Energy storage cabinet fire protection effect demonstration

What is battery energy storage fire prevention & mitigation?

In 2019, EPRI began the Battery Energy Storage Fire Prevention and Mitigation – Phase I research project, convened a group of experts, and conducted a series of energy storage site surveys and industry workshops to identify critical research and development (R&D) needs regarding battery safety.

Can a lithium-ion battery energy storage system detect a fire?

Since December 2019, Siemens has been offering a VdS-certified fire detection concept for stationary lithium-ion battery energy storage systems.* Through Siemens research with multiple lithium-ion battery manufacturers, the FDA unit has proven to detect a pending battery fire event up to 5 times faster than competitive detection technologies.

Are energy storage systems flammable?

These systems combine high energy materials with highly flammable electrolytes. Consequently, one of the main threats for this type of energy storage facility is fire, which can have a significant impact on the viability of the installation.

How does a fire protection system work?

In addition to controlling the automated extinguishing system, the fire protection system triggers all other necessary battery management system control functions. As its name implies – "aspirated" smoke and off-gas detection systems use an "aspirator" mounted in a detector unit.

What are the key codes for energy storage systems?

The key codes include NFPA 855, Standard for Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems 2020 edition, and the International Fire Code 2021 edition. The key product safety standard addressing ESS is UL9540, which includes large-scale fire testing to UL 9540a.

How do you protect a battery module from a fire?

The most practical protection option is usually an external, fixed firefighting system. A fixed firefighting system does not stop an already occurring thermal runaway sequence within a battery module, but it can prevent fire spread from module to module, or from pack to pack, or to adjacent combustibles within the space.