NFPA Considers Comprehensive Standard on Battery Hazards

The use of batteries, from consumer products and micro-mobility devices known as e-bikes and e-scooters, to electric vehicles (EVs) and utility grade energy storage systems (ESS) has grown. And so has the number of fire incidents associated with them, the National Fire Protection Association says. 

While existing codes and standards address some aspects of battery safety, there is no single, comprehensive standard that provides the full spectrum of requirements. First released in 2019, NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, provides minimum requirements to mitigate risk associated with stationary ESS and the storage of lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries.

But as the battery industry and use continue to evolve, NFPA 855 is being used as the primary place within the NFPA standards process to raise general battery safety issues. This has resulted in an expansion of its scope beyond the initial purpose of NFPA 855 and has identified a gap in guidance for general battery safety throughout the lifecycle of batteries beyond the use in a given installation. Bridging this gap can also provide additional requirements to advise and support local authorities in determining specific codes and standards applicable to battery hazards that arise in their communities, which can lead to a safer environment for everyone.

In response to these needs, the NFPA is considering the development of a comprehensive standard, proposed as NFPA 800, Battery Safety Code, to provide uniform, minimum requirements to address fire, electrical, life safety, and property protection from battery hazards. It is the intent to reference existing related standards, by NFPA and other standards developing organizations, where applicable, and focus on developing requirements where there are gaps.

Requirements are anticipated to include fire, explosion, and other dangerous conditions related to battery technologies as experienced through the lifecycle of a battery: raw materials and battery production through storage, use, and end of life.

NFPA is now seeking comments from all interested organizations and individuals to gauge whether support exists for:

You can share your support or opposition to the initiation of standard development as proposed by emailing [email protected] by July 12, 2024.