SPS 371.01(1)(b)
(b) Conform, where feasible, with national performance standards promulgated or recognized by the federal government for solar energy systems; and
SPS 371.01(1)(c)
(c) Promote the production, marketing and installation of solar energy systems.
SPS 371.01(2)
(2) Establish provisions to issue a seal of quality at the request of any manufacturer or retailer, for each solar energy system or component which meets or exceeds the quality standards, and to charge a fee to cover the cost of the seal and the cost of examining the solar energy system or component.
SPS 371.01 Note
Note: See ch.
SPS 302 for fees relating to material approvals and inspections.
SPS 371.01(3)
(3) Establish quality standards for, but not limited to:
SPS 371.01(3)(b)
(b) The minimum requirements of an operation and maintenance manual; and
SPS 371.01(3)(c)
(c) Minimum specifications for materials, workmanship, durability and efficiency.
SPS 371.01(4)
(4) Provide for the inspection of any solar energy system at the request of any buyer.
SPS 371.01 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.
SPS 371.02(1)
(1)
Promotion of consumer evaluation. The provisions of subch.
II-Consumer Evaluation are intended to promote accurate consumer evaluation of solar energy systems by:
SPS 371.02(1)(a)
(a) Requiring sellers to disclose information about the quality of the solar energy systems prior to sale;
SPS 371.02(1)(b)
(b) Identifying systems with a seal of quality that meet the quality standards specified in this chapter; and
SPS 371.02(1)(c)
(c) Providing inspections of solar energy systems upon request by a buyer.
SPS 371.02(2)
(2) Promotion of production, marketing and installation. The quality standards contained in subch.
III-Definitions, subch.
IV-Materials and Workmanship, subch.
V-Warranty, and subch.
VI-Operation and Maintenance Manual are intended to promote the production, marketing and installation of solar energy systems by:
SPS 371.02(2)(d)
(d) Developing minimum requirements for an operation and maintenance manual; and
SPS 371.02(2)(e)
(e) Not prohibiting the sale of solar energy systems which do not meet the quality standards specified in this chapter.
SPS 371.02 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.
SPS 371.03(1)
(1)
Promotion of consumer evaluation. The provisions of subch.
II-Consumer Evaluation are mandatory requirements and shall apply as follows:
SPS 371.03(1)(a)
(a) The pre-sale disclosure rules shall apply to each sale of a solar energy system with a value of more than $300.
SPS 371.03(1)(b)
(b) The seal of quality rules shall apply only to those systems that the manufacturer or retailer elects to have approved by the department.
SPS 371.03(1)(c)
(c) The voluntary inspection rules shall apply only to those systems identified as meeting the quality standards specified in this chapter.
SPS 371.03(2)
(2) Promotion of production, marketing and installation. The quality standards specified in subch.
III-Definitions, subch.
IV-Materials and Workmanship, subch.
V-Warranty, and subch.
VI-Operations and Maintenance Manual are recommended standards and shall apply to those systems the seller identifies on the pre-sale information form as meeting those quality standards.
SPS 371.03 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.
SPS 371.05(1)
(1)
Pre-sale form. Prior to the sale of any solar energy system with a value of more than $300, the seller shall furnish to the prospective buyer a completed copy of the “Solar Energy System Pre-Sale Information" form provided by the department.
SPS 371.05 Note
Note: The “Solar Energy System Pre-Sale Information" form (SBD-7611) is available at the Department's Web site at
www.dsps.wi.gov through links to Division of Industry Services forms.
SPS 371.05(2)(b)
(b) Sign and date the pre-sale information form and provide one completed copy to the prospective buyer; and
SPS 371.05(2)(c)
(c) Present, written and orally, the information required on the pre-sale information form with the prospective buyer present.
SPS 371.05 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.
SPS 371.06
SPS 371.06 Solar inspections. Pursuant to s.
101.175 (7), Stats., the department may, at the request of any buyer, inspect a solar energy system that has been sold and declared to meet the quality standards specified in this chapter. The department shall charge an applicable fee, as specified in
ch. SPS 302, for the inspection.
SPS 371.06 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, August, 1995, No. 476; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2011 No. 672.
SPS 371.07
SPS 371.07 Seal of quality. Pursuant to s.
101.175 (2), Stats., the purpose of this section is to establish the requirements for the issuance of the seal of quality. Any manufacturer or retailer prior to the sale in this state of any solar energy system or component may request the department to issue a seal of quality for each solar energy system or component which meets or exceeds the quality standards established in this chapter.
SPS 371.07(1)
(1) Application for approval. An application for the seal of quality for a solar energy system or component shall be submitted to the department. Upon receipt of a fee and a written request, the department may issue an approval number for the solar energy system or component. The department shall review and make a determination on an application for approval within 30 business days of receipt of all forms, fees, plans and documents required to complete the review.
SPS 371.07 Note
Note: See ch.
SPS 302 for fees relating to material approval.
SPS 371.07(2)
(2) Issuance of approval. An approval number shall be issued if the department determines that the solar energy system or component meets or exceeds the requirements of this chapter.
SPS 371.07(3)
(3) Required data. Sufficient data, tests and other evidence to prove that the solar energy system or component meets or exceeds the standards established in this chapter shall be submitted.
SPS 371.07(4)
(4) Revocation of approval. The department may revoke any approval issued under this section for any false statements or misrepresentation of facts on which the approval was based.
SPS 371.07(5)
(5) Misrepresentation, misuse or duplication. Pursuant to s.
101.175 (6), Stats., misrepresentation, misuse or duplication of the department seal of quality issued under this section shall be deemed deceptive advertising under s.
100.18 (9m), Stats.
SPS 371.07(6)
(6) False endorsement. A person may not advertise that the seal of quality issued by the department is an endorsement of the product by the department or the state of Wisconsin.
SPS 371.07 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86.
SPS 371.10
SPS 371.10 Definitions. In this chapter, the following definitions shall apply.
SPS 371.10(1)
(1) “Absorber" means that part of a solar collector whose primary function is to absorb radiant energy and transfer it to a fluid. In photovoltaic solar energy systems, the function is to generate electrical energy.
SPS 371.10(2)
(2) “Active solar energy system" means any mechanical system which collects solar radiation in the form of thermal energy and uses a heat transfer fluid to transport the thermal energy to meet load requirements or to thermal storage.
SPS 371.10(3)
(3) “Air system" means an active solar energy system that uses air as the heat transfer fluid.
SPS 371.10(5)
(5) “Auxiliary energy system" means equipment using non-solar energy sources to supplement or backup the output provided by a solar energy system.
SPS 371.10(6)
(6) “Building" means a structure for support, shelter or enclosure of persons or property, other than a one- or 2-family dwelling.
SPS 371.10(7)
(7) “Closed loop system" means an active solar energy system in which a closed piping system, containing a fixed charge of heat transfer fluid, transfers heat from collectors to storage or use.
SPS 371.10(8)
(8) “Collector" means a device designed to absorb incident solar radiation and to transfer the energy to a fluid passing through it.
SPS 371.10(9)
(9) “Collector cover" means the material covering the aperture to provide thermal and environmental protection.
SPS 371.10(10)
(10) “Component" means a distinct device or assembly that forms a functional part of a solar energy system including, but not limited to, collectors, thermal storage, heat exchangers, controls, pumps, fans, dampers and valves. Unless otherwise specified, such as a building component, a component shall have the above definition.
SPS 371.10(11)
(11) “Department" means the department of safety and professional services.
SPS 371.10(12)
(12) “Design pressure" means the maximum allowable continuous or intermittent pressure for which a specific part of a solar energy system is designed to operate safely and reliably.
SPS 371.10(13)
(13) “Design temperature" means the maximum allowable continuous or intermittent temperature for which a specific part of a solar energy system is designed to operate safely and reliably.
SPS 371.10(14)
(14) “Drainback system" means a closed loop system which allows gravity draining of the heat transfer fluid into lower portions of the solar loop under prescribed circumstances.
SPS 371.10(15)
(15) “Draindown system" means an active solar energy system in which the fluid in the solar collector is drained from the solar energy system under prescribed circumstances.
SPS 371.10(16)
(16) “Dwelling" means any building which contains one or 2 dwelling units.
SPS 371.10(17)
(17) “Flammable liquid" means a liquid having a flash point below 100ºF and having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psia at 100ºF.
SPS 371.10(19)
(19) “Heat exchanger" means a device designed to transfer heat between two physically separated fluids.
SPS 371.10(20)
(20) “Heat transfer fluid" means the medium used to transfer energy from the solar collectors to the thermal storage or load.
SPS 371.10(21)
(21) “Heated space" means any space maintained at a temperature of at least 50ºF.
SPS 371.10(22)
(22) “Hot water" means water heated for domestic or industrial use.
SPS 371.10(23)
(23) “Liquid system" means an active solar energy system that uses liquid as the heat transfer fluid.
SPS 371.10(24)
(24) “Maximum operating pressure" means the maximum pressure experienced in a system, under any normal operating conditions including no-flow.
SPS 371.10(25)
(25) “Maximum operating temperature" means the maximum temperature experienced in a system, under any normal operating conditions including no-flow.
SPS 371.10(26)
(26) “No-flow condition" means the condition that results when the heat transfer fluid does not flow through the collector array due to normal shut-down or malfunction.
SPS 371.10(27)
(27) “Open loop system" means an active solar energy system in which water for domestic or industrial use is directly heated in collectors.
SPS 371.10(28)
(28) “Outgassing" means the emission of gases by component materials usually during exposure to elevated temperatures or reduced pressures.
SPS 371.10(29)
(29) “Owner" means any person having a legal or equitable interest in the solar energy system.
SPS 371.10(30)
(30) “Photovoltaic" means a solar energy system that converts radiant solar energy directly into electrical energy.
SPS 371.10(31)(b)
(b) Free from impurities present in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects and conforming in its bacteriological and chemical quality to the requirements specified in
ch. NR 809.
SPS 371.10(32)
(32) “Primary solar duct system" means the duct system between the collectors and thermal storage and the ducts making connection to the space distribution system.
SPS 371.10(33)
(33) “Seal of quality" means a written approval by the department documenting certification and compliance with specific quality standards.
SPS 371.10(34)
(34) “Solar energy system" means equipment which directly converts and then transfers or stores solar energy into usable forms of thermal or electrical energy.
SPS 371.10(35)
(35) “System designer" means a person who offers for sale a solar energy system as a complete package, the components of which may be produced by different manufacturers.
SPS 371.10(36)
(36) “Thermal resistance (R)" means a measure of the ability to retard the flow of heat.
