Overview - ISO/TS 18178:2018 (laminated solar photovoltaic glass)
ISO/TS 18178:2018 is a technical specification that defines requirements, test methods and designation for laminated solar photovoltaic (PV) glass for use in buildings. It covers appearance, durability and safety for laminated glass that integrates photovoltaic function - primarily intended for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), with guidance also useful for building-attached photovoltaics (BAPV).
Keywords: ISO/TS 18178:2018, laminated solar photovoltaic glass, BIPV, test methods, durability, safety.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard addresses component descriptions, acceptance criteria and test procedures for laminated solar PV glass. Major topics include:
- Component definition: glass, solar cells (crystalline and thin-film), interlayers, interconnectors, insulating strips and terminations.
- Types of glass: float, patterned, clear/tinted/coated, heat-treated or surface-treated - with the outer layer required to be transparent or translucent.
- Appearance requirements: classification of major visual defects, defects in main and edge areas.
- Durability and environmental tests:
- high temperature test
- damp heat test
- radiation (UV) test
- thermal cycling and humidity-freeze tests
- wet leakage current and insulation tests
- Electrical and performance tests:
- measurement of NMOT (nominal module operating temperature)
- hot-spot endurance test
- robustness of terminations test
- Mechanical safety tests:
- impact test (pendulum/ball drop)
- ball drop test procedures and specimen preparation
- Test specimens, sequences and designation: guidance on how to prepare specimens and report results for specification and procurement.
Note: ISO/TS 18178 references related standards (ISO 12543 series, IEC 61215-2, ISO 29584, IEC/TS 61836) for complementary requirements and terminology.
Applications - who uses this standard
ISO/TS 18178 is useful for:
- Manufacturers of laminated PV glass and BIPV façade or roof products to define product specifications and production control.
- Architects, façade engineers and specifiers selecting BIPV materials for building envelopes.
- Test laboratories performing durability, electrical leakage and mechanical safety tests on laminated PV glass.
- Building owners, developers and certification bodies assessing product safety, longevity and suitability for integration.
- Procurement teams writing technical contracts and acceptance criteria for BIPV systems.
Practical benefits
- Ensures consistent appearance, safety and long-term performance of laminated PV glazing.
- Provides harmonized test methods to compare products and support compliance claims.
- Helps integrate PV into the building envelope while managing electrical safety and mechanical risks.
Related standards