{"id":6285,"date":"2025-12-15T15:29:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T15:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/?p=6285"},"modified":"2026-01-29T16:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:40:53","slug":"faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#8217; BLA vs IPCs Time Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-lg-font-size has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-727f9e08 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Utility-scale solar is under more pressure than ever. AI-driven data center growth is straining the grid, IRA incentives are winding down, and developers are expected to build faster, leaner, and with fewer skilled electricians. Labor shortages, tight schedules, and swelling interconnection queues mean the industry is scrutinizing every part of the build process to recover time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">In conversations with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partners and solar project developers, one theme keeps coming up: having real, measurable data that shows where efficiencies are gained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">To answer the call, Shoals has recently conducted a controlled installation time study&nbsp; to capture real world data on comparative differences between our patented Big Lead Assembly (BLA) trunk bus and traditional insulation piercing connectors (IPCs). The results support the narrative we&#8217;ve known for years: prefabricated solutions like our BLA install faster and safer than IPCs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">This blog provides insight into how this time study was conducted and the key outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-why-we-conducted-this-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Why we conducted this BLA vs IPCs time study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">We wanted data that reflects real installation conditions, not lab-optimized scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Industry assumptions were clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">IPCs take longer because complex field terminations slow crews down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Quality varies by installer, weather, and site conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Prefabricated trunk buses&nbsp;are clearly faster, but by how much?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">To answer those questions, Shoals engineers designed a neutral, side-by-side test comparing full string installation workflows using BLA versus IPCs.<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2419-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It takes two people and a lot of effort to install an IPC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-how-we-structured-the-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">How we structured the BLA vs IPCs time study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Shoals is well known for our engineering acumen and ability to simplify our customers\u2019 project layouts and solve complex problems. The method was intentionally simple to ensure that results are clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">We approached an experienced regional EPC known for completing more than 1,400 solar projects across the Southeast to help us conduct this study. They weren\u2019t Shoals installers. They weren\u2019t IPC or BLA specialists. They were just the kind of crew that shows up on every utility-scale project: hardworking and under pressure to build fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">We set up a demo section \u2014 18 strings with IPCs and 18 with Shoals BLA \u2014 with conditions each string would normally face, and watched the crew get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bla-vs-ipc-study-setup\">BLA vs IPC Study Setup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Demo size:<\/strong> 18-string installation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Crew:<\/strong> Small, mixed-experience team with equal familiarity with BLA and IPCs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Conditions:<\/strong> Identical terrain and environment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Mounting:<\/strong> Same racking layout and string lengths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Measurement goal:<\/strong> Measure the entire installation process of both string wire and BLA\/IPC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">The goal was simple: measure installation time in a way that mirrors real-world IPC and BLA work. We wanted apples to apples: same hands, same tools, same environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ipc-e-w-components\">IPC E-W Components<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Roll out the trunk wire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Measure and cut trunk to length<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Measure and cut drop wires to length<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Field install connectors onto drop wires<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Install the IPCs on the trunk with drop wires<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Hang the trunk along the messenger wire system<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ipc-n-s-components\">IPC N-S Components<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Roll out the string wire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Measure and cut to length<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Field install connectors onto the string wire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Hang the string wire in the cable management solution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Make the connection between string wires and IPC drop wires<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bla-e-w-components\"> BLA E-W Components<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Roll out the prefabricated BLA trunks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Hang the BLA along the messenger wire system<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bla-n-s-components\">BLA N-S Components<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Roll out the prefabricated string wire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Hang the string wire in the cable management solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Make the connection between the string wire and BLA pigtails<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" controls src=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IPC-Housing-Installation-without-Logos-1.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This video shows how installing IPC housing is a daunting task that takes a long time and requires a lot of effort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-how-the-installation-process-was-dramatically-different\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">How the installation process was dramatically different<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ipc-preparation-challenges-we-clearly-saw\">IPC preparation challenges we clearly saw<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Each pigtail must be sized, stripped, and landed manually in the field, introducing major risk for human error and inconsistent quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">IPC locations must be determined on site by interpreting drawings, adding placement inconsistencies and more opportunities for mistakes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ipc-installation-challenges-we-noticed\">IPC installation challenges we noticed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Each pigtail must be physically held in place during crimping, often requiring a second person to manage hands, tools, and alignment inside a tight space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Installers must confirm correct crimp die selection, proper cable alignment, and proper seating before compression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The crimping action is aggressive and cuts deeply through insulation, creating an invasive mechanical connection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The IPC housing must be split open, exposing sealing gel to dirt, dust, debris, and insects\u2014common in real solar environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Gel transfers to the installer\u2019s hands, creating a slippery and unsafe grip environment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Reassembling the IPC housing requires precise alignment that is much harder in the field than on paper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Even when complete, the IPC appears \u201cunfinished\u201d and visually vulnerable, increasing concern about long-term durability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-installers-ipc-process-looked-like-this\">The installers\u2019 IPC process looked like this:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">measuring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">cutting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">stripping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">holding pigtails in place<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">checking alignment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">compressing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">checking the crimp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">hoping the gel stayed clean and\/or removing debris<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">snapping the housing back together<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">fighting gel on their gloves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">wiping dust off the parts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">checking the seal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">attaching to messenger wire<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Some parts of this process surprised the crew. And as they worked, we saw something you can\u2019t capture in a spec sheet: the stop-and-go rhythm, the manual nature of the job, the interruptions, the alignment checks, the second set of hands needed almost every time. One of the installers shook his head halfway through: \u201cEvery connector is basically its own mini job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-meanwhile-the-bla-workflow-took-minutes-not-hours\">Meanwhile, the BLA workflow took minutes, not hours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">With Shoals BLA, everything was pre-engineered. Everything fit. No surprises. Each one of these steps carries risk. BLA eliminates all of them. Factory-terminated harnesses mean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">No stripping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">No cutting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">No exposed gel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">No special tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">No alignment checks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">No multi-step sealing requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Just roll, hang, and plug. That\u2019s it. And the installers looked at us like, \u201cSeriously\u2026 we are done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-the-results-of-bla-vs-ipc-time-study-bla-installed-upwards-of-40-faster\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">The results of BLA vs IPC time study: BLA installed upwards of 40% faster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Even with a crew that did not have much experience with BLA before, the difference was immediate and consistent. BLA installed up to 40% faster. And here\u2019s what shocked the installers most: the IPC strings didn\u2019t just take longer, but they took different amounts of time every single time. BLA, on the other hand, delivered the same result again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-findings\">Key Findings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">IPCs introduced a lot more touchpoints, increasing labor hours and error risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">BLA installed upwards of 40% faster across the 18 strings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">IPC workflow time varied significantly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">BLA time remained stable due to its standardized, factory-built design.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2463-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Installing IPCs is labor-intensive and demands precision, specialized tools, and careful handling to prevent contamination of the insulating gel.\" class=\"wp-image-6304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2463-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2463-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2463-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2463-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2463-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Installing IPCs is labor-intensive and demands precision, specialized tools, and careful handling to prevent contamination of the insulating gel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-why-bla-outperforms-ipcs-in-the-field\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Why BLA outperforms IPCs in the field<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Watching the crew work side by side made the difference painfully obvious. The structural reasons behind the time savings align with what EPCs see daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-prefabrication-eliminates-field-terminations\">1. Prefabrication eliminates field terminations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">IPCs depend on heavy field labor. BLA removes this dependence. Below<a> are the exact IPC realities the study confirmed.<\/a>&nbsp; These details often go unseen until a crew is on site, under pressure, in the dust, wind, cold, or heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-ipcs-are-vulnerable-to-errors-and-conditions\">2. IPCs are vulnerable to errors and conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">During installation we observed that more terminations mean more risk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Torque variation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Environmental contamination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Moisture intrusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Oxidation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Improper seating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Misalignment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">One installer jokingly said: \u201cWhoever designed these thinks we have three hands. We don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-bla-is-factory-sealed-and-tested-for-35-year-nbsp-service-life\">3. BLA is factory-sealed and tested for 35+ year&nbsp;service life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">While IPCs rely on field craftsmanship and environmental luck, BLA\u2019s patented overmold\/undermold technology is its superpower, locking in performance long before it reaches the site. This design creates hermetically sealed, factory-controlled connections that are fully tested before they leave Shoals\u2019 Tennessee facility. The result is a clean, robust, long-life solution aligned to real EPC demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">BLA trunk bus solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">use Shoals\u2019 overmold\/undermold process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">are hipot tested and pull tested<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">eliminate copper\/aluminum oxidation exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">remove every guesswork element from wiring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-for-epcs-and-developers-this-means-labor-savings-and-shorter-schedules\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">For EPCs and developers this means labor savings and shorter schedules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-reduction-in-labor-hours\">1. Reduction in labor hours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Fewer terminations mean fewer electricians resulting in fewer bottlenecks on critical paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-compressed-schedules\">2. Compressed schedules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Predictable string times help planners forecast daily output and hit milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-lower-rework\">3. Lower rework<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">IPCs require follow-up quality checks that are nearly impossible to perform in the field, leaving them a black box with failure risks that may only surface later. BLA arrives factory-verified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-more-efficient-crew-utilization\">4. More efficient crew utilization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">Installers can stay productive even in dust, heat, wind, and rain. They can avoid downtime from weather or complex tool setups and deploy smaller crews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-risk-reduction\">5. Risk reduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">BLA removes all field variability by delivering a sealed, factory-quality termination every time. In large-scale solar, reliability is not a nice-to-have. It is fundamental to long-term asset performance.<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/210609_Bohler_Shoals-6552-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Shoals is trusted across the industry for its electrical and wiring solutions for solar and storage projects, delivering speed, reduced on-site labor, and enhanced safety and reliability.\" class=\"wp-image-6308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/210609_Bohler_Shoals-6552-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/210609_Bohler_Shoals-6552-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/210609_Bohler_Shoals-6552-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/210609_Bohler_Shoals-6552-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/210609_Bohler_Shoals-6552.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shoals is trusted across the industry for its electrical and wiring solutions for solar and storage projects, delivering speed, reduced on-site labor, and enhanced safety and reliability.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-conclusion-when-every-minute-counts-bla-delivers-where-ipcs-can-t\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Conclusion: when every minute counts, BLA delivers where IPCs can&#8217;t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\">The Shoals BLA vs IPCs time study didn\u2019t just validate BLA\u2019s installation performance. It told a real, human story about how work actually gets done in the field. The study confirmed that BLA is faster, easier, safer, more consistent, and far more predictable than IPCs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-2-special-font-size\" id=\"h-want-to-see-the-full-time-study-want-to-design-your-next-project-with-bla\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-30);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Want to see the full time study? Want to design your next project with BLA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/get-in-touch\/\"><strong>Reach out<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>to us and we will walk your team through the complete analysis, installation methods, optimization strategies, and EBOS best practices for utility-scale solar. We can also help you apply BLA to your next project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A real-world time study shows how Shoals\u2019 BLA installs up to 40% faster than IPCs, reducing labor, risk, and schedule delays for utility-scale solar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"5614,5250,5219","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"basejump_background":[],"editor_notices":[],"contributor":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[49,47,37,40,43,48,127,38],"product-type":[25,24],"class_list":["post-6285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-big-lead-assembly","tag-bla","tag-clean-energy","tag-ebos","tag-electrical-balance-of-systems","tag-ipc","tag-ipcs","tag-solar","product-type-big-lead-assembly-bla-trunk-bus","product-type-solar-big-lead-assembly"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#039; BLA vs IPCs Time Study - Shoals Technologies Group\u2122<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how clean energy drives U.S. leadership by powering AI, creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#039; BLA vs IPCs Time Study\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover how clean energy drives U.S. leadership by powering AI, creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shoals Technologies Group\u2122\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-15T15:29:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T16:40:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Masha Birger\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Masha Birger\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Masha Birger\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad54e7e81c531cbc1fa0af9887069dab\"},\"headline\":\"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#8217; BLA vs IPCs Time Study\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-15T15:29:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-29T16:40:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\"},\"wordCount\":1570,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Big Lead Assembly\",\"BLA\",\"clean energy\",\"EBOS\",\"electrical balance of systems\",\"IPC\",\"IPCs\",\"solar\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Blog\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\",\"name\":\"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals' BLA vs IPCs Time Study - Shoals Technologies Group\u2122\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-15T15:29:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-29T16:40:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Discover how clean energy drives U.S. leadership by powering AI, creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707,\"caption\":\"Installing IPCs takes time and two people\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/category\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#8217; BLA vs IPCs Time Study\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Shoals Technologies Group\u2122\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Shoals Technolgies Group\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Shoals_Master_Logo_Tagline_Green-logo-black-text-3-1024x447.jpeg.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Shoals_Master_Logo_Tagline_Green-logo-black-text-3-1024x447.jpeg.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":447,\"caption\":\"Shoals Technolgies Group\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad54e7e81c531cbc1fa0af9887069dab\",\"name\":\"Masha Birger\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d222004b443a94cee52b4002c760b49a245ec40713506d5bb8c8ace74c70287a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d222004b443a94cee52b4002c760b49a245ec40713506d5bb8c8ace74c70287a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d222004b443a94cee52b4002c760b49a245ec40713506d5bb8c8ace74c70287a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Masha Birger\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/author\/masha-birger\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals' BLA vs IPCs Time Study - Shoals Technologies Group\u2122","description":"Discover how clean energy drives U.S. leadership by powering AI, creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals' BLA vs IPCs Time Study","og_description":"Discover how clean energy drives U.S. leadership by powering AI, creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.","og_url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/","og_site_name":"Shoals Technologies Group\u2122","article_published_time":"2025-12-15T15:29:51+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-29T16:40:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Masha Birger","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Masha Birger","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/"},"author":{"name":"Masha Birger","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad54e7e81c531cbc1fa0af9887069dab"},"headline":"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#8217; BLA vs IPCs Time Study","datePublished":"2025-12-15T15:29:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-29T16:40:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/"},"wordCount":1570,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg","keywords":["Big Lead Assembly","BLA","clean energy","EBOS","electrical balance of systems","IPC","IPCs","solar"],"articleSection":["Blog"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/","url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/","name":"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals' BLA vs IPCs Time Study - Shoals Technologies Group\u2122","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-12-15T15:29:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-29T16:40:53+00:00","description":"Discover how clean energy drives U.S. leadership by powering AI, creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/IMG_2421-scaled.jpeg","width":2560,"height":1707,"caption":"Installing IPCs takes time and two people"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/faster-and-safer-inside-shoals-bla-vs-ipcs-time-study\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/category\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Faster and Safer: Inside Shoals&#8217; BLA vs IPCs Time Study"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/","name":"Shoals Technologies Group\u2122","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Shoals Technolgies Group","url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Shoals_Master_Logo_Tagline_Green-logo-black-text-3-1024x447.jpeg.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Shoals_Master_Logo_Tagline_Green-logo-black-text-3-1024x447.jpeg.webp","width":1024,"height":447,"caption":"Shoals Technolgies Group"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad54e7e81c531cbc1fa0af9887069dab","name":"Masha Birger","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d222004b443a94cee52b4002c760b49a245ec40713506d5bb8c8ace74c70287a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d222004b443a94cee52b4002c760b49a245ec40713506d5bb8c8ace74c70287a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d222004b443a94cee52b4002c760b49a245ec40713506d5bb8c8ace74c70287a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Masha Birger"},"url":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/insights\/author\/masha-birger\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6285"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6350,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6285\/revisions\/6350"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6285"},{"taxonomy":"product-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-type?post=6285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}