Batteries: Fire Prevention

(asked on 12th July 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of regulating lithium-ion battery energy storage systems to help mitigate the risk of fire.


Answered by
Anne-Marie Trevelyan Portrait
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 20th July 2021

Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, including grid-scale installations and those used in homes and businesses, are covered by a robust regulatory framework which requires manufacturers to ensure products are safe before they are placed on the market, that they are installed correctly by project developers, and that any safety issues found after products are on the market or after installation are dealt with.

There are a number of regulations that must be met for the product and installation of a battery to mitigate the risk of fire, including the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. In addition, for large scale battery storage there are statutory requirements to notify the Fire and Rescue Service to inform their emergency response planning.

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