UL Solutions has announced a new testing protocol that addresses fire service organizations’ demand for enhanced evaluations of battery energy storage systems for residential use.

The recently published UL 9540B Outline of Investigation for Large-Scale Fire Test for Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) includes a testing protocol with a robust ignition scenario and enhanced acceptance criteria for BESS in residential settings. The latest test method addresses the fire propagation behavior of a BESS if a thermal runaway propagation event leading to an internal fire were to occur during the system’s lifetime.

UL does already test the fire safety of energy storage systems, but that has mostly been focused on a larger scale. UL 9540, the Standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment, and UL 9540A, the Standard for Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems, were developed to address the safety of and evaluate thermal runaway propagation behavior in energy storage systems. UL 9540B evaluates the fire propagation behavior of residential BESS specifically and works in concert with UL 9540 and UL 9540A to provide a holistic approach to safety and fire behavior.

UL 9540B testing is not intended to be used in lieu of UL 9540A fire propagation testing to determine compliance with BESS installation codes and standards such as the IFC and NFPA 855. Instead, this test sequence can generate large-scale fire data for fire officials to assist them in evaluating residential BESS installations.

“UL Solutions listened to fire service concerns, and together, we developed a test solution that provides an acceptable level of fire safety without introducing unnecessary impediments to the deployment of safer, cost-effective residential battery energy storage systems,” said Robert Marshall, deputy chief of San Mateo Consolidated Fire Protection District.

“At UL Solutions, we are committed to using our safety science expertise to help our many stakeholders find solutions to the challenges arising in the rapidly evolving energy transition landscape,” said Milan Dotlich, vice president and general manager of the UL Solutions Energy and Industrial Automation group. “The development of UL 9540B in just a few months demonstrates our commitment to quickly providing effective safety resources to support the transition to renewable energy.”

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