Rapid Shutdown (NEC 690.12)

Category: legal

A safety code regulation requiring solar arrays to quickly drop their voltage levels during an emergency disconnect.

Enforced to protect firefighters from high-voltage DC lines when cutting roofs. The mandate dictates that when the main emergency switch is flipped, the solar array conductors inside the boundary line must drop down to 30 volts or less within thirty seconds, rendering the lines safe.

Common Examples

• The commercial installation utilizes module-level rapid shutdown receivers to satisfy the strict NEC 690.12 building inspection codes.
• Failing to test and document your rapid shutdown mechanism response times will cause the system to fail its electrical validation check.