Standard hardware warranties and terms of service
Most buyers want to know what is actually guaranteed, by whom, and for how long before they sign anything. This page sets out the panels, inverters and battery storage our installers specify most often on UK commercial sites, the warranty each carries, and the terms that apply — with the manufacturer datasheets available to download so your engineer can check every figure.
This is representative equipment, not an exclusive list. Specification depends on roof structure, shading, grid connection and your demand profile. The products and terms confirmed in your written proposal are the ones that apply to your project.
Warranty coverage at a glance
A quick summary of each manufacturer's warranty: how long the equipment is covered for, what happens if it breaks down, and what you need to do to keep the cover valid. Taken together, a typical commercial system carries manufacturer cover across a 15 to 25 year horizon — panels usually 12 years on the product itself with a 30-year performance warranty behind it, inverters 5 years as standard and commonly extended to 10, 15 or 20, and battery storage around 10 years (up to 15 on some configurations). Full terms, exclusions and conditions are set out in the sections below, with the manufacturer datasheets available to download.
| Equipment | Warranty length | If it breaks down | What keeps cover valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| JA Solar 605–630W bifacialPanels | 12 years against manufacturing defects | Manufacturer repairs or replaces defective modules (delamination, cell or junction-box failure). Site labour sits with the workmanship warranty, not the panel manufacturer. | Commissioned by a certified installer; equipment bought through an authorised channel |
| JA Solar 440–465W monofacialPanels | Typically 12 years (industry standard for this n-type range) — confirmed per batch in your proposal | Same manufacturer repair-or-replace process for physical defects. Your written proposal confirms the exact defect-cover term for the modules supplied. | Equipment bought through an authorised channel |
| Solis (80–110)K-5G-PROInverter | 5 years as standard, extendable to 10, 15 or 20 years; term confirmed in your proposal | Remote monitoring flags string-level faults early, so failures are diagnosed and a replacement unit arranged under the Solis warranty. Site labour is covered by the workmanship warranty or your O&M contract. | Registered to remote monitoring at handover; extension applied for within the first 5 years |
| SolaX X3-PRO G2 (8–30kW)Inverter | 5 years standard — free upgrade to 10 when cloud-registered | Failed units are replaced under warranty, with transport costs for replacement units (shipping, duties, import/export fees) covered in the UK and Ireland. Site labour is not covered by the manufacturer — it sits with the workmanship warranty or your O&M contract. | Registered and reporting to the SolaX cloud |
| SolaX Aelio storageBattery | Typically 10 years (up to 15 on some configurations), throughput-based — whichever limit comes first | Faulty modules or cabinet components are replaced under warranty until the year or throughput limit is reached. Requires an approved SolaX hybrid inverter as the pairing partner. | Paired with an approved SolaX hybrid inverter, cloud-registered, annual inspection kept up to date |
Summary only — the terms confirmed in your written proposal are the ones that apply to your project. Where a datasheet does not state a term, we show the manufacturer's or the industry's standard term for that type of equipment and label it as typical.
Solar panels
Both ranges are n-type double glass modules with a 30-year linear performance warranty. Bifacial modules are used where the roof or ground surface reflects enough light to justify them; monofacial where space is tight.
JA Solar JAM66D45 LB — 605–630W bifacial
Large-roof and ground-mount arrays
Warranty
- 12-year product warranty against manufacturing defects
- 30-year linear performance warranty
- 95% of rated output guaranteed at year 25, 87.4% at year 30
Key specification
- Module efficiency 22.4–23.3%, n-type double glass, 132 half-cells
- 1500V DC maximum system voltage, 3600Pa front static load
- IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certified, fire safety class C
- Bifacial gain typically around 10% on reflective surfaces
JA Solar JAM54D41 LR — 440–465W monofacial
Constrained roofs, plant rooms and infill areas
Warranty
- 30-year linear performance warranty
- 87.4% of rated output guaranteed at year 30
- Product warranty typically 12 years for this n-type range — confirmed per batch in your proposal
Key specification
- Module efficiency 22.0–23.3%, n-type double glass, 108 half-cells
- 1500V DC maximum system voltage, 5400Pa front static load
- IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certified, 22kg per module
- Temperature coefficient −0.290%/°C for better summer performance
Inverters
The inverter is the component most likely to need attention over the life of the array, so warranty term and monitoring quality matter more here than headline efficiency. Every commercial installation is designed to G99 and signed off with the relevant DNO.
Solis (80–110)K-5G-PRO
Large three-phase rooftop and ground-mount arrays
Warranty
- 5 years as standard across Solis grid-tied commercial models (industry standard term)
- Extendable in paid steps — commonly to 10, 15 or 20 years — applied for within the first 5 years
- Remote monitoring and string-level fault reporting included
Key specification
- 80kW, 100kW and 110kW models; up to 98.5% peak efficiency
- 6–8 MPPTs, over 150% DC/AC ratio, bifacial module compatible
- IP66 enclosure with AFCI arc-fault protection to reduce fire risk
- G99, EN 50549-1/2 and IEC 61727 grid compliance
SolaX X3-PRO G2 — 8kW to 30kW
Small and mid-sized commercial roofs
Warranty
- 5 years standard, from installation or 9 months after manufacture, whichever is earlier
- Free upgrade to 10 years where the inverter is registered and reporting to the SolaX cloud
- Accessories 2–5 years; EV chargers 3 years
Key specification
- Up to 98.5% peak efficiency, 150% DC oversizing, 110% AC overload
- Up to 3 MPPTs with 2 strings each, 32A per tracker
- IP66, Type II surge protection on both AC and DC sides
- VDE 4105 and EN 50549 certified, master/slave parallel operation
Battery storage
Battery warranties work differently to panels: cover runs until either a number of years or a total energy throughput is reached, whichever comes first. That makes your cycling assumptions part of the warranty, not just the financial model.
SolaX Aelio commercial energy storage
Peak-shaving, load-shifting and resilience
Warranty
- Typically 10 years on commercial lithium-iron-phosphate storage, and up to 15 years on some configurations
- Battery cover is throughput-based: warranted until either the stated years or the stated energy throughput is reached
- Cover requires pairing with an approved SolaX hybrid inverter and cloud registration
- Annual inspection expected to keep the performance warranty valid
Key specification
- Modular cabinets sized to your half-hourly demand profile
- Integrated battery management, fire detection and thermal control
- Works alongside solar to shift generation into high-tariff periods
- Exact modules, capacity and cycle assumptions modelled per site
Terms that apply across all hardware
When cover starts
Manufacturer cover typically starts on the earlier of the installation date or nine months after the date of manufacture. We record both dates in your handover pack so there is no dispute later.
Registration and commissioning
Warranties apply only where equipment is bought through an authorised channel and commissioned by a certified installer. Inverter and battery registration to the manufacturer's monitoring platform is completed at handover — on several ranges this is what unlocks the longer term.
Monitoring and annual inspection
Manufacturers expect the system to remain connected to monitoring and to be inspected annually. Skipping either can limit a claim, which is why an O&M package is quoted alongside every proposal rather than bolted on afterwards.
Transport and labour
For SolaX equipment in the UK and Ireland, transport costs for replacement units — shipping, duties, import and export fees — are covered. Site labour and access are covered by the workmanship warranty or your O&M contract, not by the manufacturer.
What is excluded
Damage from lightning, flood, fire, power surge, corrosion, pest damage, unauthorised alteration by a third party, or force majeure is excluded across all manufacturers, as is anything caused by installation outside the published specification.
Claims process
You report a fault or an output shortfall to us. We pull monitoring data, run the diagnostic, and submit the claim to the manufacturer with test evidence and photographs. You do not deal with the manufacturer directly.
Transfer on sale
Product and performance warranties normally follow the equipment, so they transfer with the building or asset. The handover pack is built to be passed to a buyer or funder intact.
After the warranty expires
Paid service, spares and replacement remain available from manufacturers once cover ends. Inverter replacement at years 12–15 should be budgeted for in any 25-year financial model.
What Solar Britain adds on top
Manufacturer cover protects the equipment. These four layers protect the installation and your ability to make a claim stick.
Workmanship warranty
Covers mounting, fixings, cabling, weatherproofing and installation defects — a minimum of 2 years, with 5–10 years available from most of our commercial installers.
Insurance-backed guarantee
Underwrites the installer's workmanship warranty if that installer ceases trading. We ask for the IBG certificate before any deposit is paid.
Monitoring and O&M
Remote performance monitoring with alerting, plus optional preventative maintenance so shortfalls are caught while they are still claimable.
Documented handover
O&M manual, electrical certificates, DNO acceptance, serial numbers, warranty registrations and monitoring access in one pack.
When equipment fails: the warranty claim, step by step
A warranty is only as good as the process behind it. This is what happens on a Solar Britain system from the moment a fault appears to the moment the replacement is generating again — and who does each part.
- 1
You notice, or we detect, a fault
Most failures surface in two ways: your team spots something (an inverter error code, a tripped string, water ingress) or our monitoring alerts on an output shortfall. Either route starts the same way — a fault report is logged with your system's serial numbers and commissioning date.
- 2
We diagnose using monitoring data
We pull the remote monitoring history, run the manufacturer's diagnostic procedure and confirm whether the fault is a genuine equipment defect or something the warranty does not cover (for example, grid-side issues, damage from an excluded event, or third-party alteration). You get our findings in writing.
- 3
We submit the claim to the manufacturer
If it is a covered defect, we prepare and submit the claim on your behalf: commissioning report, serial numbers, monitoring evidence, test results and photographs. You do not deal with the manufacturer's support desk, forms or timelines yourself.
- 4
The manufacturer repairs or replaces
For a validated claim the manufacturer repairs the unit or ships a replacement. On SolaX equipment in the UK and Ireland, transport costs for replacement units — shipping, duties, import and export fees — are covered by the manufacturer. Site labour and access are not: those sit with the workmanship warranty or your O&M contract.
- 5
We fit, test and hand back
We arrange the swap-out, recommission the system, confirm it is back in full production and update your handover pack — warranty registration, serial numbers and service record — so the paper trail stays intact for any future claim or sale of the building.
Warranty claims — your questions answered
What actually happens when a panel or inverter fails?
The fault is reported to us — either by your team or by our monitoring alerts. We diagnose it using the monitoring data and the manufacturer's test procedure, confirm whether it is a covered defect, and if it is, we submit the warranty claim to the manufacturer on your behalf. They repair or replace the faulty unit, we fit and recommission it, and your handover pack is updated. You are never left to argue the case with a manufacturer's support desk yourself.
How long does a warranty claim take?
It depends on the manufacturer and the part. Remote diagnostics and a claim submission typically happen within days of the fault being confirmed, but replacement lead times vary — inverters and battery modules are usually turned around in weeks, while panel replacements can take longer if they are shipped to order. Throughout the claim the rest of the array keeps generating, and any lost production is logged so it can be checked against the performance warranty.
What information is needed to make a claim?
The manufacturer's essentials: proof of purchase through an authorised channel, the commissioning report, equipment serial numbers, and evidence of the fault itself — monitoring data, test readings and photographs. All of this is assembled in your handover pack at installation and kept current by your O&M contract, which is precisely why claims against our systems are straightforward.
What happens if a claim is rejected?
A claim is typically rejected when the fault falls outside cover — lightning, flood, fire or surge damage, corrosion, pest damage, third-party alteration, or equipment installed outside the published specification. In that case we give you the manufacturer's reasoning in writing, set out the repair options and costs, and where relevant point you to your building insurance, which is where those excluded events belong. If we believe a rejection is wrong, we escalate it with the manufacturer directly.
Who pays for the labour to swap out a failed unit?
The manufacturer covers the replacement part and, on SolaX equipment in the UK and Ireland, the transport costs for it. Site labour and access — scaffold, crane or cherry-picker time, electricians on the roof — are covered by your workmanship warranty during its term, and by your O&M contract after that. This split is normal across the industry and it is set out plainly in your proposal so there are no surprises mid-claim.
Can equipment fail and the warranty still not apply?
Yes, in a small number of avoidable cases: the equipment was not registered to the manufacturer's monitoring platform, annual inspections lapsed, an unauthorised contractor altered the system, or the failure followed excluded-event damage. These are the same conditions listed in the coverage summary above — which is why registration at handover, monitoring and annual inspection are treated as part of the warranty itself, not optional extras.
Frequently asked questions
How long is each part of a commercial solar system covered for?
On the equipment we typically specify: panels carry a 12-year product warranty and a 30-year linear performance warranty (87.4% of rated output at year 30). SolaX inverters are 5 years standard, extended free to 10 years where the unit is registered and reporting to the cloud. Solis commercial inverter terms are confirmed in your written proposal, with paid extensions available. Battery cover is throughput-based. Workmanship is a minimum of 2 years and commonly 5–10.
Is this the only hardware Solar Britain installs?
No. These are representative of what our installers specify most often on UK commercial roofs. Panel, inverter and battery selection depends on roof structure, shading, grid connection and your demand profile. Whatever is specified for your site is named — with its warranty term — in your written proposal.
What can invalidate a solar warranty?
The common causes are equipment bought outside an authorised channel, commissioning by an uncertified installer, failure to register the inverter or battery, unauthorised alteration by a third party, and letting monitoring or annual inspection lapse. Environmental events such as lightning, flood, fire and surge are excluded too — those belong on your insurance, not the warranty.
Who handles a warranty claim — me or you?
We do. You report the fault or the shortfall, we pull the monitoring data and run the diagnostic, then submit the claim to the manufacturer with test evidence. Keeping the commissioning report and O&M logs is what makes a claim straightforward.
Do the warranties transfer if we sell the building?
Product and performance warranties normally follow the equipment, so they pass to the new owner. The handover pack is deliberately assembled so it can be handed to a purchaser, tenant or funder without gaps — which also helps at valuation.
What is the difference between a product and a performance warranty?
A product warranty covers physical defects — delamination, cell failure, a failed junction box. A performance warranty guarantees output against a published degradation curve, so it protects the numbers in your business case rather than the hardware itself. You want both, and you want them in writing.
Warranty terms, degradation figures and specifications on this page are taken from manufacturer documentation current at the time of publication and are shown as examples of the equipment used on UK commercial installations. Manufacturers may revise their terms, and product availability changes. The specification, warranty terms and service commitments that apply to your project are those set out in your written proposal and contract.
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