C08 - Energy Storage Fire-safety Testing: An Analysis of Testing Protocols Surrounding UL 9540 & UL 9540A

The poster provides a description of test protocols utilized in the UL 9540 Certification and UL 9540A Fire Safety Tests. Specifically, UL 9540A is a series of progressive tests in which the cell, battery module, and larger unit or full installation level components are forced into a state of thermal runaway using heaters with thermal and gas analysis to document and characterize the performance profile across different lithium-ion chemistries (LCO, NMC, NCA, LFP) and form factors (pouch, prismatic, cylindrical) used by battery manufacturers.

UL 9540A is not a Certification. It is a test standard that helps manufacturers and system integrators evaluate the effects of thermal runaway and the potential for fire propagation and/or explosion. The series of tests (cell, module, and larger unit or installation level) provides data to independently document and determine the inherent safety profile of the battery chemistry, form factor, manufacturing design and materials, as well as what mitigation strategies may be necessary to achieve a desired level of safety in an energy storage installation.

UL 9540A test results inform the UL 9540 Certification concerning installation requirements and provide guidance for strategies and tactics that may need to be incorporated to mitigate fire and explosion risks. The tests provide information on system characteristics and help set a bar for safety and performance comparison across lithium-ion chemistries, cell form factors and manufacturers, establishing a level of safety within the industry based on independent data generated by NRTLs.

In real life scenarios, Fire Departments and AHJ’s rely on UL 9540A Fire Safety Testing and UL 9540 Certification to determine the relative safety and installation requirements for ESS during the permitting process. Projects like those supported by the NYC Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery would not be possible without these test results.