Standards and Technical Specifications

A solar panel installation undergoes final inspection in accordance with international standards. (Photo: NREL)

Properly drafted specifications and the use of international standards can allow each energy system to be tailored to meet the needs of the facility while still ensuring best practice design and installation protocols are followed.

The procurement and installation of energy systems is the first important step to ensure optimal performance and reliability. The size, model and make, and physical installation of system components are all crucial elements to proper system operation. There are international standards guiding nearly every aspect of the design, manufacture and installation of energy systems and health infrastructure.  Incorporating internationally recognized standards into technical specifications for the procurement of materials and installation services is an important first step in achieving system longevity.  As standard-setting bodies for the health care sector, government health ministries should seriously consider adding system design standards to their regulations. It is important, however, to not confuse design standards with a “one size fits all approach.”

Energy system design specifications can be developed using the energy audit data sheets. The specification should keep the size and capacity of the health center in sight. Energy Specialists preparing the bid specifications should have no bias for a particular technology or company for the job. Finished specifications should be offered by funding entities and facilities as a package to tendering companies to enable fair bidding on equivalent specified equipment.

Provided below is a summary of many relevant international standards for a variety of energy systems and energy system equipment.  These standards lists are not necessarily exhaustive, but serve as a good reference.  Several example bidding documents, used for procurement in actual IFHI initiatives, are also provided.

Writing Technical Specifications 

The level of detail used in technical specifications for the procurement of power equipment and services will differ based on the needs and expected outcomes for a particular facility.  Providing a high level of detail in technical specifications will help to ensure that quality equipment and workmanship is provided by contractors.  However, too much detail may limit a bidder’s ability to offer low-cost options or alternative proposals. 

Generally, bidders should be allowed some flexibility in offering equipment or services.  For example, unless a specific brand of equipment is needed, it is best not to specify equipment brands, but to rely on minimum technical requirements to specify equipment procurement.  Citing established standards, like those listed on this page, is a good way to ensure the quality of products or services while allowing bidders to determine the best value they can offer.  Below are some additional tips to keep in mind when specifying particular types of power equipment.

Example Bidding Documents 

Terms of Reference: Procurement and Installation of Stand-Alone Solar PV Systems - Guyana Hinterlands, (PDF 1.9MB)

Full Terms of Reference used to procure IHFI solar systems for remote health clinics in Guyana.  Includes all relevant technical specifications, standards and bid and procurement procedures.

Terms of Reference: Procurement and Installation of Inverter and Battery Systems - Haiti Health Facilities, (PDF 12.6MB)

Full Terms of Reference used to procure IHFI backup power systems for use in Haitian hospitals.  Includes all relevant technical specifications, standards and bid and procurement procedures.

Standards and Standards Bodies 

A standard is a norm or requirement that establishes a basis for the common understanding and judgment of materials, products or processes.  For example, the metric system of measurement provides a common basis for people the world over to judge, compare and discuss distance, weight or temperature by means of the standard units of measure meters, grams and degrees Celsius.  Standards are an invaluable tool in industry and business, because they streamline business practices and provide a level playing field for businesses to develop products and services. They are also critical to ensuring that products and services are safe for consumers and the environment.

Standards come in many forms.  Standard specifications define performance requirements for materials (e.g. the strength of steel), products (e.g. the light output of a lamp) and services (e.g. the installation of a battery bank).  Standard test procedures are established for determining material and product specifications.  There are also standards in place for practices, like financial accounting or safety inspections.  Standards also exist to define terminology referenced by other standards or used within a particular industry.

To be relevant, a standard must be widely adopted.  While some standards may arise naturally from customary practices most are formally set by an authority, or standards body.  Standards bodies may include, for example, government agencies, private companies or industry associations.  Depending their level of authority, these organizations may issue mandatory or voluntary standards.  Typically, governments issue mandatory standards for products or services used or sold in their country.  National building codes are a good example of a mandatory government standard.  International standards are typically voluntary, but are widely adopted by governments around the world to help ensure conformity with standards in other countries.  

Listed below are some of the major international standards bodies involved in the fields of energy and health.  The standards issued by these bodies set best practices and performance requirements for many of the topics discussed on this site.  Additional listings of individual standards specific to these topics are also provided.

PV System Standards 

Solar cells are tested before being moving further down the manufacturing line. (Photo: NREL)

There are numerous national and international bodies that set standards for photovoltaics.  There are standards for nearly every stage of the PV lifecycle, including: materials and processes used in the production of PV panels, testing methodologies, performance standards, and design and installation guidelines.  The standards shown below are not a complete list, but are those most relevant to the procurement and installation of solar PV systems.  Each standard has been loosely categorized based on its subject matter.

Lead-Acid Battery Standards 

Batteries properly housed in a battery rack for stationary energy storage. (Photo: NREL )

A number of standards have been developed for the design, testing and installation of lead-acid batteries.  The internationally recognized standards listed in this section have been created by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  These standards have been selected because they pertain to lead-acid battery use in stationary applications, including UPS, rural electrification, and solar PV systems.  These standards should be referenced when procuring and evaluating equipment and professional services.

Cold Chain and Refrigeration Standards 

In order to help designers and implementers of cold chain equipment, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a number of standards for equipment used to store, transport and monitor cold chain dependent products.  These standards provide a basis for the procurement of quality equipment designed to meet the stringent specifications necessary for a robust and effective cold chain.

The following table lists each of the relevant WHO standards by category.  Each listing is also a link to the standard itself.  Additionally, a link to a listing of WHO pre-qualified equipment is provided for each category.

Note:  Standards E01, E03 and E04 are applicable only to vaccine cold chain equipment, as blood has different cold chain requirements.

Remote Monitoring Standards 

The standards listed below describe some communications protocols and hardware components commonly used in remote monitoring.  These standards are not necessarily universally applicable as  many remote monitoring configurations will rely on proprietary, brand-specific communications and hardware.

Uniterruptible Power Supply Standards 

UPS safety and compatibility requirements, in both general and medical environments.

Electrical System Component Standards 

The standards listed below conform to the National Electric Code.  These standards, while not required explicitly by the NEC, are designed to ensure that their respective components meet NEC requirements.  While other international codes, such as IEC electrical codes, may differ in their requirements, these standards may still be viable.  Ultimately, the local electrical code will have final authority over which codes and standards are applicable.

Inverter Standards 

Lighting Standards