IEC 62109

What IEC 62109 means

IEC 62109 is the international safety standard series for power converters used in photovoltaic systems. IEC 62109-1 covers general requirements. Part 2 addresses requirements particular to inverters. It is useful when assessing electrical, thermal and mechanical safety documentation for a PV converter.

The two parts and their editions

Part 1 applies to equipment connected to PV source circuits up to 1,500 V d.c. and to a.c. mains circuits up to 1,000 V a.c. Part 2 refers to Part 1 by date, so an inverter report is normally written against both. The IEC webstore lists the editions currently on sale, so check it for later amendments or editions before quoting an edition in a contract.

What the standard does and does not cover

IEC 62109 is a product safety standard. It looks at hazards such as insulation and clearance, protection against electric shock, earthing and bonding, temperature rise, fire and enclosure strength, fault behaviour, and marking and instructions. It does not certify energy yield or efficiency, and it is not the grid code.

How the standard fits in India

BIS has an Indian standard for the same subject. MNRE’s solar quality control order lists IS 16221 (Part 2):2015 alongside IEC 62109-2:2011 for inverters, and lists IS 16169 alongside IEC 62116 for islanding prevention. Inverters are expected to be registered with BIS against the standards the order specifies, using BIS-recognised laboratory reports. The order itself was reissued as the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025, and MNRE has issued extensions and self-certification provisions for some larger inverter sizes, so confirm the position for your inverter size and date of supply on the current MNRE notice. The wider picture is in the BIS and IEC compliance guide and the certification checklist.

Two points often confused: ALMM, which MNRE publishes as a list for solar modules and cells, does not list inverters, and a BIS registration number is not a THD or efficiency claim.

What testing looks at

Without reproducing the standard’s tests, the kinds of check a safety evaluation includes are:

• Insulation resistance, clearance and creepage, and voltage withstand.
• Touch current and protection against electric shock, including earthing continuity.
• Temperature rise under stated operating conditions.
• Behaviour under fault and abnormal operating conditions.
• Enclosure strength and, for outdoor products, the stated ingress protection.
• Marking, warnings and installation instructions.

Which tests apply to a given product depends on its design, so read the scope on the certificate rather than assuming every item above was run.

Related standards you will see on a datasheet

How to read a certificate before buying

For Qbits products, use the datasheet library and the on-grid inverter range to identify the model first. The “Standard” block on the published inverter datasheets lists IEC62109, IEC61000, IS16169 and IS16221 (BIS). Treat that as a pointer. Request the current underlying certification and local approval documents from the supplier for the actual project.

Compliance steps a manufacturer follows

1. Choose an accredited test laboratory and certification body.
2. Submit representative samples for type testing against the standard’s parts.
3. Receive a test report and, where applicable, a certificate for the tested models.
4. For India, apply for BIS registration using the laboratory report.
5. Re-evaluate when a design, component or firmware change could affect safety.

Common problems with certification evidence

• The certificate names one variant while the brochure advertises a whole range.
• A certificate refers to an older edition or older hardware revision.
• The document is a test report, not a certificate, or vice versa.
• A model sold in India has no BIS registration shown for it.
• A claim of “certified” with no document supplied.

Best practices for buyers

1. Ask for the certificate and test report for the exact model, not the family brochure.
2. Check the edition and date, and confirm nothing has changed since.
3. Keep the documents with the project file, because DISCOM or inspection stages may ask for them.
4. Verify BIS registration on the BIS record for the model.
5. Treat a certificate as one input alongside installation quality and approval of the grid connection.

Standards and references

Source: IEC 62109-1 catalogue entry, reviewed 14 October 2026. Applicable national adoption and current regulatory obligations should be confirmed for the sale and installation location.

Common mistakes

• Treating the standard title in a brochure as a certificate.
• Accepting a family-wide claim when the certificate lists one model.
• Confusing a safety standard with an efficiency or grid-code approval.
• Expecting ALMM to cover inverters.
• Ignoring a hardware or firmware change since the certificate was issued.

Key takeaways

IEC 62109 is the safety baseline for PV inverters, in two parts that are applied together. It speaks to safety, not performance, islanding behaviour or utility approval. In India the matching Indian standard and BIS registration are the practical proof, so ask for the document for the exact model you are buying.