NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems
NFPA · National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 855 sets minimum installation requirements to mitigate hazards of stationary energy storage systems (ESS), increasingly relevant for lithium-ion UPS batteries and on-site BESS.
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Overview
NFPA 855 is the standard of the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for the installation of stationary energy storage systems. Its purpose is to provide minimum requirements for mitigating hazards associated with energy storage systems (ESS). The current edition is 2026 and the next edition is planned for 2029, handled in the Annual 2028 revision cycle. The record rests only on NFPA's public standard development page.
The standard is increasingly relevant to data centres because lithium-ion UPS batteries and on-site battery energy storage systems (BESS) fall within its scope. The topics listed on the NFPA page include energy storage systems, explosion prevention and fire prevention. This shows that the standard addresses fire and explosion risks, not only the electrical installation. This version information means the contract should state clearly which edition is referenced in the project.
This record does not use the full text, so details such as section numbers, distances or energy thresholds are not covered. For such information the standard itself must be consulted. Related documents listed are NFPA 111, UL 9540A and IEC 62933-5-2. This framework shows that fire protection design should proceed together with the battery supplier's test documents.
In design terms, when Li-ion UPS or BESS energy exceeds a configurable threshold, the record suggests prompting for ESS hazard-mitigation items: separation, explosion control and ventilation, detection, suppression and large-scale fire test evidence. These should appear in the fire checklist. As a limit, which threshold to use and which items are mandatory must be decided with local regulation and the authority having jurisdiction, from the full text of the standard.
Key points
- Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems.
- Current edition 2026; next edition 2029.
- Provides minimum requirements for mitigating hazards associated with ESS.
- Next edition handled in the Annual 2028 revision cycle.
- Page topics include energy storage systems, explosion prevention and fire prevention.
- Increasingly relevant for lithium-ion UPS batteries and on-site BESS.
- Related documents: NFPA 111, UL 9540A, IEC 62933-5-2.
Using it in design
- In battery room design, require ESS hazard-mitigation items when Li-ion UPS or BESS energy exceeds a configurable threshold.
- Show separation, explosion control and ventilation, detection, suppression and large-scale fire test evidence in the fire checklist.
- Request UL 9540A test data from the manufacturer and attach it to the design file.
- Confirm the applicable energy threshold and mandatory items with the authority having jurisdiction and the full text of the standard.
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Who should read it
Engineers designing battery rooms, UPS and fire protection, and fire safety consultants.
Related standards
- NFPA 111
- UL 9540A
- IEC 62933-5-2
Publication details
- Authors
- National Fire Protection Association
- Publisher
- NFPA
- Year
- 2026
- Document number
- NFPA 855
- Document language
- English
- Source type
- Standard
- Access
- Citation only
- Licence
- Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document
Original licence note
NFPA codes are copyrighted; free read-only access requires an NFPA account, purchase otherwise. Record uses only the public NFPA development page.
Citation
National Fire Protection Association (2026). NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems. NFPA. NFPA 855. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-855-standard-development/855
Events on this subject
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All content and rights belong to the respective authors and publishers. SoSo CAD provides only the citation, its own summary and a link to the source, and is not responsible for the sources' content.
Related sources
All sources on this topic
Open Compute Project Foundation 2026
White Paper: Requirements for Energy Storage Systems Used in Data Centers, Revision 1.0, Version 1.0 (OCP Ready Facilities, January 2026)
Fix the ESS architecture (DC or AC coupled, distributed or centralised, backup-only or grid-interactive), write the applicable NFPA 70, NFPA 855 and IEC 62933 parts into the design basis, and consult the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) early.
- FM Global DS 5-33 (as cited) recommends battery installations in rooms with at least a 2-hour fire rating.
IEEE Open Journal of Industry Applications (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)) 2025
Study of DC Arc Flash Phenomenon From 1000 V Lithium Ion Battery Systems
In arc flash estimation for high-voltage battery rooms, do not use the maximum-power method alone with an enclosure multiplier; cross-check unrealistic results with measurement-based models such as Ammerman's.
- 91 arc-flash experiments were performed on LFP and LTO lithium-ion battery sources at voltages up to roughly 1000 VDC.
Open Compute Project Foundation 2023
Open Rack V3 48V BBU (Battery Backup Unit Module) Specification, Rev 1.4
Use 3 kW, 4 minutes and 6 hours recharge as default parameters for ORV3 BBU modules in the rack-power calculator.
- Peak load may reach 150% of rated power; in overload the droop extends linearly (47.25 V at 150% load).
U.S. DoD (UFC) 2020
UFC 3-520-05, Stationary and Mission Batteries (1 May 2015, Change 2, 9 January 2020)
Set battery room scope by NFPA 1 (all stationary batteries of 48 VDC and above), put different chemistries in separate rooms, and avoid unrelated services and direct access; do not use the room for storage.
- Optimal lead-acid and NiCd temperature is 68-77 F (20-25 C); lead-acid battery areas should be kept below 85 F (29 C).
NFPA 2025
NFPA 111, Standard on Stored Electrical Energy Emergency and Standby Power Systems
In the UPS module (US profile), when a UPS feeds emergency or standby loads, record its stored-energy class (runtime) and test regime.
- It is a companion to NFPA 110.
NFPA 2024
NFPA 75: Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment
Defaults for white space in NFPA jurisdictions: 1-hour rated walls, 3/4-hour doors and rated fire/smoke dampers at penetrations.
- The Chapter 4 risk assessment can justify alternative protection.