International. To help provide answers to different stakeholders in energy storage system (ESS) technologies, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has launched NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, the first comprehensive collection of criteria for fire protection of ESS Facilities.
The standard provides requirements based on the technology used in ESS, the environment where the technology is installed, the size and separation of ESS facilities, and the fire suppression and control systems that are in place.
According to industry expert Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewable, the global deployment of ESS will expand thirteen-fold over the next six years (2018-2024), with the highest growth in the United States and China. Certain ESS technologies can accumulate a lot of energy in a small envelope, which makes these technologies useful, but it also increases fire and life safety risks, such as the release of toxic/flammable gases, stranded energy, and increased fire intensity. These potential threats are driving the need for first responders and those who design, build, maintain, and inspect facilities to educate themselves and be proactive about ESS safety.
"NFPA 855 is the culmination of several years of extensive consideration and dialogue at technical committee meetings, educational sessions and workshops attended by a broad spectrum of professionals," said Christian Dubay, P.E., vice president and chief engineer. "Understanding how to use ESS safely is important for many different segments that NFPA serves: designers, engineers, builders, manufacturers, compliance agents, responders, and policymakers."
"While energy storage systems provide countless benefits and applications, the technologies are not without risk. NFPA 855 aims to mitigate risk and ensure that all facilities are conducted in a manner that takes into account fire and life safety," said Brian O'Connor, P.E., NFPA staff liaison for NFPA 855.
In addition to looking at where the technology is located, how it separates from other components, and the suppression systems in place, NFPA 855 considers the ventilation, detection, signaling, listing, and emergency operations associated with ESS. The current editions of NFPA 70 and NFPA 1 also contain extensive requirements for ESS fire safety.
The effort to develop NFPA 855 began in 2016 when the use of ESS technology began to skyrocket due to consumer, business, and government interest. More than 600 public contributions and 800 public comments were received during the development process. NFPA has been informing audiences for years about SSE through relevant research, the world's first online training for the fire service, a fact sheet for policymakers, and NFPA Journal content.
To learn more about energy storage systems, visit www.NFPA.org/ESS.
