Re-Installation of Obsolete Equipment

[b_electric]

Basically, a commercial 3-phase grid-tied standard system (for the time) was sold and installed in 2015 under 2011 NEC requirements that had no Rapid Shutdown requirements, or 2011 had system-level RSD, I don't remember exactly which cycle it all started which I believe was a shunt-trip at the service, but should be moot for the purposes of this situation, IMHO.

Owner, at some point, removed the system completely to demo the building and build a new building and now wants to re-install old system, and plans reference rapid shutdown requirement in the electrical details that seems more along the lines of 2014 code, but the title sheet references 2017 code (which would require module-level Rapid Shutdown), which, in any case, would be impossible to have rapid shutdown anyway due to the inverters being incompatible with either MLSD modules or using string level devices such, as (non-opti) Tigo's.

owner wants to push re-install of obsolete equipment. I can only suggest re-installing inverters within 10' of the arrays to accommodate the closest thing that could be construed as compliance with rapid shut-down, not that I'd wanna put my name on it or anything... Owner should just bite the bullet and buy new inverters and new string level RSD devices, no? It's a code violation to re-install obsolete equipment, is it not? I don't have my code book available at the moment and could use some honest feedback here, thanks.

 

[petersonra]

There is no code that prohibits installation of either used or obsolete equipment.

He does have to abide by the code in use at the time a permit is issued for the new work.

 

[zbang]

Non-compliance with current codes does not necessarily make something "obsolete". If the manufacturer still supports it, then it's probably not; but if the mfg end-of-life'd it five years ago, it probably is.

On the other hand, if you can't be installed in a compliant manner, it doesn't matter whether it's "obsolete" or not.

 

[tortuga]

Ask your local fire marshal what they think of PV rapid shutdown, if they say the same thing as mine, that they never use it, dont trust it, etc. Ask AHJ for special permission (in writing) per 90.4 to reinstall the system.
I have tested many rapid shut down systems that just dont work, and all fire fighters i have talked to dont trust them and dont rely on them at all.

 

[pv_n00b]

Ask your local fire marshal what they think of PV rapid shutdown, if they say the same thing as mine, that they never use it, dont trust it, etc. Ask AHJ for special permission (in writing) per 90.4 to reinstall the system.
I have tested many rapid shut down systems that just dont work, and all fire fighters i have talked to dont trust them and dont rely on them at all.

All the firefighters I have talked to are supportive of RSD and the new UL 3741 PV Hazard Control requirements. I have not found an RSD system installed in the field under the 2017 and later NEC that has not operated correctly when activated. Some of the systems under the 2014 NEC where it was vague were sketchy.

 

[ggunn]

I doubt the AHJ would allow a complete deinstallation and reinstallation of a non RSD compliant PV system if they are in a code cycle that requires it, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. We have been permitted to add to a RSD non compliant PV system without having to bring the old stuff up to code.

 

[jaggedben]

We honestly don't pull permits to remove and re-install systems, e.g. for re-roofing. But in this case the OP describes an entirely new building from the previously existing one. So, it may not have the same service agreement with the utility any more, perhaps not even the same address, etc. So I doubt the owner can get away with installing and interconnecting anything without it meeting current code.

Re-use the solar modules. Get new inverters or other rapid shutdown technology.