NABCEP Regulatory Compliance & Industry Standards 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency administers the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) rules that solar installers must understand to advise customers?
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (Correct answer)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
Correct answer: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS administers federal tax credits including the ITC (Section 48 for commercial, Section 25D for residential) under the Internal Revenue Code.
Question 2: A PV installer is asked to install a system on a historic building. Which federal law may restrict mounting methods and visible equipment placement?
- National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act)
Correct answer: National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
The NHPA (Section 106) requires federal agencies to consider effects on historic properties listed or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Question 3: What is the minimum ground clearance required for unprotected PV wiring routed beneath a PV array on a roof per NEC 690.31?
- There is no minimum; wiring must be in conduit
- Wiring must be within 3 inches of the roof surface
- NEC requires PV wire type rated for the installation
- Wiring must be enclosed in a listed wiring method (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Wiring must be enclosed in a listed wiring method
NEC 690.31 requires conductors beneath PV arrays to be enclosed in a listed wiring method (conduit, raceway, or cable assemblies) appropriate for the location.
Question 4: A contractor installs a grid-tied system without obtaining the required building permit. Under most state contractor licensing laws, what is the likely consequence?
- A written warning only on the first offense
- Potential license suspension, fines, and liability for correction costs (Correct answer)
- Only civil liability if the system causes damage
- No consequence if the system passes an after-the-fact inspection
Correct answer: Potential license suspension, fines, and liability for correction costs
Unpermitted work typically violates both contractor licensing laws and building codes, exposing the contractor to license discipline, monetary fines, and responsibility for correction costs.
Question 5: Which ANSI standard defines performance and safety requirements for stand-alone and grid-connected battery charge controllers?
- ANSI/UL 1741 (Correct answer)
- ANSI/UL 1989
- ANSI/UL 2054
- ANSI/CAN/UL 1998
Correct answer: ANSI/UL 1741
UL 1741 (adopted as an ANSI standard) covers inverters, converters, and charge controllers for distributed energy resources including battery charge controllers.
Question 6: When a solar company advertises '100% clean energy' for a system that produces energy offset by RECs the company retains, this claim may violate which guidelines?
- NABCEP Code of Ethics Section 4
- FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260) (Correct answer)
- EPA Energy Star Program Requirements
- FERC Order 890
Correct answer: FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260)
The FTC Green Guides require that environmental marketing claims be truthful and non-deceptive; retaining RECs while claiming '100% clean energy' constitutes greenwashing.
Question 7: Under NEC 690.56, what marking is required at the utility service entrance of a building with a PV system to alert first responders?
- A red warning placard indicating PV system voltage
- A permanent plaque or directory showing the location of all PV disconnects (Correct answer)
- A label stating maximum available PV fault current
- A yellow caution tag on the main breaker
Correct answer: A permanent plaque or directory showing the location of all PV disconnects
NEC 690.56 requires a permanent plaque or directory at the service entrance identifying all PV system disconnecting means and their locations.
NABCEP Regulatory Compliance & Industry Standards 5
Which federal agency administers the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) rules that solar installers must understand to advise customers?