The Draft of the new PAS 63100 standard for protection against fire of battery energy storage systems for use in dwellings is now available for public comment on BSI’s Standards Development web-site.
The public commenting period commences 26 June 2023, and on closes on 24 July 2023.
This topic is directly related to domestic storage installations accordance with BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice for Electrical Energy Storage Systems.
Graham,
Thank you for the heads-up.
So now I am left wondering about 2 things.
(1) Upgrading my fire alarms - TBH, it should have been done years ago, so perhaps it is not as relevant as it seems.
(2) Whether the battery would be better in the loft with the PV tackle; or in the (detached) garage. Putting it in the loft makes more sense to me especially because in mine there is a largely redundant distribution circuit of 10 or 16 mm² cable (I have not looked closely yet).
A neighbour is delighted with his PV array and 9 kWh battery - his are in the integral garage.
So which is better: a battery in the loft, which might cause severe damage to the roof; or in an integral garage, which could burn the whole house down?
I think that my vote is for the loft.
(1) Upgrading my fire alarms - TBH, it should have been done years ago, so perhaps it is not as relevant as it seems.
The IET CoP has referred to BS 5839-6 for this particular topic since the 1st Edition in 2015. What's confusing is that BS 5839 series is a "Code of Practice", and therefore has "recommendations" ("should", "recommend") rather than requirements ("shall" like in BS 7671). However, if you are applying a Code of Practice, to comply you need to fulfil all of the recommendations ("should"/"recommend") clauses, whereas to state conformity to a standard, you have to comply with all of the relevant requirements ("shall") but not recommendations ("should"/"recommend").
(2) Whether the battery would be better in the loft with the PV tackle; or in the (detached) garage. Putting it in the loft makes more sense to me especially because in mine there is a largely redundant distribution circuit of 10 or 16 mm² cable (I have not looked closely yet).
I would be inclined to ask your insurer the question ... but you might not like the answer depending on the particular insurer. Some will say "detached garage or outbuilding" (and some of those might say "at least x m from the main house"). Similarly with EV charging ...
I think that my vote is for the loft.
As above, some insurance companies may not agree.
As above, some insurance companies may not agree.
I have never yet seen an insurance policy that specifies where you are allowed to put batteries.
As above, some insurance companies may not agree.
I have never yet seen an insurance policy that specifies where you are allowed to put batteries.
I have never yet seen an insurance policy that specifies where you are allowed to put batteries.
Perhaps let's not tempt fate, especially where certain lithium battery chemistries go. - it's becoming a popular thing to talk about ... along with EV and Solar PV. There is definitely insurance-sector guidance on these subjects, and some insurance companies have their own.
In my experience, perhaps best not to ask!
Well if you insure a battery powered boat with Zurich they have advice for you ;-)
www.zurich.co.uk/.../51116nglithiumbatterychargingguidance2023.pdf
I suspect it will not be long before similar guidance appears for houses, and then the rise and fall of premiums or excess damages for those that do or do not follow it.
Mike.
Two interesting comments from the Zürich document:
The operation is temperature sensitive so installation of Lithium Batteries in an attic may not be a good idea.
Should a battery or charging failure arise then the battery is to be separated from the vessel! I assume that this means throw it over the side.
I suspect that the only layout which will satisfy the insurance companies will be a detached building of fire and explosive resistant construction with a built-in and monitored fire detection system.
What is the lifespan of a lithium storage battery? How many times can it be charged and discharged before becoming life-expired?
Am guessing that these set-ups will be in lieu of building more nuclear generation insomuch that the grid will suck energy out of your battery storage and then sell it back to you at times of high demand. How many times can this be accomplished before your very expensive battery pack will become life-expired? Similarly, people are getting very cagey about their EVs being hooked up to the grid because of the accelerated 'wear' on their batteries. I wonder how much this will affect the 2nd hand prices of EVs? Given that the battery is the most expensive component?
Should a battery or charging failure arise then the battery is to be separated from the vessel!
That idea might work for installations in rougher blocks of flats too... the kind where broken fridges etc accumulate at ground level. In a building I'd like to think that compartmentalization / containment is preferred.
Mike
The batteries are usually rated for around 10 years. As they get older, they will lose capacity, in the same way as EV batteries.
How/when they get charged and discharged depends on how they are installed. Mine is connected to the solar inverter. It gets charged only from the solar panels, and is discharged only when I need the power. The grid doesn't get any say in that. At this time of year, I may still have up to 50% charge in the battery when I go to bed. That's good for me - less charging and discharging means less wear on the battery. Of course, winter is another matter.
It's possible to have AC coupled batteries without solar. They charge on cheap overnight electricity, that can be used during the day. Electricity companies have dabbled with schemes that allow them to suck the power out of a battery, but it requires the right software installed on the inverter. Otherwise, the inverter is designed to try to match the house load, and no more.
Personally, I have no interest in V2G (vehicle to grid) when I do get an EV. If I've charged the car, I want to to stay charged for when I need it. Vehicle to load (V2L) is another matter. That's a useful feature that many EVs have now.
It's possible to have AC coupled batteries without solar.
And a hybrid inverter that will permit what we'd traditionally call a DC coupled battery to charge from the mains.
Mine is connected to the solar inverter. It gets charged only from the solar panels, and is discharged only when I need the power.
Soon it may be cost-effective to let your energy provider have some control, and use your battery power when they need it.
Personally, I have no interest in V2G (vehicle to grid) when I do get an EV.
And similarly, it might save lots of money if you permit your energy provider use the functionality.
We're about to take you to the IET registration website. Don't worry though, you'll be sent straight back to the community after completing the registration.
Continue to the IET registration site
