A solar array can look neat from the driveway and still be wrong behind the distribution board. Cables may be poorly routed, protection may be incorrectly selected, labels may be missing or the system may not have been tested properly before handover. These are not minor finishing issues. They can affect safety, performance and whether the installation can be certified.

Solar PV compliance in South Africa is not paperwork completed once the panels are on the roof. It should guide the entire job, from site assessment and system design to commissioning and client handover.

Compliance Is Part of the Installation

Solar PV systems become part of a property’s electrical installation. The Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009 require electrical contractors performing installation work to be registered, while a valid Certificate of Compliance must be issued by an appropriately registered person. Grid-connected systems may also be subject to the technical and registration requirements of Eskom or the relevant municipality.

An installer therefore needs to understand more than module mounting and inverter connections. The work may involve SANS 10142-1, relevant NRS 097 requirements, local small-scale embedded generation processes and the manufacturer’s instructions. Requirements can differ according to the system design and the electricity distributor serving the property.

Knowing the Standard Is Not Enough

A standard can explain what an installation must achieve, but it cannot replace experience with tools, components and real site conditions.

Practical solar PV training allows installers to work through decisions that are easy to underestimate in theory. These include selecting and routing conductors, making reliable terminations, checking polarity, applying safe isolation procedures, positioning equipment, testing protection measures and identifying faults before energising a system.

Hands-on work also reveals the small errors that can become serious problems. A badly crimped connector, unsuitable cable route or missed commissioning check may not be obvious during a quick visual inspection. Practical training develops the habit of verifying the work instead of assuming it is correct.

Compliance Starts Before Installation Day

Many problems begin during planning. A system can use reputable equipment and still perform poorly if the site assessment, load analysis or system design is wrong.

Installers must consider shading, roof space, orientation, the existing distribution board, expected loads and compatibility between modules, inverters, batteries and protection devices. They also need to understand whether the system will operate as grid-tied, hybrid or off-grid, because that decision affects the design, equipment and approval process.

Practical training helps learners connect these considerations. Design, installation and testing are no longer treated as separate tasks, but as parts of one complete electrical project.

Testing and Documentation Protect the Client

A compliant installation should be inspected, tested and commissioned before handover. The installer must confirm that the system has been assembled correctly, that safety functions operate as intended and that the completed work reflects the design.

Documentation is equally important. Equipment details, test results, diagrams, settings and as-built information create a record of what was installed. The PV GreenCard programme places strong emphasis on installer competence and the completion of an as-built report containing system design, equipment and performance information.

These records support future maintenance and fault-finding while giving the client greater confidence in the quality of the installation.

Training Builds Competence, Not Shortcuts

Completing a solar PV course does not replace the statutory registrations required to perform or certify regulated electrical work. Quality training builds the technical understanding and practical competence needed to work responsibly within a compliant installation team.

SETS Energy provides solar PV training through a SAPVIA-accredited service provider and an EWSETA-approved training centre. Its courses cover the installation and maintenance of grid-tied, stand-alone and hybrid systems, with current regulations and technology trends incorporated into the learning material.

For electricians, technicians and aspiring solar professionals, practical training turns compliance from a checklist into a working skill. It helps installers recognise unsafe work, follow the correct process and deliver systems that are safe, reliable and ready for proper sign-off.