SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 05/05/2015Revised (if Applicable):

Document Number: 6069
SNARF for: New Standard: Specification for Silicone Adhesive for the Back Rail Fixture on PV Modules

Originating Global Technical Committee: Photovoltaic
Originating TC Chapter: China
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: PV Module Task Force
Note: If a new task force is needed, also submit a task force organization form (TFOF)

___________________________________________________________________________
1. Rationale:
a. Describe the need or problem addressed by this activity.
(Indicate the customer, what benefits they will receive, and if possible, quantify the impact on the return on investment [ROI] if the Document is implemented.)
With the increasing demand of the PV generation market, customers are setting higher requirements for quality and reliability of PV products and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Meanwhile, frameless modules, which can bring a series of advantages, are becoming an industry trend. To further reduce the LCOE and ensure the warrantee service life of the PV power station, it is urgent to develop new reliable and durable installation materials in the photovoltaic industry. Thus, a new attachment style is proposed, where the silicone adhesive is applied to make the back rail fixtures bond onto the rear of modules. Compared to the traditional installation methods, the new attachment has the following advantages:
1. This installation of module can be completed by a single person, which greatly improves the efficiency of installation and cost.
2. There is no protruding fixture above the surface of the module, which decreases the partial shading and soiling and then the risk of hot spots is reduced.
3. Because the main molecular backbone of silicone adhesive is the Si-O bond, the mechanical properties of silicone adhesive is stable. Furthermore, its anti-ultraviolet aging properties can be comparable with the inorganic compound.
4. The weather resistance, bearing capacity and other properties of silicone adhesive are better than the ordinary silicone adhesive after curing.
Therefore, this silicone adhesive is qualified for different circumstance conditions. It has better performance than common silicone adhesive in high temperature, high humidity environment and also harsh environments, such as marine, acidic and alkali environments. As a result, the development of new adhesives will become the basis to vigorously develop fishing PV plants, agricultural PV plants, etc.
However, there is no test standard of silicone adhesive for the back rail fixture in the PV industry until now. In order to further promote the PV industry to a healthy development, which means more efficient, more convenient, more practical and more secure adhesives, it is necessary to establish a unified standard “Specification for silicone adhesive for the rail fixture in PV modules” to regulate the manufacture, sell and use of silicone adhesive.


b. Estimate effect on industry.
1: Major effect on entire industry or on multiple important industry sectors - identify the relevant sectors
Sector or Company Information:

c. Estimate technical difficulty of the activity.
II: Some Difficulty - Disagreements on known requirements exist but developing consensus is possible

___________________________________________________________________________
2. Scope:
a: Describe the technical areas to be covered or addressed by this Document development activity. For Subordinate Standards, list common concepts or criteria that the Subordinate Standard inherits from the Primary Standard, as well as differences from the Primary Standard:
This standard specifies the definitions, terms, test procedure, technical performance, marking, packaging, transportation and storage of structural silicone adhesive. This standard applies to structural silicone adhesive for the back rail fixture on PV modules. Stricter adhesive reliability tests and performance requirements than ordinary structural adhesive are proposed, such as reliability requirements in high temperature and high humidity conditions, acid and alkali conditions, high loading capacity, etc.

b: Expected result of activity
New Standard or Safety Guideline (including replacement of an existing Standard or Safety Guideline)

For a new Subordinate Standard, identify the Primary Standard here:




For Standards, identify the Standard Subtype below:
Specification

Miscellaneous (describe below):

___________________________________________________________________________
3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 07/29/2016b. 1st Draft by: 05/01/2017
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 11/01/2017
e. TC Chapter Approval By:12/01/2017

_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Liaisons with other Global Technical Committees/TC Chapters/Subcommittees/TFs:
a. List SEMI global technical committees, TC Chapters, subcommittees, or task forces in your or other Regions/Locales that should be kept informed regarding the progress of this activity. (Refer to SEMI Standards organization charts and global technical committee charters and scopes as needed.)
Photovoltaic Materials Committee

b. List any planned Type I Liaisons with external nonprofit organizations (e.g., SDO) that should receive Draft Documents from Standards staff for feedback during this activity and be notified when the Letter Ballot is issued (refer to Procedure Manual § 7):


c. Intercommittee Ballots:
will be issued – identify the recipient global technical committee(s):

Identify the recipient global technical committee(s):
Photovoltaic (PV) - Materials
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Safety Considerations:
The resulting document is expected:
NOT to be a Safety Guideline

NOTE FOR "to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is NOT technically sound and complete - Refer to Section 15.1 of the Regulations for special procedures to be followed.

NOTE FOR "NOT to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is still technically sound and complete.

___________________________________________________________________________
6. Intellectual Property Considerations:
Note: Both a: and b: below should be checked for Revision of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s).

a. For a new Standard or Safety Guideline and for any part to be modified or added in a Revision of published Standards and Safety Guidelines:
the use of patented technology is NOT required.

If "patented technology is intended to be included in the proposed Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s) " is selected above, then also check one:


b. For Revision, Reapproval, Reinstatement, or Withdrawal of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s):


c. The body of the Document and any Appendices, Complementary Files, Related Information sections, or Various Materials that may or may not be a part of the Document by reference:



NOTE FOR ‘the use of patented technology or the incorporation of Copyrighted Item(s) is NOT required’: If in the course of developing the Document, it is determined that the use of patented technology or Copyrighted Item(s) is necessary for the Document, the provisions of Regulations § 16 must be followed.

NOTE FOR ’will incorporate Copyrighted Item’: A copyright release letter must be obtained from the copyright owner prior to publication.

___________________________________________________________________________
7. Comments, Special Circumstances:
None.

__________________________________________________________________________
8. TC Member Review:
took place between (put dates below ) before approval at the TC Chapter Meeting, or

Member Review Start Date; 06/27/2016
Member Review End Date: 07/11/2016

NOTE FOR ‘TC Member Review’ is required by the Regulations for a period of at least two weeks
before approval of a new, or a major revision of an existing, Standard or Safety Guideline. (Refer to Regulations ¶ 8.2.1)
__________________________________________________________________________

9. SNARF Approval Dates:
TC Chapter or GCS07/29/2016
Recorded in TC Minutes08/15/2016

__________________________________________________________________________

10. SNARF Extension Dates:
TC Chapter Extension Granted on 06/30/2020
Extension Expires on07/29/2021