Restrictions on installing energy storage

Who should use this energy storage guide?

This guide is designed specifically for homeowners with single-family or two-family homes interested in installing energy storage systems.

What are the fire and building codes for energy storage systems?

However, many designers and installers, especially those new to energy storage systems, are unfamiliar with the fire and building codes pertaining to battery installations. Another code-making body is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Some states adopt the NFPA 1 Fire Code rather than the IFC.

How much energy can a ESS unit store?

Individual ESS units shall have a maximum stored energy of 20 kWh per NFPA Section 15.7. NFPA 855 clearly tells us each unit can be up to 20 kWh, but how much overall storage can you put in your installation? That depends on where you put it and is defined in Section 15.7.1 of NFPA 855.

Are there any problems with energy storage?

There have also been issues in the U.S. residential energy storage sector. For example, after five reported fires stemming from its RESU10 battery units, LG Chem issued product recalls in December of 2020 and again in August 2021. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, these fires resulted in property damage and one injury.

What are the best practices for energy storage technology?

For installing energy storage technology, several organizations offer codes, standards, and best practices. These cover installation, certification, fire protection, and outreach to first responders. Since energy storage technology is developing quickly, standards are also evolving substantially.

Does NFPA cover energy storage?

For example, Massachusetts currently enforces NFPA 2020, while Rhode Island enforces NFPA 2018, which does not mention anything about energy storage systems. However, we highly recommend that you follow these standards to protect your family If your property has three or more living units, this article does not apply to you.