NSF International Standard /American National Standard

NSF/ANSI 457 - 2019
Sustainability Leadership Standard
for Photovoltaic Modules
and Photovoltaic Inverters

NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit,
nongovernmental organization, is dedicated tobeing the leading global provider of public healthand safety-based risk management solutions whileserving the interests of all stakeholders.

This Standard is subject to revision.
Contact NSF to confirm this revision is current.
Users of this Standard may request clarifications andinterpretations, or propose revisions by contacting:
Chair, Joint Committee on Sustainability Leadership Standard
for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters
c/o NSF International
789 North Dixboro Road, PO Box 130140
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140 USA
Phone: (734) 769-8010 Fax: (734) 769-0109
Email: info@nsf.org
Web: <www.nsf.org>

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

NSF International Standard /American National Standard
for Sustainability –Sustainability Leadership Standard
for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters

Standard Developer
NSF International

Designated as an ANSI Standard
July 22, 2019
American National Standards InstituteiPrepared by
The NSF Joint Committee on Sustainability Leadership Standard
for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters
Recommended for adoption by
The NSF Council of Public Health Consultants
Adopted by
NSF International
October 2017
Revised October 2019

Published by
NSF International
PO Box 130140, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140, USA
For ordering copies or for making inquiries with regard to this Standard, please reference the designation“NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019”.
Copyright 2019 NSF International
Previous editions © 2017
Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing fromNSF International.
Printed in the United States of America.

iiDisclaimers 1
NSF International (NSF), in performing its functions in accordance with its objectives, does not assume orundertake to discharge any responsibility of the manufacturer or any other party. The opinions and findingsof NSF represent its professional judgment. NSF shall not be responsible to anyone for the use of or reliance
upon this Standard by anyone. NSF shall not incur any obligation or liability for damages, including
consequential damages, arising out of or in connection with the use, interpretation of, or reliance upon thisStandard. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to judge the suitability of the ANS for the user’s
purpose.
NSF Standards provide basic criteria to promote sanitation and protection of public health and theenvironment. Provisions for mechanical and electrical safety have not been included in this Standard
because governmental agencies or other national standards-setting organizations provide safety
requirements.
Participation in NSF Standards development activities by regulatory agency representatives (federal, local,
state) shall not constitute their agency's endorsement of NSF or any of its Standards.
Preference is given to the use of performance criteria measurable by examination or testing in
NSF Standards development when such performance criteria may reasonably be used in lieu of design,materials, or construction criteria.
The illustrations, if provided, are intended to assist in understanding their adjacent standard requirements.
However, the illustrations may not include all requirements for a specific product or unit, nor do they show
the only method of fabricating such arrangements. Such partial drawings shall not be used to justify
improper or incomplete design and construction.
At the time of this publication, examples of programs and processes were provided for general guidance.
This information is given for the convenience of users of this Standard and does not constitute an
endorsement by NSF International. Equivalent programs and processes may be used.
Unless otherwise referenced, the annexes are not considered an integral part of NSF Standards. The
annexes are provided as general guidelines to the manufacturer, regulatory agency, user, or certifying
organization.

1 The information contained in this Disclaimer is not part of this American National Standard (ANS) and has not beenprocessed in accordance with ANSI’s requirements for an ANS. Therefore, this Disclaimer may contain material thathas not been subjected to public review or a consensus process. In addition, it does not contain requirements necessary
for conformance to the Standard.

iii

This page is intentionally left blank.

Contents
1

General ................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Scope ............................................................................................................................................ 1

2

References ............................................................................................................................................. 3
2.1 Normative references .................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Informational references ............................................................................................................... 7

3

Definitions and acronyms ....................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Definitions ...................................................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Acronyms .................................................................................................................................... 12

4

Conformance, evaluation and assessment .......................................................................................... 13
4.1 Criteria ......................................................................................................................................... 13
4.2 Levels of conformance ................................................................................................................ 15

5Management of substances ................................................................................................................. 16
5.1 List of declarable substances ...................................................................................................... 16
5.2 Reduction of substances of concern ........................................................................................... 19

6

Preferable materials use ....................................................................................................................... 22
6.1 Recycled content ......................................................................................................................... 227Life cycle assessment (LCA) ................................................................................................................ 25
7.1 Life cycle assessment (LCA)....................................................................................................... 25
7.2 Reduction in LCA impacts ........................................................................................................... 27

8Energy efficiency and water use........................................................................................................... 28
8.1 Energy efficiency and management system ............................................................................... 28
8.2 Water use metrics ....................................................................................................................... 34

9

End of life management and design for recycling ................................................................................ 36
9.1 End-of-life (EOL) management ................................................................................................... 36
9.2 Design for recycling ..................................................................................................................... 40

10 Product packaging ................................................................................................................................ 41
10.1 Eliminate substances of concern ................................................................................................ 41
10.2 Recyclability of packaging ........................................................................................................... 41
10.3 Recycled content in packaging ................................................................................................... 42
11 Corporate responsibility ........................................................................................................................ 42
11.1 Environmental, health and safety management systems ........................................................... 42
11.2 Corporate reporting ..................................................................................................................... 43
11.3 Corporate social performance ..................................................................................................... 47
11.4 Conflict mineral sourcing ............................................................................................................. 48
Informative Annex 1 Summary of criteria .................................................................................................. 51
Informative Annex 2 Section 7.1.1 system boundaries ............................................................................. 55
I-2.1 Example flow ............................................................................................................................... 55v

This page is intentionally left blank.

Foreword 2
This American National Standard, NSF/ANSI 457 Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic
Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters has been developed as part of the ongoing efforts of a number ofinterested parties to document and improve the sustainability performance profile of photovoltaic modules
and inverters using established and advanced scientific principles, practices, materials, and standards.
This edition of the Standard contains the following revisions:Issue 2This revision expands the scope of this Standard to include photovoltaic inverters, and also updates
Sections 1 through 7 and Annex I-1.
Issue 3This revision updates Section 8 to include photovoltaic inverters.
Issue 4This revision updates Sections 9 and 11 to include photovoltaic inverters.
This revision also includes an editorial update to the names of the Annexes within. The Annexes are beingchanged from alpha characters to numeric, preceded by a ‘Normative’ or ‘Informative’. The table below
shows the previous name of the Annex with the corresponding new name of the Annex:
Previously known as:

Now known as:

Annex A
Annex B

Informative Annex 1 (I-1)
Informative Annex 2 (I-2)

The purpose of this Standard for photovoltaic modules and inverters is to establish product sustainability
performance criteria and corporate performance metrics that exemplify sustainability leadership in themarket. These performance criteria are intended to form the basis of conformity assessment programs,
such as third-party certification or registration.
Suggestions for improvement of this Standard are welcome. This Standard is maintained on a Continuous
Maintenance schedule and can be opened for comment at any time. Comments should be sent to:
Chair, Joint Committee on Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic
Inverters at standards@nsf.org, or c/o NSF International, Standards Department, PO Box 130140,
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140, USA.

2 The information contained in this Disclaimer is not part of this American National Standard (ANS) and has not beenprocessed in accordance with ANSI’s requirements for an ANS. Therefore, this Disclaimer may contain material thathas not been subjected to public review or a consensus process. In addition, it does not contain requirements necessary
for conformance to the Standard.

vii

This page is intentionally left blank.

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

NSF/ANSI Standard
for Sustainability –Sustainability Leadership Standard
for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters
1 General
1.1

PurposeThe purpose of this Standard for photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV inverters is to establish productsustainability performance criteria and corporate performance metrics that exemplify sustainability
leadership in the market.
The Standard provides a framework and standardized set of performance objectives for manufacturers andthe supply chain in the design and manufacture of PV module and PV inverters components. For
purchasers, this Standard provides a consensus-based definition of key sustainability attributes andperformance metrics, alleviating individual purchasers from the arduous and complex task of defining
sustainability performance for PV modules and PV inverters. This Standard can be used within an
established system for the identification of sustainability / environmentally preferable products bypurchasers, and to provide market recognition for conforming products and brand manufacturers.
This Standard was developed based on the principle that only sustainability leadership products, those in
the top-third of the market, are expected to qualify to the Standard at the Bronze level at the date of
publication of this Standard. Only a few products are expected to meet the highest performance level (Gold)at the date of publication of this Standard.
This Standard will be continually maintained and periodically reviewed to ensure that the definition ofsustainability leadership, as reflected in the performance criteria, progresses with the evolution oftechnology and services and sustainability/environmental improvements in the product sector.
1.2

Scope

This is a sustainability leadership Standard for PV modules and PV inverters. The scope of this Standard
includes:1) PV modules for installation on, or integral with buildings, or to be primarily used as components offree-standing power-generation systems, including, but not necessarily limited to: PV cells that generate electric power using solar energy;
 interconnects (materials that conduct electricity between cells);
 encapsulant (insulating material enclosing the cells and cell interconnects);
 superstrate (material forming primary light-facing outer surface) and substrate (material formingback outer surface) (e.g., glass, plastic films);

1

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019 wires used to interconnect PV modules and connect junction boxes to the balance of systemequipment; and frame or integrated mounting mechanism, if present.
The following are not included in the definition of PV module:
 balance of system equipment, such as cabling and mounting structures, equipment intended
to accept the electrical output from the array, such as power conditioning units (inverters) andbatteries, unless they are contained in the PV module; a PV cell that is a part of another device for which it produces the electricity, such as consumer
or industrial electronic products (e.g., calculators, lights, textile) where the PV cell primarily provides
the energy needed to make the electronic product function; and mobile PV cell where the inverter is so integrated with the PV cell that the solar cell requires
disassembly before recovery.
2) PV inverters to convert and condition electrical power of a PV module to AC. The PV inverter is all
the devices necessary to implement the PV inverter function. If separated devices are required toperform this function, the PV inverter is defined as their sum.
Including, but not limited to:






PV-string inverters with included maximum power point trackers;
central inverters;
micro inverters;bi-directional inverters; anda combination of a DC optimizer plus the inverter in systems where both are necessary.

The following are not included in the definition of PV inverter (these devices may be included with the
PV inverter, but are not in the scope of this Standard):









PV module;
cabling and mounting structures;
external disconnects;
communication equipment;
combiners without power conversion or conditioning equipment function;batteries and other energy storage components;
external transformers; andother devices not required to perform the PV inverter function.

This Standard establishes measurable criteria for multiple levels of sustainability / environmental leadershipachievement and performance throughout the life cycle of the product. This Standard addresses multiple
attributes and environmental performance categories, including management of substances, preferable
materials use, life cycle assessments (LCAs), energy efficiency and water use, responsible end-of-life(EOL) management, and design for recycling, product packaging, and corporate responsibility.

2© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

2 References
2.1

Normative references

The following referenced documents are required for the application of this document. For dated references,
only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document(including any amendments or corrigenda) applies. European Union Directives, which contain the adoption
date in their title, shall not be treated as “dated standards or regulations”. Unless explicitly indicatedotherwise, when a European Union Directive is referenced in this Standard, a new or updated European
Union Directive shall apply as the referenced Directive upon its enforcement date.
ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z10, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems 3
ANSI/MSE 50028-1, Superior Energy Performance 50001 Program – Additional Requirements for Energy
Management Systems 4
ANSI/MSE 50028-2, Superior Energy Performance 50001 Program – Requirements for verification bodies
for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition4
California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission, Performance Test Protocol for
Evaluating Inverters Used in Grid‐Connected Photovoltaic Systems 5

California Safer Products Alternatives Analysis, CA Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 55,
Article 5, Sections 69505.5-69505.7 6
Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) 7
Conflict-free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) 8
DIN 6120-1, Marking of packaging and packaging materials for recycling purposes – Plastics packaging
and packaging materials – Part 1: Graphical symbols 9
Ecospold v.2 10
EPA/600/R-06/060, Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice, 2006 edition. 11
European Chemicals Agency database7

3 ASSE International. 18927 Hickory Creek Drive, Suite 220, Mokena, IL 60448. <www.asse-plumbing.org>
4 US Department of Energy. 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. <www.energy.gov/eere/amo/

superior-energy-performance>
5

California Energy Commission, California Solar Initiative. 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.
<www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov>
6 California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). 8800 Cal Center Drive, Sacramento, CA 95826.
<www.dtsc.ca.gov>
7 European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). PO Box 400, 00121 Helsinki, Finland. <www.echa.europa.eu>
8 CFSI. 1737 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314. <www.conflictfreesourcing.org>
9 European Standards. Krimicka 134, 318 13 Pilsen, Czech Republic. <www.en-standard.eu>
10 ecoinvent. Technoparkstrasse 1, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland. <www.ecoinvent.org>
11 US EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental

Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268.

3© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

European Chemicals Agency, Guidance on requirements for substances in articles and Judgement
C-106/14 of the European Court of Justice7
European Commission Joint Research Centre, International reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD)
Handbook 12
European Commission, Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)12European Union, Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) 13
EU Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) Pilots, 24 April 2016 – v.2.0 14
EU Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for Photovoltaic Electricity Generation (v.1.3 or morecurrent)14
European Union, European Commission Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
on Packaging and Packaging Waste 15
European Union Product Environmental Footprint Guide14
European Union Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction ofChemicals (REACH)12
GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards 16
International Energy Agency (IEA), Photovoltaic Power Systems (PVPS) Methodology Guidelines on Life
Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic Electricity Task 17
IEC 62321-3-1, Determination of certain substances in electrotechnical products – Part 3-1: Screening –Lead, mercury, cadmium, total chromium and total bromine using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry 18
IEC 62321-3-2, Determination of certain substances in electrotechnical products – 3-2: Screening – Total
bromine in polymers and electronics by Combustion – Ion Chromatography18
IEC 62474, Material declaration for products of and for the electrotechnical industry18
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report 19
International Accreditation Forum (IAF) 20

12 European Commission - Joint Research Centre (JRC), Directorate D, Bio-Economy Unit (D1). Via Enrico Fermi,

2749, I - 21027 Ispra (VA) Italy. <eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu>
13 European Commission, Environment DG. B - 1049 Brussels, Belgium. <ec.europa.eu/environment/emas>
14 European Union Product Environmental Footprint Guide. <eur-lex.europa.eu>
15 European Union Directives. <www.europa.eu>
16 Global Reporting Initiative. PO Box 10039, 1001 EA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. <www.globalreporting.org>
17

International Energy Agency. Waldweg, 8, CH 1717 – St. Ursen, Switzerland. <iea-pvps.org>

18 International Electrotechnical Commission. 3, rue de Varembé, 1st floor, PO Box 131, CH - 1211 Geneva 20,

Switzerland. <www.iec.ch>
19 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, CP 2300, CH – 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland.

<www.ipcc.ch>
20 International Accreditation Forum. <www.iaf.nu>

4© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2), Alternatives Assessment Guide, Hybrid or Sequential
Frameworks 21
Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Database21
IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 200619
ISO 9001, Quality management systems – Requirements 22
ISO 14001, Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use22
ISO 14021, Environmental Labels & Declarations – Self-declared environmental claims (Type II
environmental labelling)22
ISO 14025, Environmental labels and declarations—Type III environmental declarations—Principles andprocedures22
ISO 14040, Environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Principles and framework22
ISO 14044, Environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Requirements and guidelines22
ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety22
ISO 50001, Energy management systems — Requirements with guidance for use22
ISO 50003, Energy management systems — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification ofenergy management systems22
LCA Society of Japan, Life-cycle Impact Assessment Method based on Endpoint modeling 23
Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation (compilation was developed by CONEG and is administered by the
Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse [TPCH]) 24
National Academies of Science, Design and Evaluation of Safer Chemical Substitutions – A Framework to
Inform Government and Industry Decisions 25
Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct 26
OHSAS 18001, Occupational Health and Safety Management 27
Superior Energy Performance 50001 Program (SEP 50001) Certification Protocol4

21 Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2). 89 South Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02111-2651. <www.theic2.org>
22 International Organization for Standardization. Chemin de Blandonnet 8, Case Postale 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,

Switzerland. <www.iso.org>
23

LCA Society of Japan. LCA Development Office. 2-1, Kajicho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0044.

<lca-forum.org>
24

Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation. c/o NERC, 139 Main Street, Suite 401, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
<www.toxicsinpackaging.org>

25 National Academies of Science. 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. <www.nap.edu>
26 Responsible Business Alliance. 1737 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314. <www.responsiblebusiness.org>
27 The BSI Group. 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL, United Kingdom. <www.bsigroup.com>

5© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Superior Energy Performance 50001 Program (SEP 5001) Measurement and Verification (M&V) Protocol4
Superior Energy Performance 50001 (SEP 50001) Scorecard4
Social Accountability (SA) 8000 28
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Solar Industry Environmental & Social Responsibility
Commitment 29
Substitution Support Portal (SUBSPORT) 30
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Solar Energy Sustainability Accounting Standard 31
University of Leiden Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Handbook on LCA 32
US Department of Energy (DOE) Superior Energy Performance 50001™ (SEP 50001) program4
US EPA ENERGY STAR® Guidelines for Energy Management 33
US EPA GHG Reporting Rule, Subpart I 34
US EPA Protocol for Measuring Destruction or Removal Efficiency (DRE) of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas
Abatement Equipment in Electronics Manufacturing (US EPA DRE Protocol)34
US EPA Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other Environmental Impacts(TRACI) 2.134
US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 13p-1 35

28 Social Accountability International. 9 East 37th Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10036. <www.sa-intl.org>
29 Solar Energy Industries Association. 1425 K Street NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005. <www.seia.org>
30 Substitution Support Portal. Kooperationsstelle Hamburg IFE GmbH Harburger Schlossstrasse 6-12 D-21079
Hamburg, Germany. <www.subsport.eu>
31

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. 1045 Sansome Street, Suite 450, San Francisco, CA 94111.
<www.sasb.org>
32 Universiteit Leiden Institute of Environmental Sciences. Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, The Netherlands.
<cml.leiden.edu>
33 US Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR Program. 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC

20460. <www.energystar.gov>
34 US Environmental Protection Agency. 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. <www.epa.gov>
35 US Securities and Exchange Commission. 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. <www.sec.gov>

6© 2019 NSF

2.2

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Informational references

Conflict-free Tin Initiative 36
GEMI Local Water Tool 37
Public Private Alliance for Responsible Mineral Trade 38
Solutions for Hope 39
OECD, Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected andHigh-Risk Areas 40
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Global Water Tool 41
World Resource Institute’s Aqueduct Global Water Risk Mapping Tool 42
WWF-DEG Water Risk Filter 43

3 Definitions and acronyms
3.1

Definitions

3.1.1 conflict-free: A product that does not contain conflict minerals, necessary to the functionality or
production of that product, that directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) or an adjoining country. Conflict minerals that a manufacturer or its supplier(s)obtains from recycled or scrap sources, are considered conflict-free.
NOTE — The term “armed group”35 means an armed group that is identified as perpetrators of serious humanrights abuses in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices under sections 116(d) and 502B(b)of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 USC 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) relating to the DRC or an adjoining
country.

3.1.2

conflict minerals35

 columbite-tantalite (coltan), cassiterite, gold, wolframite, or their derivatives, which are limited totantalum, tin, and tungsten; and any other mineral or its derivatives determined by the US Secretary of State to be financing conflictin the DRC or an adjoining country.
36 Global Solder Solutions. 25 Kenney Drive, Cranston, Rhode Island 02920. <www.aimsolder.com>
37 GEMI. 1155 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. <gemi.org/localwatertool>
38 Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade. 1255 23rd Street NW, Suite 275, Washington, DC 20037.

<www.resolv.org/site-ppa>
39 Solutions for Hope. 1255 23rd Street NW, Suite 275 Washington, DC 20037. <solutions-network.org/sitesolutionsforhope/>
40 OECD. 2, rue Andre Pascal 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France. <www.oecd.org/corporate/mne/mining.htm>
41 World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Chemin Eugène-Rigot, 2B, Case Postale 2075, CH-1211,

Geneva 1. <www.wbcsd.org>
42 Aqueduct. 10 G Street NE, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002. <www.wri.org/our-work/project/aqueduct>
43 World Wildlife Federation. Avenue du Mont-Blanc 1196, Gland, Switzerland. <waterriskfilter.panda.org>

7© 2019 NSF

3.1.3

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019declaration: Information made publicly available:— by the manufacturer on a publicly available registry; or— on the manufacturer’s or certifying organization’s website in the form of a certification report, or
equivalent, issued by the certifying organization; or— on the manufacturer’s website, if the product is self-declared to conform to this Standard.
3.1.4 disclosure: Information made available to the audience specified in criterion (e.g., purchasers,
public, etc.).
3.1.5

documentation: Information to be provided at time of verification or certification.

3.1.6 end-of-life (EOL): Life-cycle stage of a product when it is no longer intended for use and aredestined, or intended to be destined for, dismantling, material recovery, recycling or disposal.
3.1.7 energy recovery: An operation where the material is used principally as a fuel or to generateenergy.
3.1.8 energy management system (EnMS)4: A set of interrelated or interacting elements to establish
an energy policy and energy objectives, and processes and procedures to achieve those objectives.
3.1.9 environmental management system (EMS)22: Part of the management system used to manage
environmental aspects, fulfil compliance obligations, and address risks and opportunities.
NOTE 1 — Management system: set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization to establish
policies and objectives and processes to achieve those objectives. A management system can address asingle discipline or several disciplines (e.g., quality, environment, occupational health and safety, energy,
financial management). The system elements include the organization’s structure, roles and responsibilities,
planning and operation, performance evaluation and improvement. The scope of a management system can
include the whole of the organization, specific and identified functions of the organization, specific andidentified sections of the organization, or one or more functions across a group of organizations.
NOTE 2 — Environmental aspects: element of an organization’s activities or products or services thatinteracts or can interact with the environment.

3.1.10feedstock: Raw material used in a manufacturing process.

3.1.11

fiber-based: Cellulose material derived from trees and other plants.

3.1.12greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory: Identification and quantification of emissions and removalsof greenhouse gases from manufacturing processes.
3.1.13
impact assessment categories11: Classifications of human health and environmental effects
caused by a product throughout its life cycle.
3.1.14
initial service providers: Company that performs recycling and/or refurbishment services for
product / equipment / components; and that contracts directly with the manufacturer, or indirectly througha manufacturer’s agent, and is the first party to provide one or more initial take-back services.
3.1.15inventory data11: The identification and quantification of energy, resource usage, andenvironmental emissions for a particular product, process, or activity.
3.1.16life cycle assessment (LCA): A framework for the compilation and evaluation of the inputs,
outputs, and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle, from the8© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

extraction of resources and the production of raw materials, to product manufacturing, transportation /distribution, use and reuse, maintenance, and recycling and/or disposal.
3.1.17
manufacturer: The legal entity that is the owner or the licensee of the brand or trademark underwhich the product in the scope of this Standard is placed on the market, and: manufactures a product; and/or
 has a product designed or manufactured; and/or acquires a product for sale under their brand or trademark.
3.1.18packaging: All materials of any nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling,delivery and presentation of products from the manufacturer to the user or the customer.
NOTE — for the purposes of this Standard, unless otherwise noted, the term “packaging” only applies to sales
packaging or primary packaging, i.e., packaging that contains and protects and is designed to deliver a productunit to the final user or customer and does not include pallets.

3.1.19packaging component24: Any individual assembled part of packaging such as, but not limited
to, any interior or exterior blocking, bracing, cushioning, weatherproofing, exterior strapping, coatings,
closures, inks, and labels.
3.1.20PV inverter: The PV inverter function is to convert and condition electrical power of a PV module
to AC. The PV inverter is all the devices necessary to implement the PV inverter function. If separated
devices are required to perform this function, the PV inverter is defined as their sum.
Including, but not limited to:






PV-string inverters with included maximum power point trackers;
central inverters;
micro inverters;bi-directional inverters; andcombination of a DC optimizer plus the inverter in systems where both are necessary.

The following are not included in the definition of PV inverter40:









PV module;
cabling and mounting structures;
external disconnects;
communication equipment;
combiners without power conversion or conditioning equipment function;batteries and other energy storage components;
external transformers; andother devices not required to perform the PV inverter function.

3.1.21
PV module: A PV module for installation on, or integral with buildings, or to be primarily used ascomponents of free-standing power-generation systems, including, but not limited to: PV cells that generate electric power using solar energy;
 interconnects (materials that conduct electricity between cells);
 encapsulant (insulating material enclosing the cells and cell interconnects);
 superstrate (material forming primary light-facing outer surface) and substrate (material formingback outer surface) (e.g., glass, plastic films);

9

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019 wires used to interconnect PV modules and connect junction boxes to the balance of systemequipment; and frame or integrated mounting mechanism, if present.
The following are not included in the definition of a PV module:
 balance of system equipment, such as cabling and mounting structures, equipment intended toaccept the electrical output from the array, such as power conditioning units (inverters) and batteries,
unless they are contained in the PV module; a PV cell that is a part of another device for which it produces the electricity, such as consumer orindustrial electronic products (e.g. calculators, lights, textile) where the PV cell primarily provides theenergy needed to make the electronic product function; and mobile PV cell where the inverter is so integrated with the PV cell that the solar cell requires
disassembly before recovery.
3.1.22
postconsumer recycled material24: Material generated by households or by commercial,industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users which can no longer be used for its intended
purpose. This includes returns of material from the distribution chain.
NOTE — This definition applies to materials such as plastic, fiber, metal, etc.

3.1.23preconsumer material24: Material diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing
process. Excluded is reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process andcapable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.
3.1.24prepared for reuse: Equipment and components that have been checked, tested, cleaned,repaired, and determined to be safe and fully functional, to be placed back on the market in their originaluse or in their upgraded state, without further processing.
3.1.25processed chlorine-free (PCF): Packaging material produced with pulp from virgin and/or
recycled content that has been bleached without any type of chlorine, or that has not been bleached at all.
Recycled content may have originally been bleached with chlorine or chlorine derivatives.
3.1.26

product: A marketing model of a PV module or PV inverter.
NOTE — See definition for PV module and PV inverter.

3.1.27
publicly available: Obtainable to the public without restriction of access; for example, cannot
require member only access. A requirement to provide a name and/or organization to obtain access is notconsidered a “restriction of access”.
3.1.28
recovery: Operations that are part of a process to recapture elements, compounds, or materials
and transform them into commodities.
3.1.29recycled content22: Proportion, by mass, of recycled material in a product or packaging. Only
preconsumer and postconsumer materials shall be considered as recycled content.
NOTE — Recycled materials derived from any source, including, but not limited to, preconsumer andpostconsumer PV products, qualify as recycled content.

3.1.30recycling: Operations by which products, components, materials, or waste are processed andconverted into raw materials for use in the production of new products or in processes, not including energy
recovery or disposal.

10

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

3.1.31
refurbishment: Functional or aesthetic maintenance or repair of a product to restore to originalor upgraded state.
3.1.32reporting boundary: The area of operations and impact upon which the Global Reporting
Initiative (GRI) disclosure is based. The boundary may be “within the organization” or it may include somepart of the organization’s supply chain.
3.1.33
reuse: Using again, equipment or components for the originally intended purpose, a similar
purpose, or in an upgraded state, possibly after refurbishment, repair or hardware upgrading.
3.1.34semiconductor material:18 Substance, the conductivity of which, due to charge carriers of bothsigns, is normally in the range between that of conductors and insulating media, and in which the densityof its charge carriers can be changed by external means.
NOTE 1 — The term “semiconductor” generally applies where the charge carriers are electrons or holes.
NOTE 2 — In order to increase the conductivity, the energy supplied must be greater than the band gap
energy. See also "band gap energy" (IEC 62474).
NOTE 3 — Certain semiconductors, such as silicon, gallium arsenide, cadmium telluride, and copper indium
diselenide compounds, to name a number of materials currently available, are well suited to the PV conversion
process.

3.1.35substance: 44 Matter of constant composition best characterized by the entities (molecules,
formula units, atoms) of which it is composed. Physical properties such as density, refractive index, electric
conductivity, melting point, etc., characterize the chemical substance.
3.1.36

supplier: Entity that provides goods or services.

3.1.37
Tier 1 suppliers: Companies that provide the manufacturer with materials, components,
subassemblies, manufacturing services, or product assembly services, and with which the manufacturer
has a contractual relationship.
3.1.38tare loss: The total AC and DC power required for startup, shutdown and standby modes.

3.1.39
total water withdrawal: The sum of all water drawn into the boundaries of the organization fromall sources for any use over the course of the reporting period.
NOTE — Sources of water withdrawal can include surface water, ground water, rain water, and municipal
water supply.

3.1.40
totally chlorine-free (TCF): Packaging material produced with pulp from virgin content that has
been bleached without any type of chlorine, or that has not been bleached at all.

44 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). PO Box 13757 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

<iupac.org>

11© 2019 NSF

3.2

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Acronyms
CAS: chemical abstract number
DOE: Department of Energy
DRE: destruction or removal efficiency
ECHA: European Chemicals Agency
EMAS: European Union Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
EMS: environmental management system
EnMS: energy management system
EOL: end-of-life
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
EU: European Union
F-GHG: fluorinated greenhouse gases
GHG: greenhouse gas
GHS: Global Harmonization System
GWP: global warming potential
IAF: International Accreditation Forum
IEA: International Energy Agency
IGBT: insulated gate bi-polar transistor
IMDS: International Material Data System
LCA: life cycle assessment
LCI: life cycle inventory
PCF: processed chlorine-free
PEFCR: Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules
PVPS: photovoltaic power systems
PV: photovoltaic
RBA: Responsible Business Alliance
SASB: Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission12© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

SEIA: Solar Energies Industry Association
SEP: superior energy performance
SVHC: substances of very high concern
TCF: totally chlorine-free
URL: uniform resource locator

4 Conformance, evaluation and assessment
This Standard is divided into seven performance categories consisting of required and optional criteria:







4.1

management of substances;preferable materials use;
LCA;
energy efficiency & water use;
EOL management & design for recycling;
product packaging; andcorporate responsibility.

Criteria

A summary of all criteria in this Standard, including required and optional criteria, is provided in Annex I-1.
A few criteria are applicable either to only PV modules or only to PV inverters, and such is noted in the titleof the criterion.

13

© 2019 NSF

4.1.1

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Required criteria

The following required criteria must be met in order for a product to conform to this Standard.
Applicable Applicable
to PV
to PV
modules
inverters

Section and criteria
5Management of substances

5.1.1
5.1.2

6

Required – List of declarable substances
Required – List of declarable substances used in manufacturing
Required – Disclosure of substances on the European Union
REACH Regulation Candidate List of Substances of Very High
Concern (SVHC)
Required – Avoidance or reduction of high global warming
potential (GWP) gas emissions
Required – Conformance with provisions of European Union
RoHS Directive (applicable only to PV inverters)
Preferable materials use

6.1.1
7
7.1.1
8

5.2.1
5.2.5
5.2.6

8.1.4
8.1.5
8.2.1
9
9.1.1
10
10.1.110.1.210.2.111
11.1.111.1.211.2.1
11.3.1
11.4.1

4.1.2

x
x

x
x

x

x

x

x

—

x

Required – Declaration of recycled content in product
Life cycle assessment (LCA)xx

Required – Conducting LCA
Energy efficiency and water use
Required – Weighted efficiency reporting (applicable only to PV
inverters)
Required – Tare loss reporting (applicable only to PV inverters)
Required – Water inventory
End of life management & design for recycling
Required – Product take-back service and processing
requirements (corporate)
Product packaging
Required – Elimination of substances of concern in productpackaging
Required – Elimination of chlorine in processing packaging
materials
Required – Enhancing recyclability of packaging materials
Corporate responsibility
Required – Environmental management system (EMS)
certification (corporate)
Required – Manufacturer conformance with occupational healthand safety performance (corporate)
Required – Reporting on key performance indicators (corporate)
Required – Commitment to environmental and social
responsibility (corporate)
Required – Public disclosure of use of conflict minerals in
products (corporate)

x

x

—

x

—
x

x
x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Optional criteria

Once the required criteria are met, products may achieve higher levels of conformance, i.e., Silver or Gold,by meeting a specified percentage of optional criteria.

14© 2019 NSF

4.1.3

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Product and corporate criteria

This Standard includes two types of criteria.
 product criterion: applies to the product declared to conform to the Standard; and corporate criterion: applies to the manufacturer that declares products to conform to this Standard.
These criteria are noted in the Standard.
4.1.4

Country or region-specific criteria

The manufacturer shall declare or certify conformance to the Standard by country, region, or globally.
Unless specified otherwise, criteria must be met wherever the product is declared or certified to conform to
the Standard. For select optional criteria, as noted in the criterion, the manufacturer has the flexibility tomeet the criterion in countries or regions as designated by the manufacturer.
NOTE — Region means countries and territories whose independence may not be recognized by all countries(e.g., Taiwan).

4.1.5

Units of measure

Unless specified otherwise, units of measure within this Standard shall be reported in metric units.
4.1.6

Declare, disclose, and document

Within this Standard, these three terms are used as follows.
 declaration / declare: Information made publicly available:
 by the manufacturer on a publicly available registry; or on the manufacturer’s or certifying organization’s website in the form of a certification report,
or equivalent, issued by the certifying organization; or on the manufacturer’s website, if the product is self-declared to conform to the Standard.
 disclosure / disclose: Information made available to the audience specified in criterion(e.g., purchasers, public, etc.).
 documentation / document: Information to be provided at time of verification or certification.
4.2

Levels of conformance

There are three levels of conformance.
 Bronze: meets all required criteria.
 Silver: meets all required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria points.
 Gold: meets all required criteria plus at least 75% of the optional criteria points.
The optional points can come from any of the performance categories. If the option of declaring “NotApplicable (NA)” is provided in an optional criterion, for product registrations that declare NA, the calculationof the total number of available optional criteria points shall not include that criterion.

15

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 20195 Management of substances
5.1

List of declarable substances

5.1.1

Required – List of declarable substances in product

Manufacturer shall list the presence of IEC 62474 declarable substance groups and declarable substancesin the product at or above the reporting threshold amounts stated in the IEC 62474 Standard, using theversion of IEC 62474 which is current at the time the product is declared to conform to this Standard. The
list shall consist of all declarable substance groups and declarable substances designated in Criteria 1, 2
and 3 of IEC 62474, and the following industry-specific substances: arsenic compounds, antimony
compounds, and beryllium compounds.
The manufacturer shall have a process to manage, maintain, and update all data received on declarable
substances as listed in IEC 62474.
Verification requirements:a) a list of IEC 62474 declarable substance groups and declarable substances (designated
1, 2, and 3) and the above industry-specific substances in the product at or above the reporting
threshold; andb) documentation of a process and evidence of implementation of process (1) to collect and manage
data on IEC 627474, and (2) to keep the data current.
5.1.2

Required – List of declarable substances used in manufacturing

Manufacturer shall list the presence of substances in the ECHA database used in the manufacturing
process of the product.
Verification requirements:a) a list of ECHA database substances used in the manufacturing process of the product; andb) documentation of a process and evidence of implementation of process (1) to collect and manage
data, and (2) to keep the data current.
5.1.3

Optional – Disclosure of declarable substances

Manufacturer shall make publicly available on their website a list of declarable substances in the productand in manufacturing the product generated for conformance with Sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2. The list shallcontain the CAS number for each declarable substance (not including declarable substance groups) and
ECHA database substance used in the manufacturing process of the product. The link to the list shall beplaced on the product specification or documentation web page. The manufacturer shall declare the URLof the public disclosure.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) declaration of URL of the public disclosure; andb) list generated for conformance with Sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2, that:— includes the CAS number for each declarable substance in the product and ECHA database
substance used in the manufacturing process of the product, and16

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019— is located on the product specification or documentation web page.
5.1.4

Optional – Database of substances in product

The manufacturer shall have a database of substances, including the substance standardized number(e.g., CAS, EC, MITI, ECHA), in the products / components supplied to the manufacturer from its suppliers,
as specified in Table 5.1 below.
Table 5.1
Data acquired on substance list

Pointsminimum of 70% of total product mass1

minimum of 99% of total product mass

2

The manufacturer shall have a system for recording information, calculating percentages of data acquired,and validating reports or other substance ingredient declarations from its suppliers.
Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) documentation that the database includes the substances in the products / components supplied
to the manufacturer from its suppliers, including a substance standardized number;b) calculation demonstrating the percentage of total product mass for which the manufacturer has acomplete list of the substances; andc) evidence supporting the existence of a system for recording information and validating reports orother substance ingredient declarations from its suppliers.
5.1.5

Optional – Alternatives assessment

Manufacturer shall document that it, a supplier, or an independent third party has performed an alternatives
assessment on at least one substance of concern included in the product or manufacturing process as
documented in Section 5.1.1 – List of declarable substances. Manufacturer shall consider exposure andrisk throughout the product life cycle as part of the substance selection process.
This assessment shall be performed consistent with one of the following frameworks:
1) California Safer Products Alternatives Analysis – CA Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4.5,
Chapter 55, Article 5, Sections 69505.5-69505.7;62) Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Alternative Assessment Guide, Hybrid or Sequential
Frameworks; 45 or
3) Report of the National Academies of Science project, A Framework to Guide Selection of Chemical
Alternatives. 46

45

Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association. 89 South Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02111.
<www.newmoa.org>

46 The National Academy of Sciences. 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. <www.nap.edu>

17© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

An alternatives assessment performed on a substance application from a prior-shipped product isconsidered sufficient if the application is demonstrated to be relevant to the product to which this Standard
is being applied.
Manufacturer documentation of the alternatives assessment shall include:a) framework used;b) date of completion of the assessment; the assessment shall have been completed no more than
five years prior to the date the product is declared to conform to this criterion;c) substance(s) evaluated; andd) which of the following outcomes resulted from their alternative assessment:— a safer alternative was identified and used as the substitute for the original substance; or— the original substance was determined to be safer than, or as safe as, the evaluated potential
alternatives per the requirements of the framework used; or— a safer alternative was identified but is not commercially or technically viable for that application
per the requirements of the framework used; or— the need for the function provided by the substance was eliminated.
An alternative assessment performed under Sections 5.2.3 and 5.2.4 shall not be eligible for this optional
criterion.
Manufacturer may claim one point for performing an alternatives assessment on at least one substance ofconcern included in the product or manufacturing process, and two points for more than one alternatives
assessment.
Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) evidence supporting that the manufacturer or a supplier or a third party has performed analternatives assessment on at least one substance of concern (as described in the criterion) includedin the product or manufacturing process;b) documentation that the alternatives assessment includes the requirements listed in the criterion;
andc) documentation of outcomes resulted from the alternative assessment (see d) in criterion).
5.1.6

Optional – Making alternatives assessment publicly available

The manufacturer shall publicly disclose the manufacturer documentation (as specified in Sections 5.1.5.athrough 5.1.5.d) for at least one of the alternatives assessments required for conformance with
Sections 5.1.5, 5.2.3, or 5.2.4 used in the alternative assessment by either:
1) posting on a publicly available database such as the Substitution Support Portal (SUBSPORT)30 or
the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Database21; or
2) making the documentation publicly available on the manufacturer’s website.

18

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

In the case of an assessment done as part of a partnership or industry consortium, the other participating
parties shall be named.
The manufacturer shall declare the URL of the public disclosure.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) declaration of the URL of public disclosure;b) public disclosure of the manufacturer documentation for at least one of the alternatives
assessments required for conformance with Section 5.1.5, 5.2.3, or 5.2.4, by either:— posting on a publicly accessible database such as the Substitution Support Portal(SUBSPORT)30 or the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Database,21 or— making accessible on the manufacturer’s website.
c) if the assessment is done as part of a partnership or industry consortium, the public disclosure
identifies the other participating parties.
5.2

Reduction of substances of concern

5.2.1 Required – Disclosure of substances on the European Union REACH Regulation Candidate
List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Manufacturer shall make publicly available on their website a list of substances on the Candidate List of
SVHC above 0.1% by weight per ”article”; and for a product made up of more than one article, for eacharticle if substance is present in a concentration above 0.1% by weight of that article, as per Article 33
paragraph 1 of the REACH regulation and interpreted according to the European Chemicals Agency
Guidance on requirements for substances in articles and Judgement C-106/14 of the European Court ofJustice.7
The link to the list shall be placed on the product specification or documentation web page. The
manufacturer shall declare the URL of the public disclosure.
NOTE — The European Chemicals Agency Guidance on requirements for substances in articles will
eventually reflect the Judgment of the European Court of Justice on the amendment of the thresholds for
sub-articles. At current edition of this Standard, this is not the case, and the Judgement is referenced.

Verification requirements:a) declaration of URL of the public disclosure.
5.2.2 Optional – Presence of substances on the European Union REACH Regulation Candidate
List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
The product shall not contain substances on the Candidate List of SVHC7 above 0.1% by weight per”article”; and for a product made up of more than one article, to determine for each article whether such
substance is present in a concentration above 0.1% by weight of that article, as per Article 33, paragraph
1 of the REACH regulation and interpreted according to the European Chemicals Agency Guidance onrequirements for substances in articles5 and Judgement C-106/14 of the European Court of Justice.7
All SVHCs with a date of inclusion one year or more before the product is declared to conform to thiscriterion are subject to this requirement.

19© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

NOTE — The European Chemicals Agency Guidance on requirements for substances in articles will
eventually reflect the Judgment of the European Court of Justice on the amendment of the thresholds for
sub-articles. At current edition of this Standard, this is not the case and the Judgement is referenced.

Manufacturer shall document that a system is used to ensure that the product does not contain thesesubstances above 0.1% by weight per “article”, as per Article 33, paragraph 1 of the REACH regulation andinterpreted according to the European Chemicals Agency Guidance on requirements for substances inarticles5 and Judgement C-106/14 of the European Court of Justice.7
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) documentation that a system is used to ensure that the product does not contain these substances
as required in the criterion. The system shall include one or more of the following:— supplier management and grading procedures;— supplier material declaration and disclosure; and— analytical testing.
5.2.3

Optional – Bromine, chlorine, and fluorine content in electric cables

If the product contains electric cables which contain greater than 5,000 ppm chlorine or bromine, or greaterthan 1,000 ppm fluorine, as determined by test method IEC 62321-3-1 and IEC 62321-3-2, themanufacturer shall conduct an alternatives assessment on the substance(s) responsible for the observed
bromine, chlorine and/or fluorine levels in accordance with Section 5.1.5.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) a list of electric cables; andb) documentation that electric cables meet one of the options below:— test data showing that the cable contains less than 5,000 ppm chlorine, 5,000 ppm bromine,and 1,000 ppm fluorine, or— an alternatives assessment on the chlorine, bromine and/or fluorine present at levels above
those stated in the previous option. that meets the requirements for conducting an alternatives
assessment in Section 5.1.5.
5.2.4

Optional – Bromine, chlorine, and fluorine content in plastic parts

If the product contains any plastic part exceeding 25 g in weight, which contains greater than 5,000 ppm
chlorine or bromine or greater than 1,000 ppm fluorine, as determined by test method IEC 62321-3-1 andIEC 62321-3-2, the manufacturer shall conduct an alternatives assessment on the substance(s) responsible
for the observed chlorine, bromine and/or fluorine levels in accordance with Section 5.1.5.
The following exemptions apply: electric cables; and printed circuit boards (for PV inverters only).
If the product does not contain plastic parts > 25 g “NA” may be declared.

20

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) a list of any plastic part (other than exempted parts) exceeding 25 g in weight; andb) documentation of any plastic part (other than exempted parts) exceeding 25 g in weight that meets
one of the options below:— test data showing that the part contains less than 5,000 ppm chlorine, 5,000 ppm bromine, and
1,000 ppm fluorine, or— an alternatives assessment on the chlorine, bromine and/or fluorine present at levels above
those stated in the previous option. that meets the requirements for conducting an alternatives
assessment in Section 5.1.5.
5.2.5

Required – Avoidance or reduction of high global warming potential (GWP) gas emissions

The manufacturer shall ensure that in the facilities listed in Table 5.2, that either:1) high-GWP gases are not used or emitted for any manufacturing or reactor cleaning operations; or2) if any high-GWP gas is used, that specifically designed abatement systems are installed, operated,and maintained.
Table 5.2
Product
PV modules
PV inverters

Facilities in scope
Facilities manufacturing PV modules,
including solar cells
Facilities manufacturing semiconductor
components used in the PV inverter(at least 50% of facilities)

The intent of this criterion is to prevent use of high-GWP gases in the facilities in scope in Table 5.2 and, if
this is not possible, to facilitate destruction of high-GWP gas emissions that may result from either
manufacturing or cleaning operations.
NOTE — A list of high-GWP gases can be found in Table 8.A.1 in the Appendix of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report.19

Verification requirements:a) documentation that high-GWP gases are not used or emitted for any manufacturing or reactor
cleaning operations for facilities specified in Table 5.2; orb) evidence consistent with the requirements listed in the criterion that abatement and leakmanagement systems are installed which are designed, operated, and maintained specifically todestroy or remove F-GHGs and N2O used in manufacturing at facilities specified in Table 5.2.

21

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

5.2.6 Required – Conformance with provisions of European Union RoHS Directive (applicable
only to PV inverters)
The product shall meet the substance restriction requirements of the European Union RoHS Directive andits amendments in effect at the time the product is declared to conform to this Standard. All exemptions tothe substance restrictions as defined by the Directive are applicable.
Verification requirements:a) technical documentation in accordance with EN 50581 or IEC 63000 as required by the European
Union RoHS Directive.
NOTE 1 — The European Union RoHS Directive stipulates maximum concentration values (MCVs) by weight
for the presence of each substance within homogeneous materials.
NOTE 2 — Technical documentation, as required in Article 7(b) of the European Union RoHS Directive, canbe generated per Standard EN 50581, Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and electronic
products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances or IEC 63000. Technical documentation for
the assessment of electrical and electronic products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances.

6 Preferable materials use
6.1
6.1.1

Recycled content
Required – Declaration of recycled content in product

Manufacturer shall declare the minimum percentage by weight of recycled content in the product and foreach of the following components, as applicable:
PV modules

PV inverters— semiconductor material (feedstock, powder,or wafer);— enclosure (housing);— glass;— printed circuit board assembly including
capacitors;— frame material;— display;— transparent conductive layer;— power semiconductor and packaging(e.g., IGBT, silicon carbide and gallium nitride);— metal pastes and contacts;— ribbon;— choke or inductor;— solder;— cables and switches; and— encapsulant; and— other plastic parts.

— backsheet.

The following equation shall be used to calculate the percentage:
recycled material by weight
× 100 = % recycled content
total material (of the type in the numerator) by weight22

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Only material derived from recycled feedstock shall be included in the numerator.
NOTE 1 — No minimum recycled content is required. A value of 0 may be declared.
NOTE 2 — If a component has multiple suppliers, the minimum recycled content shall be declared.

Verification requirements:a) supplier documentation stating minimum percentage of recycled content in material supplied to
manufacturer or to manufacturer's part supplier; andb) documentation of the calculation of recycled content for the product and each of the components
listed in the criterion, as applicable.
6.1.2

Optional – Recycled content in productThe use of recycled material in the product shall be awarded points according to Tables 6.1 and 6.2 below.
Manufacturer may claim the designated number of points for each achievement listed in the table.
Table 6.1
Minimum percentage recycled content (PV modules)≥ 10% recycled semiconductor material≥ 10 % recycled glass material
Achieve 4 out of 8:— ≥ 25 % recycled frame material;— ≥ 10% recycled transparent conductive layer;— ≥ 10 % recycled paste and contact material;— ≥ 10 % recycled ribbon material;— ≥ 10 % recycled solder material;— ≥ 10 % recycled encapsulant material;— ≥ 10 % recycled backsheet material;— Demonstrated conformity with a material traceability standard7≥ 10 % postconsumer recycled content for any of the above categories

23

Points1111

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Table 6.2
Minimum percentage recycled content (PV Inverters)
Central inverters

String inverters

Micro & other inverters≥ 70 % recycled enclosurematerial≥ 90 % recycled enclosurematerial
Achieve 3 out of 6 internal
components:≥ 50 % recycled enclosurematerial≥ 70 % recycled enclosurematerial
Achieve 2 out of 5 internal
components:≥ 50 % recycled enclosurematerial≥ 70 % recycled enclosurematerial
Achieve 2 out of 4 internal
components:— ≥ 10% printed circuitboard assembly including
capacitors— ≥ 10% printed circuitboard assembly including
capacitors— ≥ 10% printed circuitboard assembly including
capacitors— ≥ 10% display— ≥ 10% display— ≥ 10% power
semiconductor andpackaging (e.g. IGBT,
silicon carbide and gallium
nitride)— ≥ 10% choke or
inductor— ≥ 10% choke or
inductor— ≥ 10% choke or
inductor— ≥ 10% cables andswitches— ≥ 10% cables andswitches

Points1
1

1— ≥ 10% other plasticparts— ≥ 10% other plasticparts— ≥ 10% cables andswitches— ≥ 10% other plasticparts≥ 10 % postconsumer
recycled content≥ 10 % postconsumer
recycled content≥ 10 % postconsumer
recycled content

1

The equation in Section 6.1.1 shall be used to calculate the percentage.
Point value: maximum 4
Verification requirements:a) a list of achievements claimed in Tables 6.1 and 6.2; andb) for each achievement claimed:— a letter from the supplier of the material stating the origin(s) of recycled material and theminimum percentage of recycled content supplied to the manufacturer or manufacturer’s fabricatedparts supplier. Information on origin of materials (e.g., material type / form, product type, sourcing)shall be sufficient to demonstrate that materials are traceable to recycled sources; and— documentation of the calculation of recycled content.

24

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

7 Life cycle assessment (LCA)
7.1

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

7.1.1

Required – Conducting LCA

The manufacturer shall conduct a LCA of the product or a manufacturer defined representative core productin accordance with the standards and guidance in the table below:
PV modules

PV inverters— ISO 14040/1404422; and— European Union Product Environmental Footprint
Guide14 or the IEA PVPS Task 12 Methodology Guidelines
on Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic Electricity17— ISO 14040/1404422

NOTE 1 — For PV inverters the European Union Product Environmental Footprint Guide14 may be used for
additional guidance.

The LCA shall include all stages (see Annex I-2) of the product life-cycle, from extraction of raw materials
through end-of-life, and shall quantify, at a minimum, the following mid-point impact indicators using
US EPA TRACI 2.135, or CML-IA 2016, or ILCD 201110, or LIME222 impact assessment methodologies or
equivalent methodologies (and clearly reporting which was chosen):a) cumulative energy demand (CED);b) global warming potential (GWP) (GWP-100 and GWP-20); report GWP values assumed formethane and, when possible, fraction of fossil vs. biogenic methane;c) acidification potential (AP);d) photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) (i.e., smog);e) ozone depletion potential (ODP);f)eutrophication potential (EP);g) human health impact indicators; andh) ecotoxicity impact indicators.
To qualify under this criterion, the LCA must have been reviewed in accordance with ISO 14044
Section 6.1 by an independent third party external to the manufacturer, or must have been published in apeer-reviewed journal, and must be based on Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data collected no more than five
years prior to product registration or certification. The manufacturing site represented in the LCI should bereported. The LCA may be based on the LCI from a single representative manufacturing site for the product,or on a mixture of manufacturing sites weighted according to their production capacity.
Reporting shall be in accordance with the transparency requirements in the reporting and communication
section of the IEA PVPS Task 12 Methodology Guidelines on Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic
Electricity.

25

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

An updated LCA will be required if: the previously submitted LCA is greater than five years old; or changes have been made to the product manufacturing or design that make the LCA of the core
representative product obsolete.
NOTE 2 — For the purposes of this criterion, a “representative core product” is a product that is expected toperform similarly to the product declared to conform to this Standard during evaluation (e.g., having the samegeneral construction, materials, and manufacturing processes).

Verification requirements:a) documentation of independent third-party review of LCA in accordance with ISO 14044
Section 6.1, along with its third-party review comments and response to those comments, or
peer-reviewed journal publication;b) if LCA is on a representative core product, demonstration of relevance of LCA to the declared
product and documentation of the differences between the representative core product and thedeclared product; andc) documentation of the manufacturing sites included in LCI including the percentage of total productproduction capacity for the products included in the LCA.
7.1.2

Optional – Public disclosure of LCA results

The LCA produced in Section 7.1.1 shall be made publicly available on the manufacturer’s website using
one of the following documents:
1) third-party report of the LCA as defined in section 5.2 of ISO 14044;
2) peer-reviewed journal paper; or3) environmental product declaration (EPD) Type III label in accordance with ISO 14025.
This criterion may be satisfied by the manufacturer providing a link on its website to another publicly
available website. 47 The manufacturer shall declare the URL of the public disclosure.
For publication in a peer-reviewed journal, acceptance for publication is acceptable; provided the
prepublication (in press) paper is publicly available.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) URL for the publicly-available LCA results on the manufacturer’s website.
7.1.3

Optional – Public disclosure of LCI inventory data

Manufacturer shall be awarded one point for each of the following LCI data disclosures for the LCA
conducted in Section 7.1.1:
 reporting of original process material, energy, and emissions data used to characterize the
manufacturing life-cycle stage of the product system. The LCI data include data that derive from andare specific to elementary or product flows; and47 Some journals may require a fee for access to published material.

26© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019 reporting inventory data representing scenarios for product recycling or disposal at EOL. Scenarios
must be fully documented in the LCA report in Section 7.1.1, including all assumptions and sources of
information upon which the data are based.
LCI data shall be made publicly available through one of the following formats: publication of the LCI in a peer-reviewed journal, or acceptance of a submittal to a peer-reviewed
journal that is in prepublication; or acceptance of the LCI by a national or international database that undergoes critical review inaccordance with ISO 14044. In such cases data shall be provided in Ecospold v.210 or ILCD10 formats;or publication in a publicly available report that undergoes critical review in accordance with
ISO 14044.
The manufacturer shall declare the URL of the public disclosure.
Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) documentation of LCI data disclosure in one of the referenced formats; andb) URL of the public disclosure.
7.2

Reduction in LCA impacts

7.2.1

Optional – Environmental hot spot identification

Manufacturer shall identify and publicly disclose the environmental hotspots in the product life cycle basedon the LCA conducted in Section 7.1.1. Disclosure may be in the LCA disclosure in Section 7.1.2 or on the
manufacturer’s website.
NOTE — “Hotspots” are the largest contributors to or drivers of the environmental impact results identified
through an LCA.21

Verification requirements:a) identification and public disclosure of environmental hotspot(s) for the LCA in Section 7.1.1; andb) public disclosure in formats consistent with Section 7.1.2 or URL for manufacturer’s website.
7.2.2 Optional – Environmental leadership compared to industry average (applicable to PV
modules only)
The environmental performance of the product shall outperform the EU PEFCR screening study results(v. 2.0 or more current)14 for the corresponding PV technology with points awarded as specified inTable 7.2. The LCA shall be conducted in accordance with the methodology for the “product stage” of the
EU Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for Photovoltaic Electricity Generation (v. 1.3 or morecurrent).14
The LCA results shall be compared to the sum of weighted results for the “product stage” (in points perkWh) for the corresponding technology in the EU PEFCR screening study.

27

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

If the product being certified does not correspond to one of the technology types in the EU PEFCR screening
study, it should be compared to one of the thin film technologies in the EU PEFCR screening study if the
product being certified is a thin film technology, and it should be compared to one of the crystalline silicon
technologies in the EU PEFCR screening study if the product being certified is a crystalline silicon
technology. If the product being certified is neither thin film nor crystalline silicon, and is not one of thetechnology types in the EU PEFCR, the manufacturer shall declare “NA” for this criterion.
Table 7.2
Percent
outperformance
≥ 5%
≥10%

Points1
2

NOTE 1 — The EU PEFCR screening study evaluates the following technologies: thin film technologies (CdTeand CIS) and crystalline silicon technologies (micromorphous Si, multi-crystalline Si, mono-crystalline Si).
NOTE 2 — Outperformance is defined as achieving a lower impact score.

Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) documentation of LCA in accordance with EU PEFCR; andb) demonstration of outperformance in accordance with Table 7.2.

8 Energy efficiency and water use
8.1

Energy efficiency and management system

8.1.1

Optional – Energy management system for manufacturing facilities

Manufacturer shall ensure that the:1) PV module, including solar cells; or2) PV inverter assembly process and the component with the highest CED, based on the LCA
conducted under Section 7.1.1, of the following:— capacitors;— semiconductors including power semiconductors and packaging (e.g. IGBT, silicon carbide andgallium nitride);— magnetics (e.g. choke, inductor); and— enclosure (housing)are manufactured in facilities that have implemented and maintain an energy management systemdemonstrating conformance to one of the following options:— Option 1: US DOE 50001 Ready program or self-declaration to the ISO 50001 Energy management
system (EnMS) standard; or28

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

— Option 2: US EPA ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management and ENERGY STAR
Challenge for Industry certificate of achievement.
Optional points shall be awarded based on the percentage of product manufactured in facilities with energy
management systems according to Table 8.1 (column 1 is for PV modules and column 2 is for PV inverters).
Table 8.1

Percentage of global capacity for PV
module and solar cell manufacturing
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Percentage of global capacity or percent
spend for PV inverter assembly and theselected component manufacturing(see NOTE 3)
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Optional
points1
2

A two-year grace period from the date of commissioning is available for implementing energy management
systems at new manufacturing facilities. Manufacturer shall declare “NA” for this criterion if the product ismanufactured only in new facilities without energy management systems conforming to this criterion.
NOTE 1 –– For PV modules, at a minimum, this criterion covers PV module manufacturing operations,
including solar cells, and other manufacturing operations at the same facility. For example, manufacturing ofpolysilicon wafers and cells would be included if in the same facility as PV module assembly. Manufacturer
may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its energy management system.
NOTE 2 –– For PV inverter assembly and components, at a minimum, this criterion covers the PV inverter
assembly and component manufacturing operations and other manufacturing operations at the same facility.
Manufacturer may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its energy
management system.
NOTE 3 –– Percent calculations are applied: separately to PV module assembly capacity and solar cell manufacturing capacity; or separately to capacity or spend of pv inverter assembly and the selected component.

Verification requirements:a) for PV modules:— capacity for PV module and solar cell manufacturing; and— calculation of the percentage of manufacturer’s global capacity for PV module and solar cellmanufacturing with energy management systems conforming to US DOE 50001 Ready program;or ISO 50001 standard; or US EPA ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management and
ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry certificate of achievement.
b) for PV inverters:— capacity or spend for PV inverter assembly and the selected component manufacturing; and— calculation of the percentage of manufacturer’s global capacity or spend for PV inverter
assembly and the selected component manufacturing with energy management systems
conforming to US DOE 50001 Ready program; or ISO 50001 standard; or US EPA ENERGY STAR
Guidelines for Energy Management and ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry certificate ofachievement.

29

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019c) to demonstrate conformance, one of the following:— third-party certification to either ISO 50001 or US EPA ENERGY STAR Facilities Management
Program; or— copy(ies) of completed ENERGY STAR Facility Energy Management Assessment Matrix
demonstrating that all elements of the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management areeither “fully implemented” or have “some elements / degrees” of implementation and copy(ies) of
the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry certificate of achievement for each facility(see NOTE 2); or— copy of 50001 ready recognition certificate(s), or by providing all of the following consistent
with ISO 50001 requirements:
 copy of the EnMS policy; document demonstrating top management commitment to the EnMS; description of context and scope of the EnMS; energy review within the EnMS, scope and resulting significant energy uses, and at least
24 months of energy consumption data prior to the time product declaration;
 list of energy objectives, energy performance indicators (EnPIs), energy baseline(s) andaction plans to achieve objectives;
 demonstration of process to manage and implement annual internal ISO 50001 audits andsummary of results of annual internal ISO 50001 audits;
 documentation of annual management review and management decisions of effectivenessand suitability of the EnMS; and evidence of continual improvement of the organization’s energy performance through theresults of the implemented action plans.
— when claiming a two-year grace period for new facilities, the date when the new facility began
PV module or solar cell production.
NOTE 4 –– The ENERGY STAR Facility Energy Management Assessment can be downloaded at<www.energystar.gov/assessfacility>. Facilities that participate in the ENERGY STAR Challenge forIndustry pledge to reduce their energy intensity by 10% within five years or less. See:<www.energystar.gov/industrychallenge>.

8.1.2

Optional – Certified energy management system

Manufacturer shall ensure that the:1) PV module, including solar cells; or2) PV inverter assembly process and the component with the highest CED, based on the LCA
conducted under Section 7.1.1, of the following:— capacitors;— semiconductors including power semiconductors and packaging (e.g., IGBT, silicon carbide
and gallium nitride);30

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

— magnetics (e.g., choke, inductor); and— enclosure (housing)are manufactured in facilities that are third-party certified to ISO 50001 or a nationally adopted version of
ISO 50001.
Optional points shall be awarded according to Table 8.2 (column 1 is for PV modules and column 2 is for
PV inverters).
Table 8.2
Facilities with Certified Energy Management Systems

Percentage of global capacity for PV
module and solar cell
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Percentage of global capacity or percent
spend for PV inverter assembly and theselected component manufacturing(see NOTE 3)
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Optional
points1
2

Optional points may be claimed for Section 8.1.1 in addition to Section 8.1.2, if applicable.
A two-year grace period from the date of commissioning is available for certifying energy management
systems at new manufacturing facilities. Manufacturer shall declare “NA” for this criterion if the product ismanufactured only in new facilities without energy management systems conforming to this criterion.
NOTE 1 –– For PV modules, at a minimum, this criterion covers PV module manufacturing operations,
including solar cells, and other manufacturing operations at the same facility. For example, manufacturingof polysilicon wafers and cells would be included if in the same facility as PV module assembly. Manufacturer
may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its energy management system.
NOTE 2 –– For PV inverter assembly and components, at a minimum, this criterion covers the PV inverter
assembly and component manufacturing operations and other manufacturing operations at the same facility.
Manufacturer may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its energy
management system.
NOTE 3 –– Percent calculations are applied: separately to PV module assembly capacity and solar cell manufacturing capacity; or separately to capacity or spend of PV inverter assembly and the selected component.

Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) for PV modules:— global capacity for PV module and solar cell manufacturing; and— calculation of the percentage of manufacturer’s global capacity for PV module and solar cellmanufacturing with energy management systems certified to ISO 50001.
b) for PV inverters:— capacity or spend for PV inverter assembly and the selected component manufacturing; and31

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

— calculation of the percentage of manufacturer’s global capacity or spend for PV inverter
assembly and the selected component manufacturing with energy management systems certified
to ISO 50001.
c) documentation of current certification to ISO 50001 or nationally adopted version of ISO 50001.
Certification(s) shall be obtained from a certification body accredited by an accreditation body that is asignatory to the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) with the appropriate scope ofaccreditation. Where a corporate certification is achieved to ISO 50001 in accordance with a multisite
certification, confirmation that the certificate includes all facilities identified in the scope of the
ISO 50001 certification(s); andd) when claiming a two-year grace period for new facilities, the date when the new facility began
PV module or solar cell production.
8.1.3

Optional – Certified energy management system energy performance improvement

Manufacturer shall ensure that the:1) PV module, including solar cells; or2) PV inverter assembly process and the component with the highest CED, based on the LCA
conducted under Section 7.1.1, of the following:— capacitors;— semiconductors, including power semiconductors and packaging (e.g., IGBT, silicon carbide
and gallium nitride);— magnetics (e.g., choke, inductor); and— enclosure (housing)are manufactured in facilities that are third-party certified to the SEP 50001 program by an ANAB-accredited
SEP 50001 verification body(ies) (see NOTE 4), or a nationally equivalent EnMS energy performance
improvement program that meets the requirements of the US DOE 50001 program (see NOTE 5).
Optional points shall be awarded according to Table 8.3 (column 1 is for PV modules and column 2 is for
PV inverters).
Table 8.3
Facilities certified to the US DOE SEP Program or equivalent

Percentage of global capacity for PV
module and solar cell manufacturing
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Percentage of global capacity or percent
spend for PV inverter assembly and theselected component manufacturing(see NOTE 3)
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Optional
points1
2

Optional points may be claimed for Sections 8.1.1 and 8.1.2, in addition to Section 8.1.3, if applicable.
A two-year grace period from the date of commissioning is available certifying energy management systems
for new manufacturing facilities. Manufacturer shall declare “NA” for this criterion if the product ismanufactured only in new facilities without energy management systems conforming to this criterion.

32

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

NOTE 1 — For PV modules, at a minimum, this criterion covers PV module manufacturing operations,
including solar cells, and other manufacturing operations at the same facility. For example, manufacturing ofpolysilicon wafers and cells would be included if in the same facility as PV module assembly. Manufacturer
may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its energy management system.
NOTE 2 –– For PV inverter assembly and components, at a minimum, this criterion covers the PV inverter
assembly and component manufacturing operations and other manufacturing operations at the same facility.
Manufacturer may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its energy
management system.
NOTE 3 –– Percent calculations are applied: separately to PV module assembly capacity and solar cell manufacturing capacity; or separately to capacity or spend of PV inverter assembly and the selected component.
NOTE 4 — The SEP 50001 program requirements for certification include:—

ISO 50001, Energy Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use;

— ANSI/MSE 50028-1, Superior Energy Performance 50001 — Additional Requirements for Energy
Management Systems;— ANSI/MSE 50028-2, Superior Energy Performance 50001 – Requirements for verification bodies foruse in accreditation or other forms of recognition; and— Superior Energy Performance 50001 Program Certification Protocol, Superior Energy Performance
50001 Program Measurement and Verification (M&V) Protocol, SEP 50001 Scorecard.
NOTE 5 — The SEP 50001 program defines national equivalent energy performance programs (e.g., Korea
Superior Energy Management System [Superior EnMS]) at:<www.energy.gov/eere/amo/SEP-equivalency>.

Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) for PV modules:— global capacity for PV module and solar cell manufacturing; and— calculation of the percentage of manufacturer’s global PV module and solar cell manufacturingthat are third-party certified per the criterion.
b) for PV inverters:— capacity or spend for PV inverter assembly and the selected component manufacturing; and— calculation of the percentage of manufacturer’s global capacity or spend for PV inverter
assembly and the selected component manufacturing are third-party certified per the criterion.
c) documentation of current SEP 50001 program certification(s) or certification(s) to a nationallyequivalent SEP 50001 program. Certifications have been obtained from third-party certificationbody(ies) accredited by an IAF member accreditation body whose scope of accreditation includes the
specified standard. Where a corporate certification is achieved to ISO 50001 in accordance with amultisite certification, confirmation that the certificate includes all facilities identified in the scope of the
SEP 50001 Certification(s);d) if an equivalent SEP 50001 program is used, the manufacturer shall provide documentation thatthe national program meets SEP 50001 program equivalency; and33

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019e) When claiming a two-year grace period for new facilities, the date when the new facility began PV
module production.
8.1.4

Required — Weighted efficiency reporting (applicable only to PV inverters)

The manufacturer shall make the weighted efficiency of the product publicly available, calculated using thecurrent version of the California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission Performance
Test Protocol for Evaluating Inverters Used in Grid‐Connected Photovoltaic Systems. 48

NOTE — Weighted efficiency is defined in Section 5 – Test Procedures and Criteria of Performance Test
Protocol for Evaluating Inverters Used in Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems.53

Verification requirements:a) documentation that the weighted efficiency of the product has been tested and calculated according
to the relevant requirements of California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission
verification process; andb) demonstration that the weighted efficiently of the product is publicly available (e.g., California
Energy Commission website 49 or manufacturer website).
8.1.5

Required – Tare loss reporting (applicable only to PV inverters)

The manufacturer shall make the tare loss of the product publicly available, calculated using the current
version of the California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission Performance Test
Protocol for Evaluating Inverters Used in Grid‐Connected Photovoltaic Systems.47

Verification requirements:a) documentation that tare loss of the product has been tested and calculated according to therelevant requirements of California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission
verification process; andb) demonstration that tare loss of the product is publicly available (e.g., California Energy Commission
website48 or manufacturer website).
8.2

Water use metrics

8.2.1

Required – Water inventory

The manufacturer shall ensure that the:1) PV module, including solar cells; or2) PV inverter assembly
are manufactured in facilities that have compiled an inventory of water use and wastewater effluent. The
inventory shall include and identify:— the volume of total water withdrawals by country, river basin, and withdrawal source (e.g., surface
water, groundwater, sea water, municipal water, wastewater from another organization, rainwatercollected onsite, delivered water);— the volume and percentage of water that is recycled and reused;
48 <www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/equipment/documents/2004-11-22_Test_Protocol.pdf>
49 <www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/equipment/inverters.php>34

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

— the destination of discharge should be specified: surface water, groundwater, sea water, municipal
treatment plant, hazardous waste treatment plant; and— statement of percentage of product manufactured at facilities in water stressed areas(< 1700 m3 water/person/yr) as identified with the WBCSD Global Water Tool.40
NOTE 1 — At a minimum, this criterion covers PV module manufacturing operations, and othermanufacturing operations at the same facility. For example, manufacturing of polysilicon wafers and cells
would be included if in the same facility as PV module assembly. Manufacturer may choose to include an
entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its water and wastewater inventory.
NOTE 2 –– For PV inverter assembly, at a minimum, this criterion covers the PV inverter assembly
operations and other manufacturing operations at the same facility. Manufacturer may choose to include
an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its water and wastewater inventory.
NOTE 3 — Analytical tools are available to identify regions subject to water stress, including: the WBCSD
Global Water Tool40, the WRI Aqueduct Global Water Risk Mapping Tool41, GEMI Local Water Tool36,
and the WWF-DEG Water Risk Filter42.

Verification requirements:a) list of facilities manufacturing the PV module and solar cells or PV inverter assembly including
location; andb) evidence that the facility compiled an inventory of water use and wastewater effluent by
manufacturing facility that included the parameters listed above.
8.2.2

Optional – Quality of wastewater discharges

The manufacturer shall ensure that the:1) PV module, including solar cells; or2) PV inverter assembly
are manufactured in facilities that have documented the quality of wastewater discharges. Wastewater
discharges shall be specified by liquid volume and according to several water quality measures, including,but not limited to, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, heavy
metals, and pH.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) list of facilities manufacturing the PV module and solar cells or PV inverter assembly, including
location; andb) documentation of wastewater discharges by manufacturing facility that included the parameterslisted above.
8.2.3

Optional – Improved water use efficiency

The manufacturer shall ensure that the:1) PV module, including solar cells; or2) PV inverter assembly35© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019are manufactured in facilities that have established a water management policy for efficient use of water inmanufacturing operations. Manufacturing facilities shall demonstrate an average of 1% reduction per yearof facility-wide total water withdrawal per unit of production (in MW or MW AC) from the inventory baseline.
Reduction in water use may include a combination of water conservation, efficiency, recycling and reuse.
Optional points shall be awarded based on the percentage of product manufactured in facilities that
demonstrate an average 1% reduction per year according to Table 8.4.
Table 8.4
Percentage of global capacity for PV
module and solar cell manufacturing
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Percentage of global capacity or percent
spend for PV inverter assembly(see NOTE 3)
≥ 50%
≥ 90%

Optional
points1
2

NOTE 1 –– For PV modules, at a minimum, this criterion covers PV module manufacturing operations,
including solar cells, and other manufacturing operations at the same facility. For example, manufacturing ofpolysilicon wafers and cells would be included if in the same facility as PV module assembly. Manufacturer
may choose to include an entire “campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its water management policy.
NOTE 2 –– For PV inverter assembly, at a minimum, this criterion covers the PV inverter assembly operations
and other manufacturing operations at the same facility. Manufacturer may choose to include an entire“campus” (i.e., all buildings) at a location for its water management policy.
NOTE 3 –– Percent calculations are applied:

separately to PV module assembly capacity and solar cell manufacturing capacity; or separately to capacity or spend of PV inverter assembly.
Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) water management policy for facilities manufacturing PV module, including solar cells or PV inverter
assembly;b) location(s) of manufacturing facilities;c) water withdrawal per unit of production for baseline year; andd) calculation of the percentage of manufacturing facilities demonstrating an average 1% reduction
per year from inventory baseline, and how the reduction was achieved (e.g., conservation, efficiency,
recycling, reuse).

9 End of life management and design for recycling
9.1
9.1.1

End-of-life (EOL) management
Required – Product take-back service and processing requirements (corporate)

Manufacturers shall provide a nationwide product take-back service for recycling for products declared andformerly declared to conform to this Standard. In jurisdictions where there are existing laws, regulations, orboth, which establish a program for the collection and recycling of products declared and formerly declared36

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

to conform to this Standard, demonstration of compliance with those legal requirements meets therequirements of this criterion.
The take-back programs should consider the hierarchy of management of used and EOL products basedon reuse, refurbishment, materials recovery, or a combination of all three.
Manufacturer shall make available information describing the product take-back service, including how toutilize the service: to customers in product promotional materials (e.g., product specifications, sales documents,
product description) and product label or marking. The manufacturer may satisfy this requirement by
providing the URL for the manufacturer’s public website that describes the take-back service in at least
one web-based product promotional material; and on the manufacturer’s public website, the manufacturer shall declare the URL of the public
disclosure.
Manufacturer shall disclose information publicly that identifies if there are any additional costs to theend-user associated with use of the product take-back service.
Manufacturer shall demonstrate the take-back program utilizes either:1) manufacturer-owned recycling services (in-house) that are third-party certified to ISO 14001 andeither OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001; or
2) manufacturer-owned recycling services (in-house) with status as an authorized waste management
facility in accordance with Article 8 and Article 9 of the EU WEEE Directive12 and respective nationaltranspositions; 50,51 or
3) initial service providers that are third-party certified to ISO 14001 and either OHSAS 18001 or
ISO 45001: or
4) initial service providers with status as an authorized waste management facility in accordance with
Article 8 and Article 9 of the EU WEEE Directive and respective national transpositions.50,51
A manufacturer may declare this criterion differently in each country or region for which the product isdeclared to conform to this Standard.
Manufacturers shall have a grace period until Jan. 1, 2020, to meet the requirements of this criterion. Thereis no grace period for products at the gold level.
Verification requirements:a) in jurisdictions within a country where the product is declared to conform to this Standard and where
there are existing laws, regulations, or both, which establish a program for the collection and recyclingof products, the manufacturer shall demonstrate compliance to those laws and/or regulations; or

50 For example, Germany, Art. 56 (2) of the Circular Economy Law (‘Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz’) specifies requirements

for certified waste treatment operators. Those requirements are further detailed in the Ordinance on Certified Waste
Treatment Operators (‘Verordnung über Entsorgungsfachbetriebe, technische Überwachungsorganisationen und
Entsorgergemeinschaften‘), published in 2016 and last modified 01 January 2019.
51 Certified waste management companies are typically listed in databases from certified waste treatment operator

schemes. For example, <www.efb-register.de> offers access to a pan-EU list of certified waste treatment operators forGermany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Czech Republic.

37

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019b) in jurisdictions within a country where the product is declared to conform to this Standard and where
there are no existing laws and/or regulations which establish a program for the collection and recyclingof products declared to conform to this Standard, the following shall apply:— demonstration that product take-back service is provided;— declaration of the URL for the manufacturer’s public website that describes the producttake-back service, including how to utilize the service;— demonstration that information is disclosed publicly that identifies if there are any additionalcosts to the end user associated with use of the product take-back service; and— for each of the country(s) / region(s) within which the manufacturer is declaring to conform tothis criterion, the following shall be documented:
 list of manufacturer-owned recycling services (in-house), if applicable, and valid third-party
certification(s) to ISO 14001 and either OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001; and/or
 list of manufacturer-owned recycling services (in-house), if applicable, with status as an
authorized waste management facility in accordance with Article 8 and Article 9 of the
EU WEEE Directive and respective national transpositions; and/or
 list of manufacturer’s initial service providers, if applicable, and valid third-party
certification(s) to ISO 14001 and either OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001; and/or
 list of manufacturer’s initial service providers, if applicable, with status as an authorized
waste management facility in accordance with Article 8 and Article 9 of the EU WEEE Directive
and respective national transpositions.
9.1.2 Optional – Publicly available record of annual recycling and recovery achievement(corporate)
Manufacturer shall make publicly available on their website the annual recycling, recovery and reuseachievements (as separate percentages of their annual total weight returned) of the take-back service foreach country into which the product is declared to conform to this Standard or globally. This criterion applies
only to products taken back under Section 9.1.1. Products and equipment recovered and processed undernational or regional collection schemes (mandated programs) may be included if the data is made available
to the manufacturer.
Reporting shall include: total annual weight returned / collected;
 percentage of materials recovered / recycled (weight by weight):
PV modules

PV inverters— metals (not including printed circuit board
assembly materials and choke);— metals (not including semiconductormaterials);— electronic assembly;— semiconductor materials;— choke / inductor;— glass; and— plastic; and— other materials.

— other materials.

38© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019 percentage of materials disposed (weight by weight):
 sent to a thermal with energy recovery facility; and sent to a thermal or landfill facility for disposal.
 percentage products or components prepared for reuse (weight by weight).
NOTE — Calculation of the above percentages is based on the total annual weight returned/collectedmass of product taken back each year.

Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) public URL for manufacturer’s website with reporting as outlined in criterion. At a minimum, theachievement must cover products collected under Section 9.1.1, but can include other products.
9.1.3

Optional – Material recovery targets (corporate) (maximum 2 points)

Manufacturer shall recover at least the following percentages outlined in Table 9.1, as reported in
Section 9.1.2:
Table 9.1
Recovery achievements
Recovery achievement thresholds
PV modules— ≥ 80% glass; andPV inverters— ≥ 80% metals (not including printed
circuit board assembly materials andchoke); and— ≥ 80% metals (not including
semiconductor materials); and— ≥ 50% electronic printed circuitboardelectronic assembly; and— ≥ 30% semiconductor materials.

— ≥ 50% choke/inductor; and— ≥ 90% glass; and— ≥ 80% plastic.
— ≥ 90% metals (not including printed
circuit board assembly materials andchoke); and— ≥ 90% metals (not including
semiconductor materials); and— ≥ 60% electronic printed circuit board
assembly; and— ≥ 60% semiconductor materials.

— ≥ 60% choke/inductor; andPointsawarded12— ≥ 90% plastic.

A manufacturer may declare this criterion differently in each country or region for which the product isdeclared to conform to this Standard.
Point value: maximum 2

39

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Verification requirements:a) public URL for manufacturer’s website with reporting as outlined in Section 9.1.3 with recovery
achievements as listed in Table 9.1 above.
9.2

Design for recycling

9.2.1

Optional – Identification of materials for EOL management (only applicable to PV modules)

Manufacturer shall make available to organizations that recycle EOL PV modules identification of thepresence of the following substances in the manufacturer’s product:
1) for conductor material:— metals and metal oxides.
2) for photoactive substances:

semiconductor materials;
metals and metal compounds;
organometallics; andnonmetals that are used as photoactive substances.

For products 60 kg or less, substances below 2 g in the product are not required to be identified; and for
products greater than 60 kg, substances below 4 g in the product are not required to be identified.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) demonstration that this information is made available to organizations that recycle EOL PV
modules; andb) the list of substances present in each of the applicable components and materials as required in
the criterion.
9.2.2

Optional – Replacement components availability (applicable only to PV inverters)

An option to purchase product replacement components and/or product service through the manufacturer
or an authorized third party for at least five years (1 point) or ten years (2 points) after the date of sale shallbe made available. This option may be available free of charge or at separate charge.
Replacement components shall include, at a minimum, fans, fuses, switches and printed circuit board
assemblies. Information regarding the availability of product replacement components and/or productservice shall be publicly available on the manufacturer’s website.
The URL for the manufacturer’s public website disclosing this information shall be provided during productregistration, certification or self-declaration, and made publicly available.
Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) manufacturer’s website URL; andb) demonstration that the website contains information regarding:40

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

— the availability of product replacement components and/or product service for at least five or
ten years after the date of sale; and— how to obtain product replacement components and/or product service through the
manufacturer or an authorized third party.

10

Product packaging

10.1
10.1.1Eliminate substances of concern
Required – Elimination of substances of concern in product packaging

Product packaging shall not contain lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium above a total of
100 ppm for the four metals combined in any packaging component, in accordance with the European
Union Packaging Directive13 and the Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation.
Verification requirements:a) supplier statement for each packaging component or for all packaging materials provided by the
supplier that the sum of the combined concentration of the four metals does not exceed 100 ppm byweight, orb) documentation of a conformance assurance system that demonstrates conformity to this criterion
through effective control of the supply chain.
10.1.2Required – Elimination of chlorine in processing packaging materials

Manufacturer shall document with supplier letter(s) that any paper-based materials used in productpackaging was not bleached with chlorine compounds. This requirement applies to the bleaching of
paper-based materials (including recycled fiber) and their fabrication into packaging for products declared
to conform to this Standard, and not to prior uses of the paper-based material.
NOTE — Packaging that is PCF or TCF meet the requirements of this criteria.

This criterion does not apply to invoices or other shipping documents.
Verification requirements:a) supplier letter(s) for paper-based materials used in product packaging.
10.2
10.2.1

Recyclability of packaging
Required – Enhancing recyclability of packaging materials

Product packaging shall meet the following requirements:
1) all nonreusable packaging components ≥ 25 g shall be separable by material type, including byplastic material type specified in b of the verification requirements below, without the use of tools, withthe exception of labels affixed to plastics bags or wraps, staples, and nails in pallets; and2) all plastics ≥ 25 g shall be clearly marked with material type in accordance with ISO 11469/1043,
ASTM D7611/D7611M, or DIN7, with the exception of plastic films and plastic strapping.

41

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Verification requirements:a) documentation from manufacturer:— for requirement 1) manufacturer’s packaging part or assembly drawing, or photographs; and— for requirement 2) photographs or physical evidence of plastic markings.
10.3

Recycled content in packaging

10.3.1

Optional – Recycled content paper-based packaging (optional)

Paper-based packaging materials shall contain a minimum 25% recycled content fiber (by fiber weight).
Paper-based packaging materials derived from alternative sources to traditional paper mill products(including, but not limited to, bamboo, mushrooms, bagasse and straw) are exempt from this recycled fiber
requirement and shall not be included in the calculation of recycled content.
A manufacturer may declare this criterion differently in each country or region for which the product isdeclared to conform to this Standard.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) list of applicable packaging materials and weights; andb) supplier documentation with recycled content percentage for each applicable packaging material.
10.3.2

Optional – Postconsumer recycled content plastic in packaging

Packaging shall contain 10% or greater postconsumer recycled plastic based on the percent by mass of
postconsumer recycled plastic content used as a percentage of total mass of plastic packaging (excluding
plastic protective and stretch wraps).
If the product packaging does not contain any plastics, "NA" may be declared.
A manufacturer may declare this criterion differently in each country or region for which the product isdeclared to conform to this Standard.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) list of plastic packaging materials and weight;b) supplier letter stating the percentage recycled content in plastic materials; andc) calculation of percentage of total recycled content plastic.

11

Corporate responsibility

11.1
11.1.1

Environmental, health, and safety management systems
Required – Environmental management system (EMS) certification

The following shall be manufactured in facilities certified to either ISO 14001 or EU EMAS by an accredited
third-party certification body:1) PV module including solar cells; or42© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 20192) PV inverter assembly
Certification bodies shall be accredited by an IAF member accreditation body20 to certify to the specificstandard identified.
This criterion applies to manufacturing facilities in operation for 12 months or longer.
Verification requirements:a) copy of ISO 14001 or EU EMAS certification for facilities manufacturing the PV module and solar
cells or PV inverter assembly; andb) list of all facilities manufacturing the PV module and solar cells or PV inverter assembly, and theirdate of commissioning.
11.1.2Required – Manufacturer conformance with occupational health and safety performance(corporate)
Conformance to ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z10, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems,
OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001 shall be maintained for those operations covered by Section 11.1.1.
Verification requirements:a) list of all facilities manufacturing the PV module and solar cells or PV inverter assembly and theirdate of commissioning; andb) a copy of certification to ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z10 OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001, applicable tooperations in a).
11.2
11.2.1

Corporate reporting
Required – Reporting on key performance indicators (corporate)

Manufacturer shall publicly disclose annually the key performance indicators listed in Table 11.1. The
disclosure shall define the reporting boundary by specifying which regions and manufacturing processes
are covered in each metric in Table 11.1

43

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Table 11.1
Reference Source of Key Performance Indicator
Key performance indicators

GRI
Standards14

PV modules produced or sold in MW or PV
inverters produced or sold in MW AC in reporting
periodrecycled input materials usedenergy consumption within the organizationenergy consumption in manufacturing
energy intensity
total water withdrawal from all sources
direct GHG emissions (Scope 1)
energy indirect GHG emissions (Scope 2)
waste by type and disposal method
type of injury and rates of injury, occupational
diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, andnumber of work-related fatalities

SASB solar energy
sustainability
SEIA
accounting
Commitment28
standard30—

RR0102-A or
RR0102-B

included

301-2
302-1

RR0102-10——
included

—
302-3
303-1
305-1
305-2
306-2

RR0102-01.01—
RR0102-02.08
—
—
—

—
—
includedincludedincludedincluded403-2—

included

Reporting format and frequency:
 disclosures shall be publicly available on the manufacturer’s website. The manufacturer shalldeclare the URL of the public disclosure; data shall be reported consistent with the topic-specific Standards in the GRI Sustainability
Reporting Standards (GRI Standards), Solar Energies Industry Association (SEIA) Solar Industry
Environmental and Social Responsibility Commitment (SEIA Commitment) or Sustainability AccountingStandards Board (SASB) Solar Energy Sustainability Accounting Standard (SASB Standard) that arein effect at the time the disclosures are made as described in Table 11.1;
 publication of a full report or reports ‘in accordance’ with the GRI Standards or SASB Standard is
not required but would meet this criterion if the report(s) covers the indicators specified in this criterion;and performance against these indicators shall be reported and publicly disclosed annually; data
included in the report must be from within the last two years.
Verification requirements:a) URL for public disclosure on manufacturer’s website; andb) demonstration of annual disclosure of all the indicators in Table 11.1 consistent withGRI Standards, SEIA Commitment, or SASB Standard and using data from within the last two years.

44

© 2019 NSF

11.2.2

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Optional – Reporting additional key performance indicators (corporate)

Manufacturer shall publicly disclose annually additional key performance indicators. The disclosure shalldefine the reporting boundary by specifying which regions and manufacturing processes are covered ineach metric in Table 11.2 and using the same reporting format and frequency in Section 11.2.1.
Manufacturer may claim up to 2 points for this criterion. To claim 1 point, any six of the indicators listed inTable 11.2 shall be publicly disclosed. To claim 2 points, all of the indicators listed in Table 11.2 shall be
publicly disclosed.
Table 11.2
Reference source of key performance indicator
Key performance indicators

GRI
Standards

materials used by weight or volume
reduction of energy consumption

301-1
302-4

water withdrawn in water stressed areas

303-2

water recycled and reused
303-3
GHG emissions intensity
305-4
reduction of GHG emissions
305-5
water discharge by quality and destination
306-1
significant spills and transport of hazardous
306-3 & 306-4
waste
noncompliance with environmental laws and307-1
regulations
product recycling program in place—
freedom of association and collective
407-1
bargaining for operations and suppliers
operations and suppliers with risk for forced or
409-1
compulsory labor

SASB Solar Energy
Sustainability
Accounting Standard——
RR0102-02.11 &RR0102-02.12(or WBSCD Global
Water Tool40)
—
—
—
—

SEIA
commitment
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

included

—

—

—

—

Point value: maximum 2
Verification requirements:a) URL for public disclosure on manufacturer’s website; andb) demonstration of annual disclosure of indicators in Table 11.2 consistent with GRI Standards,
SEIA Commitment, or SASB Standard and using data from within the last two years:— 6 indicators for 1 point; or— all indicators for 2 points.

45

© 2019 NSF

11.2.3

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Optional – Reporting on screening of Tier 1 suppliers (corporate)

Manufacturer shall publicly report on corporate environmental and social responsibility performance ofTier 1 suppliers using the key indicators of the GRI Standards listed in Table 11.3 and using the reporting
format and frequency specified in Section 11.2.1.
Public disclosure shall include the details outlined for all GRI aspects in Table 11.3.
Table 11.3
Indicator & GRI Standards reference
Code

Title
New suppliers that werescreened using social
criteria

414-1

Disclosure on indicator must, at a minimum:
Disclosure must specify which social impacts were used forscreening and evaluation of these indicators.
Labor practice criteria for screening and assessments, at aminimum, must Include compliance with laws on:— minimum wages;— working hours;— compensation for overtime;

414-2

Negative impacts on social
impacts in supply chain andactions taken— health and safety practices;— nondiscrimination;— freedom of association and collective bargaining;— humane treatment / incidents (such as of verbal,
psychological, physical, or sexual abuse, coercion orharassment);— child labor;— forced or compulsory labor.

308-1

308-2

New suppliers that werescreened using
environmental criteria
Negative environmental
impacts in the supply chain
and actions taken

Disclosure must specify which environmental impacts wereused for screening and evaluation of these impacts.

Point value: 2
Verification requirements:a) URL for public disclosure on manufacturer’s website;b) list of Tier 1 Suppliers who perform manufacturing or assembly functions for the product declared
to conform to this Standard;
NOTE — this does not require public disclosure of list of suppliers.

c) copy of public disclosure of GRI data in Table 11.3 for Tier 1 suppliers; and46

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019d) demonstration of annual disclosure of c). Public disclosures for the Tier 1 suppliers in c) must be
available at the time of first declaration to the criterion, and annually thereafter.
11.3
11.3.1

Corporate social performance
Required – Commitment to environmental and social responsibility (corporate)1) Manufacturer shall commit to continuous improvement in environmental, and social responsibility
including labor and human rights, demonstrated by a written public commitment by a company
officer. The commitment shall cover both its operations and its suppliers; or2) Participation in one of the following: Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Solar Industry Commitment for Environmental andSocial Responsibility; or Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct; or equivalent internationally-recognized program that promotes continuous improvement inenvironmental and social responsibility by manufacturers and their supply chain.
Verification requirements:a) written public commitment by a company officer, orb) participation in either SEIA Solar Industry Commitment for Environmental and Social Responsibility
or RBA Code of Conduct, orc) demonstration of public commitment and participation in an equivalent internationally-recognizedprogram, including documentation demonstrating that the program is equivalent to either of the abovereferenced programs
11.3.2
Optional – Auditing or certification to social responsibility performance standard(corporate)
Manufacturer shall implement or participate in a program that audits suppliers to promote social
responsibility and business ethics. The manufacturer shall have a process in place for evaluating the risk
for negative environmental and social impacts of its suppliers and determining which suppliers for the
product declared to conform to this Standard should undergo onsite environmental and social audits. The
manufacturer’s process for evaluating suppliers shall include specific environmental and social evaluation
criteria and a methodology for determining which suppliers must undergo onsite audits based on the
manufacturer’s criteria (“at risk” suppliers). “At risk” suppliers shall undergo onsite audits at least every three
years.
Any one of the following shall meet this criterion:1) manufacturer program that audits all facilities of “at risk” suppliers, at a minimum, againstinternationally recognized standards, including but not limited to, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1 point); or
2) all facilities of “at risk” suppliers certified by accredited certification bodies to Social Accountability(SA) 800028. Certification bodies shall be accredited by an authorized accreditation body to certify to
the SA8000. The certification shall be no older than three years. (2 points); or
All facilities of “at risk” suppliers audited to the RBA Code of Conduct26 using the validated audit process(VAP).

47

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Point value: 1 or 2
Verification requirements:a) documentation of process for identification of “at risk” suppliers and/or supplier facilities; andb) any one of the following:— documentation that manufacturer performs on-site audits of all facilities of “at risk” suppliers atleast every three years, and demonstration that the audit protocol addresses the issues coveredby the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights;— demonstration of valid certification to SA8000 for all facilities of “at risk” suppliers for the productdeclared to conform to this criterion; or— demonstration of RBA VAP audits for all facilities of “at risk” suppliers conducted within three
years.
11.4
11.4.1

Conflict mineral sourcing
Required – Public disclosure of use of conflict minerals in products (corporate)

Manufacturers shall: determine whether any of their products that they manufactured or contracted to have
manufactured contain conflict minerals that are necessary to the functionality or production of those
products and prepare disclosures on use and sources of these minerals in conformance with
Rule 13p-1 under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, regardless of the applicability ofRule 13p-1 to the company, with the exception of small business status; and make such disclosures publicly available on their websites and shall declare the URL of the public
disclosure.
Small businesses are exempt from this criterion. A small business shall be defined as one that:— is not a subsidiary of a larger company, and— showed annual revenues of less than $50 million during the most recently completed fiscal year
(at the time of product registration) for which audited financial statements are available.
Verification requirements:a) public disclosure on the company website of conflict minerals found in its products in conformancewith Rule 13p-1 under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934;b) declaration of the URL of the public disclosure on the company website; andc) for small businesses exempt from this criterion, a declaration that the organization is not a
subsidiary of a larger company and a copy of its most recent (but not more than three years old) audited
financial statements, indicating that annual revenues were below $50 million.
11.4.2

Optional – Conflict mineral sourced only from validated conflict-free smelters (corporate)

Manufacturers shall conduct due diligence in good faith to determine all sources of conflict minerals usedin all their products and conclude that they are from either:48

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 20191) recycled or scrap sources; or2) smelters, refiners, or both, which have been determined to be compliant with the Conflict-freeSmelter Program (CFSP) by the Conflict-free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), or one of CFSP’s mutually
recognized assessment programs, and appear on CFSI’s list of validated smelters and refiners,
consistent with the definitions provided for in Rule 13p-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of1934.
Starting in 2016 (or 2018 for smaller companies), if manufacturer is voluntarily claiming “conflict-free”, forthe purposes of conformance to this criterion, an independent private sector audit (IPSA) is required toverify manufacturer’s control systems and justification for determination, conducted in accordance with
Rule 13p under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
NOTE 1 –– For this criterion, “recycled or scrap sources” are defined as recycled metals are reclaimed
end-user or postconsumer products, or scrap processed metals created during product manufacturing.
Recycled metal includes excess, obsolete, defective, and scrap metal materials which contain refined orprocessed metals that are appropriate to recycle in the production of tin, tantalum, tungsten and/or gold.
Minerals partially processed, unprocessed or a bi-product from another ore are not recycled metals.39
NOTE 2 –– For CFSI list, see <www.conflictfreesourcing.org/conflict-free-smelter-refiner-lists>.

Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) copy of the independent private sector audit report, as specified in the criterion, verifying the
manufacturer’s determination of conflict-free sourcing.
11.4.3

Optional – Participation in in-region conflict-free sourcing program (corporate)

Manufacturer shall participate in or source minerals from at least one of the in-region conflict-free controlled
chain-of-custody sourcing programs which are validating and/or sourcing minerals from certified conflictfree sources in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
Point value: 1
Verification requirements:a) evidence of participation in at least one in-region conflict-free sourcing program, including:————

Solutions For Hope;
Conflict-free Tin Initiative;
Public Private Alliance for Responsible Mineral Trade; orother initiatives that meet the following criteria:— multi-stakeholder participation (i.e., more than just one organization);— is endorsed, recognized, funded, or contracted by the International Conference of the Great
Lakes Region (ICGLR), European Union, OECD, United Nations or US government agency /stakeholder (USAID, state department);— increases the supply of conflict-free minerals (3TG or other raw minerals) or reduces
human rights abuses associated with mineral extraction;— has a system of oversight and public reporting; and— does not give manufacturer credit for donation, participation or activities by their foundation.

49

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019orb) documentation that the manufacturer sources a defined amount of conflict minerals for any of its
products from certified conflict-free sources in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, including:— name of sourcing program and evidence of manufacturer sourcing from program;— name of conflict mineral sourced from sourcing program; and— component and product that the conflict-free mineral is used.

50

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Informative Annex 1
Summary of criteria

Criteria and section

Requiredor
optionalPV
modulespointsPV
inverters
points5

Management of substances

5.1

List and assessment of substances

5.1.1

RequiredR

R

Required

R

R

5.1.3

Required – List of declarable substances in productRequired – List of declarable substances used in
manufacturing
Optional – Disclosure of declarable substances

Optional

1

1

5.1.4

Optional – Database of substances in productOptional

2

2

5.1.5

Optional – Alternatives assessment
Optional – Making alternatives assessment publicly
available
Reduction of substances of concern (SVHC)
Required – Disclosure of substances on the European
Union REACH Regulation Candidate List of Substances ofVery High Concern (SVHC)
Optional – Presence of substances on the European Union
REACH Regulation Candidate List of Substances of VeryHigh Concern (SVHC)
Optional – Bromine, chlorine, and fluorine content inelectric cables
Optional –- Bromine, chlorine, and fluorine content inplastic parts other than electric cables
Required – Avoidance or reduction of high global warming
potential (GWP) gas emissions

Optional

2

2

Optional

11RequiredR

R

Optional

1

1

Optional

1

1

Optional

11RequiredR

R

Required(PV
inverters
only)

R

R

5.1.2

5.1.6
5.2
5.2.1

5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.2.5

5.2.6

Required – Conformance with provisions of European
Union RoHS Directive (applicable only to PV inverters)

6

Preferable materials use

6.1

Recycled content

6.1.1

Required – Declaration of recycled content in productRequired

R

R

6.1.2

Optional – Recycled content in productOptional

447Life cycle assessment (LCA)

7.1

PV module LCA

7.1.1

Required – Conducting LCA

Required

R

R

7.1.2

Optional – Public disclosure of LCA results

Optional

1

1

7.1.3

Optional – Public disclosure of LCI inventory data

Optional

2

2

7.2

Reduction in LCA impacts

7.2.1

Optional – Environmental hot spot identification

Optional

1

151

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Criteria and section

7.2.2

Optional – Environmental leadership compared to industry
average (applicable to PV modules only)

8

Energy efficiency and water use

8.1

Energy efficiency and management system
Optional – Energy management system for manufacturing
facilities
Optional – Certified energy management system
Optional – Certified energy management performance
improvement

8.1.1
8.1.2
8.1.3

Requiredor
optional
OptionalPV
modulesonlyPV
modulespointsPV
inverters
points2—

Optional

2

2

Optional

2

2

Optional

2

2

R

R

R

R

Required(PV
inverters
only)
Required(PV
inverters
only)

8.1.4

Required – Weighted efficiency reporting (applicable only
to PV inverters)

8.1.5

Required – Tare loss reporting (applicable only to PV
inverters)

8.2

Water use metrics

8.2.1

Required – Water inventory

Required

R

R

8.2.2

Optional – Quality of wastewater discharges

Optional

1

1

8.2.3

Optional – Improved water use efficiency

Optional22

9End of life management and design for recycling

9.1

RequiredR

R

Optional

1

1

9.1.3

End-of-life (EOL) management
Required – Product take-back service and processing
requirements (corporate)
Optional – Publicly available record of annual recycling andrecovery achievement (corporate)
Optional – Material recovery targets (corporate)

Optional

2

2

9.2

Design for recycling

9.2.1

Optional – Identification of materials for EOL management(only applicable to PV modules)

1

—

9.2.2

Optional – Replacement components(applicable only to PV inverters)

—

2

10

Product packaging

10.1

RequiredR

R

Required

R

R

10.2

Eliminate substances of concern
Required – Elimination of substances of concern in productpackaging
Required – Elimination of chlorine in processing packaging
materials
Recyclability of packaging

10.2.1Required – Enhancing recyclability of packaging materials

Required

R

R

9.1.1
9.1.2

10.1.110.1.252

availability

Optional(PV
modules
only)
Optional(PV
invertersonly)© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Criteria and section
10.3

Recycled content in packaging

10.3.1

Optional – Recycled content paper-based packaging
Optional – Postconsumer recycled content plastic inpackaging
Corporate responsibility

10.3.2
11
11.1
11.1.111.1.2
11.2
11.2.111.2.211.2.311.3
11.3.1
11.3.2
11.4
11.4.1
11.4.211.4.3Requiredor
optionalPV
modulespointsPV
inverters
points

Optional

1

1

Optional

1

1

R

R

R

R

R

R

2

2

2

2

R

R

2

2

R

R

1

1

1

1

Environmental, health, and safety management systems
Required – Environmental management system (EMS)
Requiredcertification
Required – Manufacturer conformance with occupational
Required
health and safety performance (corporate)
Corporate reporting
Required – Reporting on key performance indicators
Required(corporate)
Optional – Reporting additional key performance indicators
Optional(corporate)
Optional – Reporting on screening of Tier 1 suppliers
Optional(corporate)
Corporate social performance
Required – Commitment to environmental and social
Required
responsibility (corporate)
Optional – Auditing or certification to social responsibility
Optional
performance standard (corporate)
Conflict mineral sourcing
Required – Public disclosure of use of conflict minerals in
Requiredproducts (corporate)
Optional – Conflict mineral sourced only from validated
Optional
conflict free smelters (corporate)
Optional – Participation in in-region conflict-free sourcing
Optional
program (corporate)53

This page is intentionally left blank.

© 2019 NSF

NSF/ANSI 457 – 2019

Informative Annex 2
Section 7.1.1 system boundaries

I-2.1 Example flow
Emissions

Waste / scrap
Emissions

Emissions

Waste / scrap

Waste / scrap

Extraction andproduction of raw
materials

Trpt Refining ofmaterials

EnergyMaterial Acquisition & PreProcessing Phase

Trpt

Trpt

Manufacture ofcomponents

EnergyAssembly of
product

Trpt

EnergyProduction (Manufacturing / Assembly) phase

Trpt = Transport

Figure 1
Figure 1:
SystemBoundaries,
exampleSystemboundaries,
exampleflow flow

55

Distribution

Use ofproduct

EnergyEOL

Ancillary
Material

Usage phase

Disposal

Standards 52
The following Standards established and adopted by NSF as minimum voluntary consensus Standards are used internationally:
Std. #

Standard title

2
3

Food Equipment
Commercial Warewashing Equipment

4
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
18
20
21
24

Commercial Cooking, Rethermalization, and Powered Hot Food Holding and Transport Equipment
Water Heaters, Hot Water Supply Boilers, and Heat Recovery Equipment
Dispensing Freezers
Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers
Commercial Powered Food Preparation Equipment
Automatic Ice Making Equipment
Refuse Processors and Processing Systems
Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials
Manual Food and Beverage Dispensing Equipment
Commercial Bulk Milk Dispensing Equipment
Thermoplastic Refuse Containers
Plumbing System Components for Recreational Vehicles

25
29
35
37
40
41
42
44
46
49
50
51

Vending Machines for Food And Beverages
Detergent and Chemical Feeders for Commercial Spray-Type Dishwashing Machines
High Pressure Decorative Laminates (HPDL) for Surfacing Food Service Equipment
Air Curtains for Entranceways in Food and Food Service Establishments
Residential Wastewater Treatment Systems
Non-liquid Saturated Treatment Systems
Drinking Water Treatment Units – Aesthetic Effects
Residential Cation Exchange Water Softeners
Evaluation of Components and Devices Used in Wastewater Treatment Systems
Biosafety Cabinetry – Design, Construction, Performance, and Field Certification
Equipment for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Other Recreational Water Facilities
Food Equipment Materials

52
53
55
58
59
60
61
62
140
169
170
173

Supplemental Flooring
Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects
Ultraviolet Microbiological Water Treatment Systems
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems
Mobile Food Carts
Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects
Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects
Drinking Water Distillation Systems
Sustainable Carpet Assessment
Special Purpose Food Equipment and Devices
Glossary of Food Equipment Terminology
Dietary Supplements

177

Shower Filtration Systems – Aesthetic Effects

52 The information contained in this list of Standards is not part of this American National Standard (ANS) and has not beenprocessed in accordance with ANSI’s requirements for an ANS. Therefore, this Standards page may contain material that has
not been subjected to public review or a consensus process. In addition, it does not contain requirements necessary for
conformance to the Standard.

56

Std. #
184
223
240
244
245
305
321
330
332
336
342
347
350
350-1
358-1
358-2

Standard title
Residential Dishwashers
Conformity Assessment Requirements for Certification Bodies that Certify Products Pursuant to
NSF/ANSI 60 Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects
Drainfield Trench Product Sizing for Gravity Dispersal Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Dispersal
Systems
Drinking Water Treatment Units Supplemental Microbiological Water Treatment Systems – Filtration
Wastewater Treatment Systems – Nitrogen Reduction
Personal Care Products Containing Organic IngredientsGoldenseal Root (Hydrastis canadensis)
Glossary of Drinking Water Treatment Unit Terminology
Sustainability Assessment for Resilient Floor Coverings

359

Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings FabricSustainability Assessment for Wallcovering Products
Sustainability Assessment for Single-Ply Roofing Membranes
Onsite Residential and Commercial Water Reuse Treatment Systems
Onsite Residential and Commercial Greywater Treatment Systems for Subsurface Discharge
Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source “Geothermal” Heat Pump Systems
Polypropylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source “Geothermal” Heat Pump Systems
Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe and Fittings for Water-based Ground-Source (Geothermal) Heat
Pump Systems
Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT) Tubing and Fittings for Water-based Ground-Source(Geothermal) Heat Pump Systems
Valves for Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Water Distribution Tubing Systems

360
363
372
375
385
401
416
418
419
426
455-1
455-2

Wastewater Treatment Systems – Field Performance Verification
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Pharmaceutical Excipients
Drinking Water Treatment System Components – Lead Content
Sustainability Assessment for Water Contact Products
Disinfection Mechanics
Drinking Water Treatment Units – Emerging Compounds / Incidental Contaminants
Sustainability Assessment for Water Treatment Chemical Products
Effluent Filters – Field Longevity Testing
Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance – Filtration
Environmental Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility Assessment of Servers
Terminology for the NSF 455 Portfolio of Standards
Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements

455-3
455-4
457
600
14159-1

Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics
Good Manufacturing Practices for Over-the-Counter Drugs
Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters
Health Effects Evaluation and Criteria for Chemicals in Drinking Water
Hygiene Requirements for the Design of Meat and Poultry Processing Equipment
Hygiene Requirements for the Design of Hand-held Tools Used in Meat and Poultry Processing
Equipment
Hygiene Requirements for the Design of Mechanical Belt Conveyors Used in Meat and Poultry
Processing Equipment

358-3
358-4

14159-214159-357