The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) has announced the release of the first OG-300 certification for a system that can operate on solar energy alone. The thermosiphon system generally functions with a backup electric heating element installed in the roof-mounted solar tank, but, in a first for ICC-SRCC, an optional “solar-only” configuration without the backup heater is also recognized in the certification. This configuration is addressed in a Puerto Rico Supplement to the certification since such installations are common in that region.
Solar-only systems became available for the first time in the OG-300 program with the release of the 2020 edition of the ICC 900/SRCC 300 standard. A key revision to that standard now permits solar water heating systems to be certified with or without a backup water heater. The decision whether to permit solar-only systems will be left to the local jurisdiction. While solar-only systems might not be appropriate for many locations in North America, the configuration is very common in Mexico and throughout the Caribbean.
Recognizing this, the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Caribbean Program Requirements were recently updated by the U.S. EPA to clarify that solar-only water heaters can be installed in homes covered under the program. The use of high-performance solar water heaters is a significant compliance option in that program.
“These changes make it possible for SRCC to support important tropical regions like never before,” stated Shawn Martin, Vice President of Technical Services for ICC-SRCC. “Solar thermal technologies are widely used in places like Puerto Rico to increase resiliency, reduce the load on the grid, and make use of an abundant and free natural resource.”
To help users understand how well a solar water heater without a backup is likely to meet a home’s hot water needs, SRCC has created a new performance value: Fraction of Load Satisfied. This is an estimate of the total amount the hot water that it would provide under typical local weather conditions throughout the year. This is provided for the OG-300 hot water load and standardized DOE water usage profiles corresponding to different household sizes: Very Small, Low, Medium and High.
For more information or to apply for a certification or supplement, contact ICC-SRCC at 888-422-7233 x7736 or [email protected].
Source: International Code Council
