This practice defines the procedure to expose a solar thermal collector to an outdoor or simulated outdoor environment in a nonoperational model. The procedure provides for periodic inspections and a post-exposure disassembly and inspection of the collector.

Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Alternative Engergy Sources and the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E44.05 on Solar Heating and Cooling Subsystems and Systems, this practice was withdrawn in January 2010 in accordance with section 10.5.3.1 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

Exposure in a nonoperational mode provides for conditioning and assessment of the physical appearance of a solar collector resulting from moderately severe solar irradiation, ambient temperature, and effects of moisture on the various materials or construction.

This practice describes actual exposure conditions that have a high probability of occurring sometime during the installation of a solar collector, or during operation, or malfunction of a solar energy system.

This practice shall be considered to be a limited aging test in that it does not address those aging effects resulting from fluid-to-collector interfaces.

This practice applies to all solar thermal collector types.

1.1 This practice defines the procedure to expose a solar thermal collector to an outdoor or simulated outdoor environment in a nonoperational model. The procedure provides for periodic inspections and a post-exposure disassembly and inspection of the collector.

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.