and the standard itself. If your design includes it, photograph the devices and labels.
Common non-compliance triggers
Photos in audits show the same few faults: missing or faded labels, a DC isolator in an unsuitable location, unprotected cables on the roof and incomplete test records. The Clean Energy Regulator and SAA have both pushed labelling training because of the frequency. See the CER’s compliance priorities.
What this means for installers
Treat the standard as part of the claim, not as separate from it. Build the labelling photos into your checklist, and make sure the installer who signs actually did the compliance checks. Batteries have their own standard, covered in AS/NZS 5139 battery installation.
For the wiring and inverter standards, see AS/NZS 3000 and 4777. The photo list is in the STC photo requirements, and the pillar page is STC trading. A pre-check at Energy Merchants flags missing label photos before lodgement.
Keeping up with the standard
Editions of the standard change, and so do state electrical regulator notices. Build a yearly review into your calendar: read the current requirements, compare them with your standard job template and update the template. Share the update with every installer and subcontractor, because the weakest crew sets your audit result.