Armenia is a Transcaucasian country whose electrical system is built on European IEC/EN, while retaining some legacy Soviet GOST standards — it does not follow an Asian standard system. New PV plants and foreign EPC projects prioritize European EN standards: for solar cables, the default is H1Z2Z2-K (EN 50618, DC 1500V). PV1-F is the older generation (DC 1000V) and is only accepted in small, low-budget residential systems; large EPC projects mostly reject it.
1. H1Z2Z2-K vs PV1-F
| Dimension | H1Z2Z2-K (EN 50618) | PV1-F (old TÜV 2 PfG 1169) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard version | Current European standard, replaces PV1-F | Legacy, superseded by EN 50618 |
| Rated voltage | DC 1500V | DC 1000V |
| Certification | TÜV / EN 50618, can carry CE + CPR DoP | Old TÜV, usually no CPR class |
| Fire class | Can carry CPR (Dca / Cca etc.), halogen-free low-smoke | Usually no CPR fire declaration |
| Low-temp performance | Suitable down to -40℃ | Limited |
| Typical projects | Large ground-mounted plants, European EPC | Small residential, very low budget |
| Acceptance in large projects | First choice; EPC designs to EU specs | Often rejected (voltage/standard mismatch) |
Takeaway: Default to H1Z2Z2-K for solar projects; PV1-F is only accepted in low-cost small systems.
2. Armenia's Standard System: Two Coexist
- European-capital / international EPC projects: follow IEC + EN, use H1Z2Z2-K, and require TÜV certificate + CPR fire-class declaration (e.g. the Dca-s1,d2,a1 class you saw on the Italian project). Many European EPCs design strictly to EU specs and ask for CE + CPR DoP.
- Local legacy / Russian-oriented clients: still use former Soviet GOST cables and rarely specify H1Z2Z2-K; such retrofit projects may name GOST cables directly.
Rule of thumb: New projects → EN; old retrofits → GOST; foreign EPC → almost always H1Z2Z2-K.
3. Certification: Not Legally Mandatory, But Market-Expected
- Armenia is not an EU member, so CE / CPR are not legally required;
- yet European EPCs and investors almost always demand a TÜV certificate + CPR fire-class declaration before awarding work;
- therefore, even if the client does not ask, we recommend preparing PV cables to EN 50618 + H1Z2Z2-K + optional CPR.
Related reading: What is H1Z2Z2-K? EN 50618 & EU PV Market Guide ｜ What Dca-s1,d2,a1 Fire Classes Mean ｜ EN 50618 vs IEC 62930: How to Choose
4. Voltage Selection: Lock in H1Z2Z2-K
Armenia's ground-mounted PV plants are now commonly 1500V DC systems, while PV1-F tops out at DC 1000V — a voltage mismatch.
- Choose H1Z2Z2-K (DC 1500V): matches mainstream 1500V systems and meets EN design + CPR needs;
- Choose PV1-F (DC 1000V): only for legacy systems or small residential; mostly rejected by large plants.
5. Export Sales Notes (Frequent Risks)
- Two systems coexist — ask "who designs" before quoting: European EPC → must be H1Z2Z2-K + TÜV + CPR; Russian/local retrofit → may need GOST, don't force EN.
- PV1-F is a downgrade flag: if the client only wants a cheap small system, PV1-F is fine, but clearly state its DC 1000V ceiling and no CPR to avoid later "substitution" claims.
- Document prep: for Armenia, keep EN 50618 TÜV cert + CPR DoP (with fire class, e.g. Dca-s1,d2,a1) + specs in CN/EN/RU ready, covering both European EPC and Russian-oriented clients.
6. Common Misconceptions
- Myth 1: Armenia uses Asian standards. Wrong. Its electrical system is primarily IEC/EN European, with some residual Soviet GOST — not an Asian system.
- Myth 2: PV1-F and H1Z2Z2-K are interchangeable. Wrong. Their voltage (1000V vs 1500V), standard version, and CPR requirements differ; large projects cannot mix them.
- Myth 3: Armenia legally mandates CE/CPR. Wrong. Not legally required (non-EU), but European investors/EPCs effectively demand it — a de facto market-access standard.
- Myth 4: Russian-oriented clients always want EN. Wrong. Local retrofits and Russian clients may specify GOST cables instead.
FAQ
Q1: Does Armenia follow Asian or European cable standards? A: Primarily IEC/European EN, while retaining some former Soviet GOST; it is not part of an Asian standard system. New PV and foreign EPC projects prioritize European EN standards.
Q2: PV1-F or H1Z2Z2-K for Armenian solar projects? A: Large ground-mounted and European EPC projects should choose H1Z2Z2-K (EN 50618, DC 1500V); only small residential, low-budget systems use PV1-F (legacy DC 1000V), which large plants generally reject.
Q3: Is CE/CPR legally mandatory in Armenia? A: No (non-EU member). But European EPCs and investors almost always require a TÜV certificate + CPR fire-class declaration, making it a de facto market-access standard.
Q4: Why do Armenian projects mostly skip PV1-F? A: Current ground PV is mostly 1500V DC, while PV1-F is only DC 1000V — a voltage mismatch; its standard is outdated and usually lacks CPR, failing EPC design files.
Q5: What cable do Russian-oriented clients request in Armenia? A: Local legacy and Russian-oriented clients may directly specify GOST cables and rarely ask for H1Z2Z2-K; confirm "who designs, under which spec" before quoting.
Summary
Armenia's electrical rules are primarily IEC/European EN, with some residual Soviet GOST — not an Asian system. For solar cable selection:
- Large ground-mounted / European EPC → prefer H1Z2Z2-K (EN 50618, DC 1500V), with TÜV cert, usually requiring CPR fire class;
- Small residential low-budget → PV1-F (legacy DC 1000V) is acceptable, but large plants generally reject it;
- Russian/local legacy retrofit → client may specify GOST cables.
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