Now lets look at Surge protection (SPD)
Surge protection has been around for many years, it wasn’t untill BS7671 2018, that it really started to be seen in the regulations, even so there were many grey areas on the type and where they should be fitted. However, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 standard introduced changes regarding surge protection devices (SPDs) and under the new regulations, SPDs are required for all installations unless the installation owner opts out by providing a written statement indicating they accept the risk. Previously, the customer just opted out or more likely, they wern’t offered or fitted!
Whats important to stress here, is it is not mandatory to upgrade your electrics every time a new regulation or amendment comes out, if the installation predated the regulation or amendment, hence the reason you have the relevant certificates to when the work was carried out!
Additionally, many inverters have built in surge protection on the AC output and some have surge protection on both the AC and DC side. Many Solax inverters (model dependant) include type 2 surge protection on the AC & DC side. What model inverter do you have?
A quick snipet of
BS 7671:2018 +A2:2022 requiring that protection against transient overvoltages shall be provided where the consequence caused by overvoltage could:
(i) Result in serious injury to, or loss of, human life, or
(ii) Result in failure of a safety service, as defined in Part 2 or
(iii) Result in significant financial loss or data loss.
For all other cases, SPDs shall be fitted to protect against transient overvoltages unless the installation owner declines such protection and wishes to accept the risk of damage to both wiring and equipment as being tolerable.
(i) could apply when your car is charging i.e safeguard agains’t power surges in the event of a lightning strike and someone happens to have their hand on the car at the time of the strike however, as above, if the charger was fitted prior to amendment 2 of BS7671 came into force (28/3/2022), it is not a mandatory upgrade. (I will summarise at the end)