FACT SHEET

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS SAFETY FACT SHEET

Growing concerns about the use of fossil fuels and greater What Is an ESS?
demand for a cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient energy
An ESS is a device or group of devices assembled together,
grid has led to the use of energy storage systems (ESS), and
capable of storing energy in order to supply electrical energy
that use has increased substantially over the past decade.
at a later time. Battery ESS are the most common type of new
Renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power
installation and are the focus of this fact sheet.
are intermittent, so storage becomes a key factor in supplying
reliable energy. ESS also help meet energy demands during
peak times and can supply backup power during natural DID YOU KNOW?
disasters and other emergencies. However, the rise in the Battery storage capacity in the United States is expected to
number of ESS installations requires the need for a heightened more than double between 2022 and 2025 from 9.4 GW to 20.8
understanding of the hazards involved and more extensive GW, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
measures to reduce the risks.

Some ESS Advantages Some ESS Hazards

Supplement Renewables Thermal Runaway

Renewable energies such as solar panels or wind turbines only Thermal runaway is a term used for the rapid uncontrolled release
produce electricity when the sun is out or the wind is blowing. of heat energy from a battery cell; it is a condition when a battery
Supplementing these with ESS allows users to take advantage creates more heat than it can effectively dissipate. Thermal runaway
of the electricity that is generated when the renewable energy in a single cell can result in a chain reaction that heats up neighboring
technologies are not producing electricity. cells. As this process continues, it can result in a battery fire or
explosion. This can often be the ignition source for larger battery fires.
Peak Shaving
ESS allows a user to shift where their electricity comes from by Stranded Energy
drawing power from the batteries during the higher-cost daytime As with most electrical equipment there is a shock hazard present,
hours then recharging during the lower-cost nighttime hours. This but what is unique about ESS is that often, even after being involved
practice is referred to as peak shaving. in a fire, there is still energy within the ESS. This is difficult to
discharge since the terminals are often damaged and presents a
Load Leveling hazard to those performing overhaul after a fire. Stranded energy
When power generation facilities ramp up and ramp down to keep can also cause reignition of the fire hours, days, or even weeks later.
up with the changing demand for electricity, it puts stress on the
system. ESS can help flatten out the demand curve by charging Toxic and Flammable Gases Generated
when electrical demand is low and discharging when it is high. Most batteries create toxic and flammable gases when they
undergo thermal runaway. If the gases do not ignite before the lower
Uninterruptible Power Supply explosive limit is reached, it can lead to the creation of an explosive
ESS can provide near instantaneous protection from power atmosphere inside of the ESS room or container.
interruptions and are often used in hospitals, data centers,
Deep Seated Fires
and homes.
ESS are usually comprised of batteries that are housed in a protective
metal or plastic casing within larger cabinets. These layers of
protection help prevent damage to the system but can also block
water from accessing the seat of the fire. This means that it takes large
amounts of water to effectively dissipate the heat generated from ESS
fires since cooling the hottest part of the fire is often difficult.

© 2024 National Fire Protection Association. February 2024

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ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS SAFETY FACT SHEET CONTINUED

Failure Modes
These are ways the batteries can fail, often leading to thermal runaway and subsequent fires or explosions.

Environmental
Mechanical Abuse Thermal Abuse Electrical Abuse
Impacts
Can happen when a battery Can occur when a battery Can happen when the battery Can lead to battery failure
is physically compromised is exposed to external heat is overcharged, charged too include seismic activity,
by either being dropped, sources. rapidly or at high voltage, or rodent damage to wiring,
crushed, or penetrated. discharged too rapidly. extreme heat, and floods.

Tips to Help Keep People and Property Safe

For the Designer/Installer Battery Management System (BMS)

Explosion Protection/Prevention A BMS is a critical system that should be used in an ESS to
If there are enough batteries in a room to create an explosive monitor, control, and optimize performance of an individual
atmosphere, then explosion prevention systems or deflagration or multiple battery modules in an ESS. It can also control the
venting should be installed per NFPA 68, Standard on Explosion disconnection of the module(s) from the system in the event of
Protection by Deflagration Venting, and NFPA 69, Standard on abnormal conditions.
Explosion Prevention Systems. Spacing
Fire Suppression System ESS units should be grouped into small segments limited to
Testing has shown water to be the most effective medium for certain kilo-watt hours (kWh) and spaced from other segments
cooling an ESS fire. A sprinkler system that complies with NFPA and walls to prevent horizontal propagation. The table below,
13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, should be which summarizes information from a 2019 Fire Protection
installed in buildings where an ESS is installed. Research Foundation (FPRF) report, “Sprinkler Protection
Guidance for Lithium-Ion Based Energy Storage Systems,”
demonstrates the recommended spacing for the testing for
specific chemistries and arrangements.

Recommended Separation of Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems

Sprinklered Nonsprinklered
ESS Type & Capacity Object Combustibility
ft (m) ft (m)
Non Combustible - < 3 ft (< 0.9 m)
LFP 31 kWh
Combustible - 4 ft (1.2 m)
Non Combustible 3 ft (0.9 m) 4 ft (1.2 m)
LFP 83kWh
Combustible 5 ft (1.5 m) 6 ft (1.8 m)
Non Combustible - 4 ft (1.2 m)
LNO/LMO 47 kWh
Combustible - 6 ft (1.8 m)
Non Combustible 6 ft (1.8 m) 8 ft (2.4 m)
LNO/LMO 125 kWh
Combustible 9 ft (2.7 m) 13 ft (4.0 m)

©2024 National Fire Protection Association. February 2024

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ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS SAFETY FACT SHEET CONTINUED

For the AHJ b. C

 ontacting personnel qualified to safely remove damaged
ESS equipment from the facility (This contact information
Permitting Checklist is included in the facility operation and emergency
Permits should be issued by and in accordance with the response plan.)
procedures of all authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) and
should bear the name and signature of each AHJ or their Emergency Operations Planning
designated representative(s). In addition, the permit should An emergency operations plan should be created and
indicate the following: contain elements such as procedures to safely shut down the
system, procedures for the removal of damaged ESS, general
1. Purpose of the ESS for which the permit is issued
emergency procedures, and annual staff training.
2. Type of ESS, size, weight broken down by subcomponents or
subsystems, type, and amount of any hazardous materials,
general arrangement of the system, and extent of work to
CASE STUDY
be performed On April 19, 2019, a thermal runaway event followed by
3. Address where the ESS is to be installed and operated an explosion occurred at the McMicken Battery Energy
4. Name and address of the permittee Storage System in Surprise, Arizona. A fire captain, a fire
5. Permit number and date of issuance engineer, and two firefighters sustained serious injuries.
The walk-in structure housed a 2.16 MWh lithium-ion
6. Period of validity of the permit
battery energy storage system. This event highlighted
7. Inspection requirements
the hazard of a non-flaming thermal runaway event and
the need for deflagration prevention and protection.
For the Fire Service
Pre-Incident Planning
FAQs
The fire department should develop a pre-incident plan
for responding to fires, explosions, and other emergency Q: Which NFPA standard covers the installation of ESS?
conditions associated with the ESS installation, and the pre- A: If you are installing ESS for either new construction or a
incident plan should include the following elements: renovation, you should review the requirements of NFPA
1. Understanding the procedures included in the facility 855, Standard for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems.
operation and emergency response plan described Q: What is the best extinguishing agent for a fire in a battery ESS?
2. Identifying the types of ESS technologies present, the A: Testing has shown that water is the most effective agent for
potential hazards associated with the systems, and methods cooling for a battery ESS. For this reason, a sprinkler system
for responding to fires and incidents associated with the designed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the
particular ESS Installation of Sprinkler Systems, is required by NFPA 855,
3. I dentifying the location of all electrical disconnects in the Standard for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems.
building and understanding that electrical energy stored in
ESS equipment cannot always be removed or isolated
4. Understanding the procedures for shutting down and
de-energizing or isolating equipment to reduce the risk of
fire, electric shock, and personal injury hazards Learn More
5. Understanding the procedures for dealing with damaged ESS � Visit nfpa.org/ess to access more FAQs and the latest
equipment in a post-fire incident, including the following: ESS-related training, information, research, and reports.
a. R
 ecognizing that stranded electrical energy in fire- � To view NFPA 855, visit nfpa.org/855, or to access the stan-
damaged storage batteries and other ESS has the dard plus expert commentary, visit nfpa.org/LiNK.
potential for reignition long after initial extinguishment

This material contains some basic information about energy storage systems (ESS). It identifies some of the requirements in
NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems, 2023 edition as of the date of publication. This material is
not the official position of any NFPA® technical committee on any referenced topic, which is represented solely by the NFPA
documents on such topic in their entirety. For free access to the complete and most current version of all NFPA documents, please
go to nfpa.org/docinfo. References to “Related Regulations” is not intended to be a comprehensive list. NFPA makes no warranty
or guaranty of the completeness of the information in this material and disclaims liability for personal injury, property, and other
damages of any nature whatsoever, from the use of or reliance on this information. In using this information, you should rely on
your independent judgment and, when appropriate, consult a competent professional.

© 2024 National Fire Protection Association / February 2024