When is UVF inspection especially useful — manufacturing, field, or maintenance?

UVF is useful in all stages:

• Manufacturing / Pre-installation QA — to verify that encapsulants and module build-up meet quality standards before installation.
• Post-installation / Field Inspections — to detect early signs of encapsulant degradation or cell-crack development, especially in aging modules.
• Maintenance / O&M (Operations & Maintenance) — as a fast, cost-effective screening method to identify modules that may require deeper investigation (e.g., via other imaging or IV testing).

Because UVF is non-intrusive and relatively quick, it’s ideal for periodic inspection across many modules.