www.ecao.org 16 I CANADIAN ELECTRIC CODE How the Canadian Electric (CE) Code has Evolved TO ADDRESS CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES In recent years, the development and proliferation of renewable energy technologies coupled with advances in battery storage have enabled home and building owners to increasingly capitalize on clean energy sources, such as wind and solar. From electric vehicles (EVs), to rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, to small- scale wind turbines, the utilization of renewable power systems both residentially and commercially is more prominent than it has ever been. While this has produced many benefits for consumers, the environment and society as a whole, it has also presented new and unique challenges with regards to the safe installation, use and maintenance of emerging technologies. Additionally, it has forced regulatory bodies to amend longstanding building codes, to which electricians and installers must adhere. Over the past six years, numerous revisions and additions have been made to the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (CE Code) to reflect these changes and address safety concerns. The remainder of this article will focus on some of the most notable revisions, including the addition of Section 64, which covers installation requirements for renewable energy technologies, such as solar PV systems and wind turbines, as well as Sections 8 and 86, which have been revised to address electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Solar PV systems The 24th edition of the CE Code, which was released this past January, outlines new requirements for solar PV systems. This includes increasing the voltage limit of PV systems from 1,000 to 1,500 V. To address the worker safety concerns this change has prompted, higher voltage systems can only be installed where qualified maintenance personnel are present. Additionally, parts of the installation exceeding 750 V must be inaccessible to the public. The use of specific voltage warning signs has also become mandatory. Appendix B provides guidance on the phrase “inaccessible to the public” by stating that: “The PV source and output circuits, along with equipment connected to or within those circuits, must be located within a fenced enclosure in accordance with Rule 26-300; guarded by locked doors; elevated three meters or more above grade level, or above any surface upon which a person could stand; or located where access is restricted by other effective means.” Similarly, the 2018 version of the CE Code includes guidelines for the installation of combiners and recombiners, which are often present in large-scale PV systems. Rule 64-060(12) applies to PV combiners. For recombiners that are installed in excess of 7.5 metres from the inverter, a single disconnect means they are capable of being opened at the ampere rating of the inverter