Battery fire protection label specifications

Are batteries a fire hazard?

To minimise the risk of batteries becoming a fire hazard, a new British Standard covering fire safety for home battery storage installations came into force on 31 March 2024. The standard is – PAS 63100:2024: Electrical installations. Protection against fire of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for use in dwellings.

What are the NFPA 855 fire-fighting considerations for lithium-ion batteries?

For example, an extract of Annex C Fire-Fighting Considerations (Operations) in NFPA 855 states the following in C.5.1 Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries: Water is considered the preferred agent for suppressing lithium-ion battery fires.

How to protect a battery system from a fire?

Battery systems, modules and cells must be protected against external (electrical) fires. Possible measures: Fire alarm system with automatic extinguishing system for electrical risks. The extinguishing agent should ensure zero residue to the protection of the installation.

Do li-ion batteries need fire protection?

Marine class rules: Key design aspects for the fire protection of Li-ion battery spaces. In general, fire detection (smoke/heat) is required, and battery manufacturer requirements are referred to in some of the rules. Of-gas detection is specifically required in most rules.

How do lithium-ion batteries protect against fire?

Evidence has shown that the key to successful fire protection of lithium-ion batteries is suppressing/extinguishing the fire, reducing of heat-transfer from cell to cell and then cooling the adjacent cells that make up the battery pack/module.

Is battery energy storage a fire risk?

First and foremost, every litium-ion battery energy storage poses an electrical fire risk. Statistics (GDV) show that in around 25% of all cases, electrical fires are the cause of major losses and the main cause of fires in industrial companies.