1 Scope

1.1 The test methodology in this document evaluates the fire characteristics of a battery energy storage system that undergoes thermal runaway.

1.2 The data generated will be used to determine the fire and explosion protection required for an installation of a battery energy storage system intended for installation, operation and maintenance in accordance with the International Fire Code (IFC), the Fire Code, NFPA 1, the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), IEEE C2, other energy storage system codes, and the manufacturer's installation instructions.

1.3 Fire protection requirements not related to battery energy storage system equipment are covered by appropriate installation codes.

1.4 See Figure 1.1 for a schematic of the test sequence in this document. See Appendix a which explains:

a)    The purpose of the tests included in this Test Method;

b)    Explanation of individual tests; and

c)    Interpretation and application of the results.

1.4 Figure 1.1Schematic of Test Sequence

^a See Section 6.

^b See Section 7.

^c See Section 8.

^d See Section 9.

Summary of Topics

This Fifth Edition of ANSI/CAN/UL 9450A, Standard for Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems dated March 12, 2025, includes the following changes in requirements:

– Revised FTIR measurements to be optional and added hydrogen measurements at Unit Level Test: 8.2.14, 8.2.15, 9.2.23, 9.2.24, and 10.3.13.

– Clarified sample rest times after conditioning and charging: 7.2.2, 8.1.2, and 9.1.9.

– Corrected standard reference in 9.1.12: 3.2.

– Replaced reference to UL 1685 with UL 2556: 3.2 and 10.2.2.

– Revised Residential Unit Level Testing to remove the usage of the NFPA 286 test room and replaced with test wall: 9.1.2, Figure 9.3, 9.2.6, 9.4.2, 9.4.3, 9.5.1, 9.5.2, and 10.3.3.

– Added option for continuous thermal ramp until thermal runaway: 7.3.1.5.

– Added NFPA 855 for applicable codes: 1.2 and 3.2

– Clarified charging method for cells: 7.2.1 and 7.2.4

– Revised location of thermocouples during cell testing and thermal ramp option: 7.3.1.2, 7.3.1.7 – 7.3.1.10.

– Clarified report if using a battery system as the BESS unit for testing: 7.7.1.

– Clarified establishing cell to cell propagation in the test method in 8.2: 8.2.3 – 8.2.7.

– Revised Module Level Performance Criteria: 8.5.1.

– Revised requirements to allow the use of Gardon heat flux gauge, revised sampling rate for heat flux and wall temperature, and added floor mounted residential system exceptions: 6.3, 6.4, 9.2.15, 9.2.17 – 9.2.20, 10.3.5, 10.3.6, 10.3.8 – 10.3.10.

– Revised egress path heat flux measurements for non-residential outdoor wall mount systems: 9.5.1 and 9.5.5.

– Removed noncombustible construction exception and clarified outdoor flame exception: 4.16, 9.1.1, 9.1.6, 9.2.19, 9.3.2, 9.6.1 – 9.6.5, 9.7.1, and Table 9.1.

– Added test method for lead acid and nickel cadmium batteries: 3.2, 7.3.1.4, 7.3.3.1 – 7.3.3.8, 7.6.1, 7.6.2, Table 7.1, 7.7.3, and 7.10.1 – 7.10.4.

– Revised flow battery requirements: 5.4.3, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, Section 7.3.2, 7.7.2, 7.9.1, 9.9.1 – 9.9.4, 9.10.1, and 9.11.1.

– Removed statement about installation in residential dwelling units.

– Added test procedure for high temperature batteries: 7.1.3, 7.3.4.1 – 7.3.4.4, 7.4.1, 7.7.4, 7.11.1, 8.3.1 – 8.3.5, 8.4.2, 8.6.1, 9.1.3, 9.1.4, 10.2.3, 10.2.4, Figure 10.3, 10.9.1 – 10.9.10, 10.10.1, 10.11.1 – 10.11.3

– Added deflagration considerations to Annex A: A3.3.1.

– Clarified residential and non-residential use definition, revised test set-ups for the module and unit level testing, added to the module, unit, and installation level test reports: 8.4.1, 9.5.2, 9.7.3, 10.4.1, and 10.7.1.

– Clarified wording for cell, module and unit failure methodologies: 7.3.1.2, 8.2.8, 8.2.14, 9.1.2, and 9.1.8.

– Added a definition for “thermal runaway propagation” and revised the “thermal runaway” definition: 4.16 and 4.19

– Revised the module surface temperature measurement range: 9.7.3, Table 9.1, and 10.5.2.

– Revised requirements to align with the code on “Residential Use”: 1.2, 3.2, 4.15, 4.17, 10.1.1, 10.1.2, and A2.3.2.

– Revised Unit Level Indoor and Outdoor Tests: 4.2, 9.1.1, 9.1.2, Figure 9.2, Figure 9.3, 9.1.9, 9.2.1, 9.2.5, 9.2.6, 9.2.22, 9.2.25, 9.3.1, 9.5.1, 9.5.2, 9.7.3, Table 9.1, 10.3.12, 10.5.6, A2.5.2.2, and A2.5.3.2.

– Revised Installation Level Tests: 10.5.7 and A3.3.1