NFPA 855 - 2026, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems

NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, provides insight into mitigating risks and helping to ensure all installations are performed appropriately, taking into account vital life safety considerations. The standard offers comprehensive criteria for the fire protection of energy storage system (ESS) installations based on the technology used, the setting where the technology is being installed, the size and separation of ESS installations, and the fire suppression and control systems in place.

It also covers topics such as fire detection and suppression, explosion control, exhaust ventilation, gas detection, and thermal runaways.

The 2026 edition has been significantly revised, featuring several updates:

• General requirements applicable to all ESS have been consolidated into Chapter 4, while requirements for individual ESS technologies are contained in specific chapters.
• Additional battery types have been added.
• Various battery exclusions have been refined for all types of lead-acid, aqueous nickel-based, and aqueous metal-air batteries.
• New requirements have been added for an emergency response plan, EV charging systems that have energy storage, Chapter 16 for flow batteries, and Chapter 17 for ESSs on barges.
• Annex Section G.8 regarding NFPA 69 evaluations of lithium-ion ESSs has been revised to provide engineering design and risk mitigation considerations to aid in evaluating the consequences of an explosion event.