Stationary storage battery systems having
capacities exceeding the values shown in Table 608.1 shall
comply with Sections 608.1.2 through 608.6.6, as applicable.
TABLE 608.1
BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM THRESHOLD QUANTITIES
BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM THRESHOLD QUANTITIES
| BATTERY TECHNOLOGY | CAPACITYa |
|---|---|
| Lead acid, all types | 70 kWh (252 Megajoules) |
| Nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) | 70 kWh (252 Megajoules) |
| Lithium, all types | 20 kWh (72 Megajoules) |
| Sodium, all types | 20 kWh (72 Megajoules)c |
| Flow batteriesb | 20 kWh (72 Megajoules) |
| Other battery technologies | 10 kWh (36 Megajoules) |
- For batteries rated in amp-hours, kWh shall equal rated voltage times amphour rating divided by 1000.
- Shall include vanadium, zinc-bromine, polysulfide-bromide, and other flowing electrolyte type technologies.
- 70 kWh (252 Megajoules) for sodium-ion technologies
Permits shall be obtained for the installation
and operation of stationary storage battery systems
in accordance with Section 105.7.2.
The following information
shall be provided with the permit application:
- Location and layout diagram of the room in which the stationary storage battery system is to be installed.
- Details on hourly fire-resistant-rated assemblies provided.
- Quantities and types of storage batteries and battery systems.
- Manufacturer's specifications, ratings and listings of storage batteries and battery systems.
- Details on energy management systems.
- Location and content of signage.
- Details on fire suppression, smoke detection and ventilation systems.
- Rack storage arrangement, including seismic support criteria.
A failure modes and
effects analysis (FMEA) or other approved hazard mitigation
analysis shall be provided in accordance with Section
104.7.2 under any of the following conditions:
- Battery technologies not specifically identified in Table 608.1 are provided.
- More than one stationary storage battery technology is provided in a room or indoor area where there is a potential for adverse interaction between technologies.
- When allowed as a basis for increasing maximum allowable quantities. See 608.3.
The hazard mitigation analysis
shall evaluate the consequences of the following
failure modes and others deemed necessary by the fire
code official. Only single failure modes shall be considered.
- Thermal runaway condition in a single battery storage rack, module or array.
- Failure of any energy management system.
- Failure of any required ventilation system.
- Voltage surges on the primary electric supply.
- Short circuits on the load side of the stationary battery storage system.
- Failure of the smoke detection, fire suppression, or gas detection system.
- Spill neutralization not being provided or failure of the secondary containment system.
The fire code official is
authorized to approve the hazardous mitigation analysis
provided the consequences of the hazard mitigation
analysis demonstrate:
- Fires or explosions will be contained within unoccupied battery storage rooms for the minimum duration of the fire-resistance-rated walls identified in IBC Table 509.1.
- Fires and explosions in battery cabinets in occupied work centers will be detected in time to allow occupants within the room to safely evacuate.
- Toxic and highly toxic gases released during fires and other fault conditions shall not reach concentrations in excess of lDLH level in the building or adjacent means of egress routes during the time deemed necessary to evacuate from that area.
- Flammable gases released from batteries during charging, discharging and normal operation shall not exceed 25 percent of their lower flammability limit (LFL).
- Flammable gases released from batteries during fire, overcharging and other abnormal conditions shall not create an explosion hazard that will injure occupants or emergency responders.
Construction,
equipment and systems that are required for the
stationary storage battery system to comply with the
hazardous mitigation analysis, including but not limited
to those specifically described in Section 608.1, shall be
installed, maintained and tested in accordance with
nationally recognized standards and specified design
parameters.
Stationary storage
battery systems shall comply with the seismic design
requirements in Chapter 16 of the California Building
Code, and shall not exceed the floor loading limitation of
the building.
Where stationary storage
battery systems are subject to impact by a motor vehicle,
including fork lifts, vehicle impact protection shall be
provided in accordance with Section 312.
Combustible materials not
related to the stationary storage battery system shall not
be stored in battery rooms, cabinets or enclosures. Combustible
materials in occupied work centers covered by
Section 608.2.5 shall not be stored less than 3 feet (915
mm) from battery cabinets.
Storage batteries
and associated equipment and systems shall be
tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions. Any storage batteries or system components
used to replace existing units shall be compatible
with the battery charger, energy management systems,
other storage batteries, and other safety systems. Introducing
other types of storage batteries into the stationary
storage battery system, or other types of electrolytes into
flow battery systems, shall be treated as a new installation
and require approval by the fire code official before the
replacements are introduced into service.
Stationary storage battery systems having an
electrolyte capacity of more than 50 gallons (189 L) for
flooded lead-acid, nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) and valve-regulated
lead-acid (VRLA), or more than 1,000 pounds (454
kg) for lithium-ion and lithium metal polymer, used for
facility standby power, emergency power or uninterruptible
power supplies shall comply with this section and Table
608.1.
| REQUIREMENT | NONRECOMBINANT BATTERIES | RECOMBINANT BATTERIES | OTHER BATTERIES | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vented (Flooded) Lead Acid Batteries | Vented (Flooded) Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Batteries | Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Cells | Lithium-Ion Cells | Lithium Metal Cells | |
| Safety caps | Venting caps (608.2.1) |
Venting caps (608.2.1) |
Self-resealing flamearresting caps (608.2.2) | No caps | No caps |
| Thermal runaway management | Not required | Not required | Required (608.3) |
Not required | Required (608.3) |
| Spill control | Required (608.5) |
Required (608.5) |
Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Neutralization | Required (608.5.1) |
Required (608.5.1) |
Required (608.5.2) |
Not required | Not required |
| Ventilation | Required (608.6.1; 608.6.2) |
Required (608.6.1; 608.6.2) |
Required (608.6.1; 608.6.2) |
Not required | Not required |
| Signage | Required (608.7) |
Required (608.7) |
Required (608.7) |
Required (608.7) |
Required (608.7) |
| Seismic protection | Required (608.8) |
Required (608.8) |
Required (608.8) |
Required (608.8) |
Required (608.8) |
| Smoke detection | Required (608.9) |
Required (608.9) |
Required (608.9) |
Required (608.9) |
Required (608.9) |
Vented lead-acid,
nickel-cadmium or other types of nonrecombinant batteries
shall be provided with safety venting caps.
VRLA batteries shall be
equipped with self-resealing flame-arresting safety vents.
VRLA and lithium metal polymer
battery systems shall be provided with a listed device or other
approved method to preclude, detect and control thermal runaway.
Where stationary batteries are
installed in a separate equipment room accessible only to
authorized personnel, they shall be permitted to be
installed on an open rack for ease of maintenance.
Where a system of
VRLA, lithium-ion, or other type of sealed, nonventing
batteries is situated in an occupied work center, it shall be
allowed to be housed in a noncombustible cabinet or other
enclosure to prevent access by unauthorized personnel.
Where stationary batteries are contained
in cabinets in occupied work centers, the cabinet
enclosures shall be located within 10 feet (3048 mm) of
the equipment that they support.
An approved
method and materials for the control and neutralization of a
spill of electrolyte shall be provided in areas containing lead-acid,
nickel-cadmium or other types of batteries with free-flowing
liquid electrolyte. For purposes of this paragraph, a
"spill" is defined as any unintentional release of electrolyte.
Exception: VRLA, lithium-ion, lithium metal polymer or
other types of sealed batteries with immobilized electrolyte
shall not require spill control.
For VRLA
or other types of batteries with immobilized electrolyte,
the method and material shall be capable of neutralizing a
spill of 3.0 percent of the capacity of the largest cell or
block in the room to a pH between 5.0 and 9.0.
Exception: Lithium-ion and lithium metal polymer
batteries shall not require neutralization.
Ventilation shall be provided
in accordance with the California Mechanical Code and
the following:
- For flooded lead-acid, flooded Ni-Cd and VRLA batteries, the ventilation system shall be designed to limit the maximum concentration of hydrogen to 1.0 percent of the total volume of the room; or
- Continuous ventilation shall be provided at a rate of not less than 1 cubic foot per minute per square foot (1 ft3/min/ft2) [0.0051 m3/s • m2] of floor area of the room.
Exception: Lithium-ion and lithium metal polymer
batteries shall not require additional ventilation
beyond that which would normally be
required for human occupancy of the space in
accordance with the California Mechanical
Code.
Where VRLA batteries are
installed inside a cabinet, the cabinet shall be approved for use in occupied spaces and shall be mechanically or naturally
vented by one of the following methods:
- The cabinet ventilation shall limit the maximum concentration of hydrogen to 1 percent of the total volume of the cabinet during the worst-case event of simultaneous "boost" charging of all the batteries in the cabinet.
- Where calculations are not available to substantiate the ventilation rate, continuous ventilation shall be provided at a rate of not less than 1 cubic foot per minute per square foot [1 ft3/min/ft2 or 0.0051 m3/(s • m2)] of floor area covered by the cabinet. The room in which the cabinet is installed shall be ventilated as required in Section 608.6.1.
Mechanical ventilation systems
where required by Sections 608.6.1 and 608.6.2 shall be
supervised by an approved central, proprietary or remote
station service or shall initiate an audible and visual signal
at a constantly attended on-site location.
Signs shall comply with Sections 608.7.1 and
608.7.2.
Doors
into electrical equipment rooms or buildings containing
stationary battery systems shall be provided with approved
signs. The signs shall state that:
The battery systems shall be seismically
braced in accordance with the California Building
Code.
Rooms and areas containing
stationary storage battery systems shall be designed,
located and constructed in accordance with this section.
Stationary storage battery systems shall
not be located in areas where the floor is located more
than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire
department vehicle access, or where the floor level is more
than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the finished floor of the lowest
level of exit discharge.
Exceptions:
- Lead acid and nickel cadmium stationary storage battery systems.
- Installations on noncombustible rooftops of buildings exceeding 75 feet (22 860 mm) in height that do not obstruct fire department rooftop operations shall be permitted where approved by the fire code official.
Rooms containing stationary storage
battery systems shall be separated from other areas of the
building in accordance with Section 509.1 of the California
Building Code. Battery systems shall be allowed to be
in the same room with the equipment they support.