Published in early 2025, NBR 17193 established new safety standards for photovoltaic installations in the Brazilian market, including mandatory AFCI (arc fault interruption system) and FDR (rapid shutdown function).
With these requirements, the standard seeks to ensure greater protection for firefighting and maintenance teams, raising the level of technical responsibility throughout the solar sector.
However, for these measures to be truly effective, it is urgent that the market invests in training professionals. Without adequate technical training, the risk of failures in the installation and handling of equipment remains high, even in the face of regulatory developments.
Qualification is not just a competitive advantage: it has become an immediate necessity to keep up with growing demands and ensure project compliance.
Impact of NBR 17193
For Jefferson Miranda, commercial manager at BayWa re, the arrival of the standard represents a positive milestone for the segment. “It brings an important regulation, with a priority focus on safety – not only for goods, but mainly for people, including the Fire Department, which is often on the front line in fire situations”, he highlighted.
According to him, by incorporating global practices, NBR 17193 equalizes the market in a fairer way, benefiting manufacturers that combine protection and efficiency. “The standard helps to bring clarity and objectivity, points that until now were absent in the regulation of the sector”, he added.
Enphase's contribution to industry safety
According to Thales Corrade, engineering manager at Enphase Brazil, photovoltaic system circuits installed in buildings must include a quick shutdown function to ensure that the entire system operates at safe voltage levels when activated.
“This is justified by the fact that, even when a conventional string inverter is turned off, the modules under solar radiation will be operating at their open circuit voltage value and, because they are added together in a string, they represent a risk of electric shock for firefighters and maintenance teams who are on the roof in the face of an emergency situation or possible O&M activities”, he explained.
SolarEdge's experience in developing the standard
With a strong global presence, SolarEdge actively contributed to the development of the Brazilian standard, bringing lessons learned from countries where safety requirements are already consolidated, such as the United States and European nations.
“At SolarEdge, we have always stated that safety is one of the company’s pillars,” highlighted Maurício Ritter, the brand’s Product Manager. “Since we started selling our products in Brazil, all of our equipment has had integrated safety features, such as SafeDC, which reduces voltage to 1V in the event of a power outage or system failure.”
Ritter recalled that many of the requirements of the new standard were already part of the manufacturer's equipment, which makes it easier to adapt projects to NBR 17193. “There is a myth that adding security makes systems too expensive. In practice, we have shown that it is possible to deliver advanced technology, security and competitiveness at the same time.”
The standard, although already in force, may still undergo adjustments. According to the manager, points such as the rapid shutdown process and the distance between modules are open topics for future amendments, but the current version remains valid until further updates.
BayWa re: gradual adaptation and technical in the market
In BayWa re's view, the market's adaptation to NBR 17193 will be gradual, driven both by new technical requirements and by demands from consumers and insurers themselves.
“We are adjusting our stocks to work exclusively with products that meet the new requirements, such as rapid shutdown,” said Miranda. He believes that the weight of these requirements will begin to be felt more when taking out insurance and when dealers issue access reports.
In addition to offering products that are already compliant with the standard, BayWa focuses on technical and training as major differentiators. “We not only work with equipment that provides these resources, but we also manufacturers in adapting and provide ongoing technical training, even for professionals who are not yet part of our customer base,” he emphasized.
According to Paulo Caldeira, engineer at BayWa re, the standard is an important step, but its effectiveness depends on practical application. “Standards only make sense if they are applied correctly. Therefore, efficient monitoring and workforce training are essential to ensure that the rules are implemented,” he warned.
Caldeira points out that, despite the progress, the market still faces serious installation errors, such as the use of low-quality multimeters, undersized cables and a lack of commissioning tests. “I have seen transformers catch fire due to poorly connected strings. It is a real risk,” he emphasized.
Challenges and opportunities for a changing market
Experts agree that the future of the sector will require a new level of professionalization. In addition to compliance with NBR 17193, Paulo Caldeira warns of imminent challenges, such as energy quality in saturated networks, the expansion of storage systems and the traceability of components to combat cargo theft.
He recommends customized strategies for each link in the solar chain: installers should seek updated certifications and professional measuring equipment; integrators should diversify services and structure their operations; distributors need to maintain robust technical ; and manufacturers should anticipate regulatory requirements and invest in innovation.
“Those who invest now in resilient technology, human capital and advanced compliance will not only survive the changes — they will lead the new decentralized energy market,” concluded Paulo Caldeira.
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