Section SPS 371.10 - Definitions(1)"Absorber" means that part of a solar collector whose primary function is to absorb radiant energy and transfer it to a fluid. In photovoltaic solar energy systems, the function is to generate electrical energy.(2)"Active solar energy system" means any mechanical system which collects solar radiation in the form of thermal energy and uses a heat transfer fluid to transport the thermal energy to meet load requirements or to thermal storage.(3)"Air system" means an active solar energy system that uses air as the heat transfer fluid.(4)"Approved" means acceptable to the department.(5)"Auxiliary energy system" means equipment using non-solar energy sources to supplement or backup the output provided by a solar energy system.(6)"Building" means a structure for support, shelter or enclosure of persons or property, other than a one- or 2-family dwelling.(7)"Closed loop system" means an active solar energy system in which a closed piping system, containing a fixed charge of heat transfer fluid, transfers heat from collectors to storage or use.(8)"Collector" means a device designed to absorb incident solar radiation and to transfer the energy to a fluid passing through it.(9)"Collector cover" means the material covering the aperture to provide thermal and environmental protection.(10)"Component" means a distinct device or assembly that forms a functional part of a solar energy system including, but not limited to, collectors, thermal storage, heat exchangers, controls, pumps, fans, dampers and valves. Unless otherwise specified, such as a building component, a component shall have the above definition.(11)"Department" means the department of safety and professional services.(12)"Design pressure" means the maximum allowable continuous or intermittent pressure for which a specific part of a solar energy system is designed to operate safely and reliably.(13)"Design temperature" means the maximum allowable continuous or intermittent temperature for which a specific part of a solar energy system is designed to operate safely and reliably.(14)"Drainback system" means a closed loop system which allows gravity draining of the heat transfer fluid into lower portions of the solar loop under prescribed circumstances.(15)"Draindown system" means an active solar energy system in which the fluid in the solar collector is drained from the solar energy system under prescribed circumstances.(16)"Dwelling" means any building which contains one or 2 dwelling units.(17)"Flammable liquid" means a liquid having a flash point below 100ºF and having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psia at 100ºF.(18)"Fluid" means a liquid or gas.(19)"Heat exchanger" means a device designed to transfer heat between two physically separated fluids.(20)"Heat transfer fluid" means the medium used to transfer energy from the solar collectors to the thermal storage or load.(21)"Heated space" means any space maintained at a temperature of at least 50ºF.(22)"Hot water" means water heated for domestic or industrial use.(23)"Liquid system" means an active solar energy system that uses liquid as the heat transfer fluid.(24)"Maximum operating pressure" means the maximum pressure experienced in a system, under any normal operating co nditions including no-flow.(25)"Maximum operating temperature" means the maximum temperature experienced in a system, under any normal operating conditions including no-flow.(26)"No-flow condition" means the condition that results when the heat transfer fluid does not flow through the collector array due to normal shut-down or malfunction.(27)"Open loop system" means an active solar energy system in which water for domestic or industrial use is directly heated in collectors.(28)"Outgassing" means the emission of gases by component materials usually during exposure to elevated temperatures or reduced pressures.(29)"Owner" means any person having a legal or equitable interest in the solar energy system.(30)"Photovoltaic" means a solar energy system that converts radiant solar energy directly into electrical energy.(31)"Potable water" means water which is: (a) Safe for drinking, personal or culinary use; and(b) Free from impurities present in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects and conforming in its bacteriological and chemical quality to the requirements specified in ch. NR 809.(32)"Primary solar duct system" means the duct system between the collectors and thermal storage and the ducts making connection to the space distribution system.(33)"Seal of quality" means a written approval by the department documenting certification and compliance with specific quality standards.(34)"Solar energy system" means equipment which directly converts and then transfers or stores solar energy into usable forms of thermal or electrical energy.(35)"System designer" means a person who offers for sale a solar energy system as a complete package, the components of which may be produced by different manufacturers.(36)"Thermal resistance (R)" means a measure of the ability to retard the flow of heat. Note: The R-value is the reciprocal of the heat transfer coefficient, expressed by U (R = 1/U). The higher the R-value of a material, the more difficult is it for heat to flow through the material.
(37)"Thermal storage" means a container and its contents used for storing thermal energy.(38)"Tilt angle" means the angle above horizontal of a plane surface.(39)"Toxic fluids" means fluids which are poisonous or irritating in nature or composition.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 371.10
Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; correction in (31) (b) made under s. 13.93(2m) (b)7, Stats., Register, August, 1995, No. 476; correction in (11) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 6, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.