KENYA STANDARD      DKS 2542: 2016  
 ICS  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Off-grid solar photovoltaic lighting kits —
Requirements  
 
 
 
PUBLIC REVIEW  DRAFT , DEC EMBER  2016 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
©KEBS 2016          Second  Edition 201 6 
 
 DKS 2542: 2016  
  
ii                     © KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  TECHNICAL SUB -COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
 
The following organizations were repres ented on the Technical Sub-Committee:  
 
Telesales Solar  
Power Technics Ltd.  
Dream Power  
Aquatech Industries Ltd.  
Kenya Electricity Generating Company  
Ministry of Energy and Petroleum  
University of Nairobi  
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technol ogy 
Energy Regulatory Commission  
Kenya Renewable Energy Association  
Joh. Achelis & Söhne GmbH  
IFC/ Lighting Africa  
Chloride Exide  
Sunpower Technologies Ltd . 
Rencon Associates Ltd.   
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)  
Kenya Bureau o f Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestions 
for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bu reau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 201 6 
  
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 12 of 2001  of the Laws of Kenya, copyr ight 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as provide d under Section 26 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in  writing 
from the Managing Director . 
 
 
 
 KENYA STANDARD       DKS 2542: 2016  
                                                                                                             ICS  
 © KEBS 2016             iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Off-grid solar photovoltaic lighting kits —
Requirements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office:  P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254  020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020 )  604031  
E-Mail: info@kebs.org,  Web:http://www.k ebs.org   
 
Coast Region     Lake Region          Rift Valley Region  
P.O. Box 99376, Mombasa -80100   P.O. Box 2949, Kisumu -40100        P.O. Box 2138, Nakuru -20100  
Tel.: (+254  041) 229563, 230939/40  Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 2 10555  
Fax: (+254  041) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 21814  
 
 DKS 2542: 2016  
 
iv  © KEBS 2016  Foreword  
 
This Kenya standard was prepared by the Solar and Wind Technologies Technical Sub -Committee  under the 
Renewable Energy and Energy Management Technical Committee  and it is in accordance with  the 
procedures of the Kenya Bureau of Standards . 
 
During  the development of this Standard, reference was made to the following document ; 
 
IEC/TS 62257 -9-5;  
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance received from this source . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
KENYA STANDARD                   DKS 2542: 2016  
 
 
© KEBS 2014 — All rights reserved                      1  
Off-grid solar photovoltaic lighting kits —Requirements  
 
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This draft standard  applies to off-grid lighting appliances or kits that can be installed by a typical user without 
employing a technician.  The kits are generally comprised of a light source (LED, CFL, or other), a 
rechargeable energy storage device (usually a battery), an energy generation device or source (PV module, 
dynamo, AC grid, unregulated DC input, or other), and internal electronics. Lighting appliances or kits with 
PV m odules larger than 10 W  (peak power under standard test conditions) are excluded from the scope of 
this standard.  
 
 
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this draft standard. For dated 
referenc es, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 Recommendations for small renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural 
electrification -— Part 9-5: Integrated system — Selection of stand -alone lighting kits for rural electrification  
 
 
3 Definitions  
 
For the purposes of this draft standard the definitions given in KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 shall apply.  
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General  
 
All testing specifie d in this draft standard shall be conducted using the test methods provided in KS IEC/TS 
62257 -9-5.  Prior to conducting qualification and recurring testing, the sampling procedures in Annex E: 
Product sampling of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 shall be followed.  Al l applicable test methods provided in KS 
IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 are necessary for qualification and recurring testing (including the battery storage tests in 
Annex BB: Battery durability test).  
 
4.2 Initial and recurring testing requirements  
 
Initial qualificati on under the quality, warranty, and performance reporting requirements outlined in sub -
clauses 4.3 to 4.5 of this standard requires one of the following:  
a) requires Quality Test Method (QTM) results according to Clause 6 of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 for all 
applic able aspects specified in sub -clause 4.2 of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 A product family (set of 
interchangeable components sold on a component -level basis or as a mix -and-match kit) can 
receive initial qualification as follows:  
i. At least one fully configured syste m (“kit”) must be tested according to the QTM.  
ii. At least half (rounding down) of the models of each product component (PV module, battery / 
control unit, light point, etc.) must be tested. The smallest/dimmest and largest/brightest 
models of each component must be tested, at a minimum.  
 
b) Accelerated Verification Method (AVM)   results that are drawn from  two rounds of testing:  
i. Initial Screening Method (ISM) according to Clause 8 of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 for all 
applicable aspects specified in sub -clause 4.2 of K S IEC/TS 62257 -9-5, with a sample size 
of two for all applicable tests.   
                              © KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  2 ii. Follow -up QTM testing according to Clause 6 of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 for all applicable 
aspects specified in sub -clause 4.2 of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5. Follow -up QTM testing shall be 
conduct ed on commercially available products within six months of the preceding ISM 
testing.  
 
Only products from companies that meet the following eligibility requirements may receive initial 
qualification via AVM testing:  
 
 The company must have had at least thre e products that have met KS 2542 via QTM testing 
according to KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5. At least one of these products must currently meet KS 
2542.  
 
 The company must have no products that have failed QTM, ISM, or market check testing in 
the past two years, whi ch was carried out according to KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5. 
 
 
 
c) Targeted testing of fee -for-service or pay -as-you-go (PAYG) enabled versions of products that were 
previously qualified according to this standard using one of the processes described in #1 and #2, 
above. Targeted testing is comprised of:  
i. Visual inspection, including internal assessment  
ii. Durability testing on any aspects that may have been impacted by the addition of the PAYG 
option (e.g. new ports or changes to the existing casing).  
iii. An estimate of the parasitic consumption or additional standby loss due to the addition of the 
PAYG option.  
 
iv. Submission of manufacturer declaration indicating that the performance of the PAYG 
enabled version is equivalent to that of the previously tested non -PAYG product  
 
Re-testing is required two years  after the date of completion for the QTM testing. If the product has remained 
unchanged since QTM testing, testing according to the Initial Screening Method (ISM) according to Clause 8 
of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 with a sample siz e of two for all applicable tests shall be conducted.  If the product 
has changed since QTM testing, testing according to the QTM of KS IEC TS 62257 -9-5 shall be conducted. 
Furthermore, market check testing according to the ISM of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 with a  sample size of two 
for all applicable tests can be used to verify that a product, after passing the quality and warranty 
requirements  through QTM  testing, continues to do so.  
 
4.3 Product category requirements  
 
Every lighting appliance or kit can be categ orized as  “fixed separate (indoor) ”, “portable separate ”, “portable 
integrated ”, or “fixed integrated (outdoor)” according to sub -clause 4.1.2 of KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5. To qualify 
as a “separate” PV module, the PV module c able length shall be at least 3  m ± 0.3 m in length.  
 
4.4 Quality requirements  
 
The lighting appliance or kit shall meet each of the criteria listed in Table 1 and Table 2 to meet the quality 
requirements.  
  
© KEBS 2016 — All rights reserv ed          3 Table 1 — Truth -in-advertising requirements  
Truth -in-advertis ing 
criterion  Qualification  and market  check  
testing  requirement  KS IEC/TS  62257 -9-5  
Required  Test  Method(s)  
System  performance  
tolerance  – numeric  
ratings  ≤ 15 % deviation  from  ratings  (always  
ok if actual  performance  is better  than  
advertised).  Various ; based  on consumer -
facing  advertisements  for 
product.   Commonly,  Annex  
I: Light  output  test and Annex  
R: Solar  charge  test are 
required  (at a minimum).  
System  components  
tolerance  – numeric  
ratings  ≤ 15 % deviation  from  ratings  (always  
ok if actual  perfo rmance  is better  than  
advertised).  Various;  based  on consumer -
facing  advertisements  for 
product  components.   
Commonly,  Annex  K: Battery  
test and Annex  Q: Outdoor  
photovoltaic  module  I-V 
characteristics  test are 
required  (at a minimum).  
Other  numeric  ratin gs 
tolerance  ≤ 15 % deviation  from  ratings  (always  
ok if actual  performance  is better  than  
advertised).  Various;  based  on consumer -
facing  advertisements.  
Fee-for-service  or Pay-
as-you-go (PAYG)  
metering  The metering  system  shall  be capable  
of accurately  quantifying  energy  
services  provided.  Annex  F: Visual  screening  
and Annex  D: Manufacturer  
self-reported  information  
Overall  truth -in-
advertising  statement  Any description  of the lighting  
appliance  or kit that appears  on the 
packaging,  inside  the package,  and in 
any other  media  shall  be truthful  and 
accurate.  No statements  shall  mislead  
buyers  or end users  about  the 
features  or utility  of the lighting  
appliance  or kit. Annex  F: Visual  screening  
 
  
                              © KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  4 Table 2 — Safety and durability requ irements  
Safety  or 
durability  
criterion  Lighting  
appliance  or 
kit category  QTM  testing  
requirement  
(n=6)  Market  check  and 
renewal  testing  
requirement  
(n=2)  KS IEC/TS  62257 -
9-5 Required  Test  
Method(s)  
Overall  water  
exposure  
protection  (for 
components  
conta ining  
electronics  or 
electrical  
connections ) Fixed  
separate  
(indoor)  No protection  
required  No protection  
required  Annex  U: Physical  
and water  ingress  
protection  test,  
Annex  V: Level  of 
water  protection,  
and Annex  D: 
Manufacturer  self-
reported  information  Portable  
separate  IPx1  OR technical  
equivalent  OR with 
warning  label  IPx1  OR technical  
equivalent  OR with 
warning  label  
Portable  
integrated  IPx3  OR technical  
equivalent  OR IPx1  
/ equivalent  plus 
warning  label  IPx3  OR technical  
equivalent  OR IPx1  / 
equivalent  plus 
warning  label  
Fixed  
integrated  
(outdoor)  IPx5  OR IPx3  plus 
circuit  protection  IPx5  OR IPx3  plus 
circuit  protection  
All PV 
modules  Modified  IPx4  OR 
circuit  protection  Modified  IPx4  OR 
circuit  protection  
Physical 
ingress 
protection  (for 
components 
containing 
electronics or 
electrical 
connections)  All except  
below  Minimum  of IP 2x 
protection  Minimum  of IP 2x 
protection  Annex  U: Physical  
and water  ingress  
protection  test 
Fixed  
integrated  
(outdoor)  Minimum  of IP 5x 
protection  Minimum  of IP 5x 
protection  
All PV 
modules  Minimum  of IP 3x 
protection  Minimum  of IP 3x 
protection   
© KEBS 2016 — All rights reserv ed          5 Table 2 — Safety and durability requirements (con tinued ) 
Safety  or 
durability  
criterion  Lighting  
appliance  or 
kit category  QTM  testing  
requirement  
(n=6)  Market  chec k and 
renewal  testing  
requirement  
(n=2)  KS IEC/TS  62257 -
9-5 Required  Test  
Method(s)  
Mechanical  
durability  – 
drop  test Fixed  
separate  
(indoor)  and 
fixed  
integrated  
(outdoor)   
No protection  
required   
No protection  
required  Annex  W: 
Mechanical  
durability  test 
Portable  
separate  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none  result  in 
safety  hazards   None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards   
Portable  
integrated  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none  result  in 
safety  haza rds  None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards   
Non-lighting  
portable  
appliances;  
Lighting  
appliances  
providing  
less than  15 
lumens  of 
light output  
that are 
included  with 
the main  
product  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none result  in 
safety  hazards  None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards  Annex  W: 
Mechanical  
durability  test,  yet 
only 2 drops  per 
sample.  The sides  
on which  the 
product  is dropped  
will be alternated  
between  samples  to 
ensure  that all 6 
sides receive  impact  
at least  once.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
                              © KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  6 Table 2 — Safety and durability requirements (con tinued ) 
Safety or 
durability 
criterion  Lighting  
appliance  or 
kit category  QTM  testing  
requirement  
(n=6)  Market  check  and 
renewal  testing  
requirement  
(n=2)  KS IEC/TS  62257 -
9-5 Required  Test  
Method(s)  
Mechanical 
durability – 
goosenecks  Any with 
gooseneck  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none  result  in 
safety  hazards  None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards   Annex  W: 
Mechanical  
durabilit y test 
Mechanical 
durability – 
connectors  All products  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none  result  in 
safety  hazards  None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards   
Mechanical 
durability – 
switches  All products  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none  result  in 
safety  hazards  None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards   
Mechanical 
durability – 
strain relief  All products  Maximum  failure  
rate for 
functionality  is 1/6; 
none  result  in 
safety  hazards  None  fail for 
functionality;  none  
result  in safety  
hazards   
Workmanship  All products  Maximum  
prevalence  of bad 
solder  joints  is 1/6 
samples;  maximum  
prevalence  of poor  
wiring  is 1/6 
samples;  maximum  
prevalence  of 
overall  
workmanship  
failure  is 1/6 None  have  bad 
solder  joints  or poor  
wiring;  no overall  
workmanship  
failures  Annex  F: Visual  
screening   
© KEBS 2016 — All rights reserv ed          7 Table 2 — Safety and durability requirements (con tinued ) 
Safety  or 
durability  
criterion  Lighting  
appliance  or 
kit category  QTM  testing  
requirement  
(n=6)  Market  check and 
renewal  testing  
requirement  
(n=2)  KS IEC/TS  62257 -
9-5 Required  Test  
Method(s)  
Battery  
durability  All products  An appropriate  
battery  protection  
strategy  is used  
that will protect  
batteries  from  early  
failure  and end-
users  from  harm;  
no more  than  1/6 
samples  fails An appropriate  
battery  protection  
strategy  is used  that 
will protect  batteries  
from  early  failure  
and end-users  from  
harm;  no samples  
fail Annex  S: Charge  
controller  behavior  
test and Annex  D: 
Manufacturer  self-
reported  information  
Produ cts that 
are fee-for-
service  or 
Pay-as-you-
go (PAYG)  
enabled  An appropriate  
battery  protection  
shall  remain  active  
regardless  of 
whether  the system  
is in an enabled  or 
disabled  state.  The 
battery  shall  be 
able to receive  a 
charge  even  if the 
product  is in a 
disabled  state.  An appropriate  
battery  protection  
shall  remain  active  
regardless  of 
whether  the system  
is in an enabled  or 
disabled  state.  The 
battery  shall  be able 
to receive  a charge  
even  if the product  is 
in a disabled  state.  Annex  D: 
Manufacturer  self-
reported  information  
  
                              © KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  8 Table 2 — Safety and durability requirements (con tinued ) 
Safety  or 
durability  
criterion  Lighting  
appliance  or 
kit category  QTM  testing  
requirement  
(n=6)  Market  check  and 
renewal  testing  
requirement  
(n=2)  KS IEC/TS  62257 -
9-5 Require d Test  
Method(s)  
Lumen  
maintenance  Does  not 
apply  to 
appliances  
providing  
less than  15 
lumens  of 
light output  
that are 
included  with 
the main  
product   One of the 
following  criteria  
must  be met:  
1. L85 time is 
greater  than  
2 000 h for the 
average  sample;  no 
more  than  1/6 
samples  fails 
(defined  as being  
more  than  10 % 
below  L85 at 
2 000 h) 
2. All samples  
maintain  ≥ 95%  of 
initial  light output  at 
1 000 h 
3. L85 time is 
greater  than  500 h 
for the average  
sample;  No 
samples  fail 
(defined  as being  
more  than  10 % 
below  L85 at 
500 h); AND  the 
estimated  lumen  
depreciation  at 
2000  h is less than  
15%,  as estimated  
using  single  point  
temperature  
measurements  of 
the LED array  in 
comparison  to 
IESNA  LM80 -08 
data  from  the LED 
manufacturer.  L85 time is greater  
than  500 h for the 
average  sample;  No 
samples  fail (defined  
as being  more  than  
10 % below  L85 at 
500 h) 
L95 time is greater  
than  500 h for the 
average  sample;  No 
samples  fail (defined  
as being  more  than  
10 % below  L85 at 
500 h). 
If the average  
sample  decrease  in 
initial light output  at 
500 hours  is greater  
than  5%, then  the 
L85 time must  be 
greater  than  2 000 h 
for the average  
sample.  Annex  J: Lumen  
maintenance  test 
AC-DC 
charger  
safety  Products  that 
include  an 
AC-DC grid 
charger  Any included  AC-
DC charger  carries  
approval  from  a 
recognized  
consumer  
electronics  safety  
regulator,  such  as 
UL or similar.  Any included  AC-DC 
charger  carries  
approval  from  a 
recognized  
consumer  
electronics  safety  
regulator,  such  as 
UL or similar.  Annex  F: Visual  
screening  and 
Annex  D: 
Manufac turer  self-
reported  information   
© KEBS 2016 — All rights reserv ed          9 Table 2 — Safety and durability requirements (concluded)  
Safety  or 
durability  
criterion  Lighting  
appliance  or 
kit category  QTM  testing  
requirement  
(n=6)  Market  check  and 
renewal  testing  
requirement  
(n=2)  KS IEC/TS  62257 -
9-5 Required  Test  
Method(s)  
Battery  
longevity  Does  not 
apply  to 
appliances  
providing  
less than  15 
lumens  of 
light output  
that are 
included  with 
the main  
product  Measured  capacity  
after  storage  is at 
least   75%  of the 
measured  capacity  
before  storage  for 
the average  
sample ; no more  
than  1/6 samples  
fails (defined  as a 
measured  capacity  
after  storage  less 
than  65%  of the 
measured  capacity  
before  storage)  Measured  capacity  
after  storage  is at 
least  80%  of the 
measured  capacity  
before  storage;  no 
samples  fail Annex BB: Battery  
durability  test (only  
storage  tests  apply,  
not cycling  tests)  
Battery  
Composition  All products  No battery  may 
contain  cadmium  or 
mercury  at levels  
greater  than  trace  
amounts.   No battery  may 
contain  cadmium  or 
mercury  at levels  
greater  than trace  
amounts.   Annex  F: Visual  
screening  and 
Annex  D: 
Manufacturer  self-
reported  information  
NOTE  1 All safety  and durability  requirements  are extended  to PAYG  components  and appliances  that are 
included  with the product.   
NOTE  2  Safety  and durability  requirements  for physical  ingress  protection,  strain  relief,  switch,  
gooseneck,  moving  part and connector  durability,  drop  test,  and battery  durability  (charge  control)  may be 
waived  for non-lighting  appliances  included  with the product/system  that also meet relevant  Kenyan  
standards  such  as IEC 60065  and IEC 60335.  
 
 
If a lighting appliance  or kit fails one of the truth-in-advertising, safety, or durability  requirements  during 
market check or renewal testing in such a way that it could still pass through  QTM  testing with a sample size 
of six (6) —for example, if one sample failed to meet the battery durability requirement  but the other sample 
passed —QTM  testing should be conducted to verify only those requirements  that the lighting appliance or kit  
failed to meet.  At least six (6) samples shall be obtained for market check testing; therefore, if the four (4) 
spare samples are still in good condition, they may be used for the verification QTM  testing to obtain the 
required sample size of six (6). If verifica tion QTM  testing is conducted, the lighting appliance or kit  is then 
required to meet the requirements  for QTM  testing in Table  1 and Table  2. 
 
 
 
4.5 Warranty requirement  
 
The lighting appliance or kit  shall meet each of the following criteria to meet the warranty requirement : 
 
a) To be consumer -facing, the warranty shall be included on the lighting appliance’s or kit’s  packaging 
or on a warranty card or user agreement  that is easily accessed prior to purchase.  
 
b) End-users are provided at least twelve months of  warranty coverage from the point of purchase.  
 
c) The warranty shall cover manufacturing defects that impede operation under normal use and 
protection from early component failure, including coverage on the battery.  
  
                              © KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  10 d) The warranty shall explain how the cons umer can access the warranty (return to point of 
purchase/distributor/service centre , call or SMS a number, etc.), how the warranty will be executed (repair, 
replacement, etc.), and shall advise the customer to inquire about the warranty terms prior to pur chase.  
 
e) The full terms of the warranty shall be available to the consumer in writing in a way that enables the 
end-user to verify and understand the terms of the warranty prior to purchase. The written information sh all 
be in English or Swahili . 
 
The info rmation obtained from the procedures in Annex F: Visual screening and Annex D: Manufacturer self -
reported information from KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5 shall be used to determine if the lighting appliance’s or kit’s 
warranty meets the warranty requirement.  
 
4.6 Performance reporting requirement  
 
The lighting appliance or kit shall meet each of the following criteria to meet the performance -reporting 
requirement:  
 
a) The lighting appliance’s  or kit’s  light output ( luminous flux in lumens ) and the corresponding solar run  
time in hours  (at a minimum) shall be reported on the product packaging for a t least the brightest  setting.  
Other performance metrics such as full -battery run time , grid-charge run time  (if applicable), or 
electromechanical run time  (if applicable) may be  reported additionally, provided that the information is 
presented so that these metrics are clearly distinguished from the solar run time.  
 
b) The information shall be available to the consumer in writing and/or pictorially in a way that enables 
the end -user to understand the performance metrics that are reported.  
 
c) Products that offer and advertise mobile phone charging or other auxiliary services shall  include 
consumer -facing text or graphic that describes the qualitative effect of phone charging or auxiliar y services 
on product performance.  
 
Annex I: Light output test, Annex T: Light distribution test, Annex R: Solar charge test, Annex M: Full -battery 
run time, Annex O: Grid charge test (if applicable), and Annex P: Ele ctromechanical charge test (if 
applicable)  from KS IEC/TS 62257 -9-5   shall be used to determine the lighting appliance’s or kit’s luminous 
flux, illuminance from a specified distance, full -battery run time, grid -charge run time, and electromechanical 
run time, respectively.