Overview - ISO/TS 21480:2021 (BIPV recycling)
ISO/TS 21480:2021, "Glass in building - General technical requirements of building integrated photovoltaic modules recycling", specifies technical requirements for the recycling of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules. The Technical Specification covers both crystalline silicon PV modules and thin‑film modules, and focuses on safe, environmentally responsible processes for dismantlement, collection, treatment and recovery of waste PV modules used as building glass or laminates.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and terminology - Defines waste PV modules, PV laminate, hazardous materials, disassembly, recycling, recovery and related terms used throughout the specification.
- Fundamental principles - Prioritizes resource utilization and pollution minimization; prescribes treatment order: re‑use → recycling → energy recovery. Landfilling or direct burning is not permitted.
- Classification - Classifies BIPV waste by cell type (e.g., crystalline silicon, CIGS, CdTe, silicon thin film), encapsulation structure (single glass, laminated solar PV glass, multi‑layer glass) and abandoned condition (safety loss, appearance damage, performance degradation, intentionally discarded intact modules).
- Dismantlement and safety - Requires structural and electrical safety during removal; references IEC safety practices (e.g., IEC 60364 series) and national building codes; mandates fall protection, PPE, isolation of electrical circuits and measures for cracked modules.
- Logistics - Requirements for collection, transportation and storage to avoid contamination and maintain safety.
- Disassembly and treatment - Procedures and precautions for separating frames, junction boxes, PV laminates and components to enable downstream recycling (glass, interlayers, cells, metals, polymer back sheets).
- Recovery processes - Guidance on recovering semiconductor materials, metals, glass and polymer materials and maximizing recovery rates for reuse in PV production.
- Management and data - Calls for information/statistic systems to record collection, treatment and disposal data; annexes provide sample data items and attention points.
Applications and users
This specification is intended for:
- BIPV manufacturers and designers (for end‑of‑life planning)
- PV and glass recyclers and waste management companies
- Building owners, facility managers and installers involved in BIPV removal
- Environmental and occupational safety officers ensuring compliant dismantlement
- Policymakers and regulators setting BIPV waste and recycling requirements
Related standards
ISO/TS 21480:2021 supports sustainable BIPV lifecycle management by combining safety, material recovery and environmental protection requirements for building‑integrated PV systems.