Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service encourages early engagement with developers and local authorities with the aim of improving fire safety of BESS sites, firefighters and the local communities.
Grid scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are a fundamental part of the UK's move toward a sustainable energy system. The installation of BESS sites across the UK and around the world is increasing at an exponential rate.
In the UK, fire and rescue services are currently not statutory consultees in BESS site developments. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) advise that as best practise, safety measures and risk mitigation should be developed in collaboration with the local fire and rescue service in which the proposed BESS site will be built.
Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service (LFRS) recognises the use of batteries (including lithium-ion batteries) as energy storage systems is new and is an emerging practice in the global renewable energy sector. LFRS is looking to work with developers of such systems to better understand any risks that may be posed and develop strategies and procedures to mitigate these risks and to adequately prepare for any emergencies.
Advice for BESS developers to minimise fire risk
- Procure components and use construction techniques which comply with the relevant legislation.
- Include Automatic Fire Detection systems in the development design.
- Include automatic fire suppression systems in the development design. While there are various types of suppression systems available.
- Include redundancy in the design, to provide multiple layers of protection.
- Design the development to contact and restrict the spread of fire, using fire-resistant materials.
- Ensure adequate separation between elements of the BESS containers.
- When looking at the location of the BESS, ensure you consider the impact on communities, sites and infrastructure as well as prevailing wind directions should there be a fire involving lithium-ion batteries.
- Consider environmental impact, including preventing ground contamination, water course pollution, and the release of toxic gases.
Advice for developing an emergency response plan
We advise you to develop an emergency response plan alongside LFRS to minimise the impact of an accident during construction, operation and decommissioning of the facility.
The emergency response plan should include:
- Details of the hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries
- Isolation of electrical sources to enable fire-fighting activities
- Measures to extinguish or cool batteries involved in fire
- Management toxic or flammable gases
- Minimising the environmental impact of an incident
- Containing water runoff from fire-fighting activity
- Handling and responsibility for disposal of damaged batteries
- Establishing regular on-site training exercises
- The emergency response plan should be maintained and regularly reviewed by the occupier and inform LFRS of any material changes.
Advice for what BESS facilities should be designed to provide
Large scale BESS is a new and emerging technology, as such, risks may or may not be captured in guidance for Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended). This will highlight challenges for fire and rescue services when responding to Building Regulation consultations. For this reason, it is recommended to apply the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems along with guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Grid Scale Battery Energy Storage System Planning.
- Adequate separation between BESS containers.
- Adequate thermal barriers between switch gear and batteries.
- Adequate ventilation or an air conditioning system to control the temperature. Ventilation is important since batteries will continue to generate flammable gas if they are hot. Also, carbon monoxide will be generated until the batteries are completely cooled through to their core.
- A very early warning fire detection system, such as aspirating smoke detection/air sampling.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) detection within the BESS containers.
- Sprinkler protection within BESS containers, which should be designed to adequately contain and extinguish a fire.
- Sufficient water available for manual firefighting –fire hydrants should be close to the BESS containers. This water supply should be able to provide a minimum of 1,900 l/min for at least 120 minutes (two hours).
- Further hydrants should be strategically located across the development, and these should be tested and serviced at regular intervals by the operator. If the site is remote from a pressure fed water supply, then an Emergency Water Supply (EWS), meeting the above standard, should be incorporated into the design of the site, e.g. an open water source and/or tank(s). If above-ground EWS tanks are installed, these should include facilities for the fire service to discharge (140/100mm RT outlet) and refill the tank.
Any site design should include a safe access route for fire appliances to manoeuvre within the site (including turning circles). This includes ensuring that any route can accommodate the weight and dimensions of fire appliances, based on the larger measurement of LFRS Pumping appliances or the specifications in section five of the document below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b
To inform Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service of any potential development, please ensure to contact our Fire Protection Team. We encourage local authorities planning departments to ensure that the Fire Authority is consulted.
