Overview
IEC 62788-7-3:2022 specifies accelerated abrasion test methods for evaluating the durability of materials and coatings used in photovoltaic (PV) modules and other solar devices. The standard covers abrasion of both the incident (front) surface - including glass, frontsheets and coatings - and the back surface (backsheets or back glass). It defines apparatus, specimen requirements and test procedures that can be applied to representative specimens (from centimetre-scale samples up to full-module specimens).
Key topics and requirements
- Scope of testing: Methods target abrasion arising from routine cleaning, environmental particulates and severe weather. Tests are not intended to produce identical results across methods but to simulate different real-world wear modes.
- Four principal abrasion methods (identified in the standard):
- SAT01 - Artificial linear machine abrasion (linear brush) to emulate perpendicular cleaning/scratching actions.
- SAT02 - Artificial rotary machine abrasion (rotary brush) to emulate swiping/robotic cleaning actions.
- SAT03 - Falling sand test to emulate particle impact from common meteorological events.
- SAT04 - Forced sand impingement for high-energy particle impact representative of severe weather or harsh sites.
- Test elements defined: apparatus descriptions, brush design, abrasive media (dry and wet/slurry), specimen geometry, number of replicates, test setup and execution, and specimen preparation for post-test examination.
- Reference and verification: The standard identifies working reference materials and recommends regular verification of apparatus performance (interlaboratory precision study referenced for future values).
- Reporting: Test report requirements and documentation of test conditions and results are specified.
Applications and users
IEC 62788-7-3 is intended for organizations involved in PV materials performance and durability, including:
- PV module manufacturers assessing frontsheet, glass and backsheet abrasion resistance.
- Materials and coatings developers evaluating formulations for scratch and particle resistance.
- Independent test laboratories and certification bodies performing accelerated stress testing.
- R&D teams and quality engineers comparing cleaning methods (manual vs robotic) and site-specific abrasion risks.
- Use cases include product development, material selection, comparative performance testing and evidence for warranty claims.
Related standards
- IEC 62788 series (measurement procedures for materials used in PV modules)
- IEC 60068-2-68 (environmental testing - sand and dust) - referenced for comparison
- DIN 53778-2, ASTM D2486, DIN 52348 - used as points of comparison for application-specific modifications
By following IEC 62788-7-3, stakeholders can systematically evaluate PV module surface abrasion, generate reproducible data for design and procurement decisions, and better predict field durability under cleaning and environmental stress.