Pre-shipment inspection catches ~4% of Chinese solar orders having defect rates worth rejecting. Here's how the four main inspection houses compare and which to use when.
SGS pre-shipment (1 container)
$1,050
AQL sampling + EL
TÜV Rheinland (with report)
$1,320
same day site inspection
Bureau Veritas
$1,180
Intertek
$1,240
What each does best
| Provider | Best for | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| SGS | Fastest turnaround, biggest China network | Basic reporting |
| TÜV Rheinland | Best EL image quality and defect grading | Higher cost |
| Bureau Veritas | Best for shipping doc + AQL combined | Lower China density |
| Intertek | Best for US destination compliance verification | Slower scheduling |
Frequently asked questions
QShould I do 100% inspection or AQL sampling?
AQL 2.5 general inspection level II is industry standard and catches statistical defect rates. 100% EL imaging is only cost-justified for orders under 5,000 panels or for reject-driven claims.
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