10th Edition Updates – Battery Energy Storage

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October 16, 2023 by Hubert Biteau, PhD, P.E.

Welcome back to our fourth installment of the 10th Edition Major Changes blog series. This post focuses on industry updates related to energy storage systems (ESS) and battery technologies. We are coming off the heels of a key presentation last week about such technologies and their hazards at the international Society of Fire Protection Engineering (SFPE) conference in Washington DC by two of our in-house experts, Hubert Biteau, PhD, P.E., and Jen Hoyt, P.E.

While the upcoming 10th edition of 780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code (which will adopt and amend the 2021 International Building Code (IBC)) will only feature one amended provision relative to the topic (radiant energy detection in Chapter 9), note that the latest Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (527 CMR 1.00) now adopts the 2020 edition of NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems. While this standard addresses battery energy storage systems that power buildings, building and fire officials continue to demand analyses relative to the use of battery technologies more broadly, including for situations like battery R&D operations or even e-bike storage. NFPA 855 often does not provide prescriptive solutions for such situations, and instead requires that a project-specific analysis be performed and submitted to the AHJ that characterizes the specific hazards and appropriate mitigation measures.

Over the last year, we have developed several posts related to this topic which provide further insight and detail:

Battery storage technology is a linchpin to a clean energy future for society. We are striving to contribute to solutions for how such technology can be developed and deployed with fire safety in mind. Please let us know if we can lend expertise to your next project involving battery technologies.

Check back next week for another Insights post as we continue our “10th Edition Major Changes” series as part of CRC’s 10th Anniversary!

 

Application of any information provided, for any use, is at the reader’s risk and without liability to Code Red Consultants. Code Red Consultants does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in this blog as applicable codes and standards change over time. The application, enforcement and interpretation of codes and standards may vary between Authorities Having Jurisdiction and for this reason, registered design professionals should be consulted to determine the appropriate application of codes and standards to a specific scope of work.