Through their efforts, the Energy Storage System Guide for Compliance with Safety Codes and Standards 2016 was developed. This code for residential buildings creates minimum regulations for one- and two-family dwellings of three stories or less.
When do the Standards Apply? The 2022 Energy Code now requires that all single-family buildings with one or two dwelling units must be energy storage (battery storage) system ready. What are the Energy Storage Systems Ready Requirements (ESS)?
An energy storage system is defined in the 2022 Energy Code as one or more devices assembled together to store electrical energy and supply electrical energy to selected loads at a future time. A minimum of four branch circuits and their source at a single panelboard supplied by the ESS. At least one circuit shall supply:
There are other requirements in IRC Section R328 that are not within the scope of this bulletin. 2021 IRC Section R328.2 states: “Energy storage systems (ESS) shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 9540.” UL 9540-16 is the product safety standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment referenced in Chapter 44 of the 2021 IRC.
Timely deployment of a safe ESS is the way to document and validate compliance with current Codes, Standards, and Regulations (CSR). A task force under the CSR working group was formed to address compliance with current CSR. Through their efforts, the Energy Storage System Guide for Compliance with Safety Codes and Standards 2016 was developed.
2021 IRC Section R328.2 states: “Energy storage systems (ESS) shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 9540.” UL 9540-16 is the product safety standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment referenced in Chapter 44 of the 2021 IRC. The basic requirement for ESS marking is to be “labeled in accordance with UL 9540.”
The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify specific requirements for residential energy storage systems (ESS) as defined under the 2021 IRC, specifically focusing on product safety standard
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SECTION ND102 (RD102) GENERAL DEFINITION ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (ESS). One or more devices, assembled together, capable of storing energy in order to supply electrical
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This comprehensive code comprises all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and electrical requirements for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories.
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As one gains understanding of the increasing number of new battery chemistries, and the associated risk factors, it is hard to justify maintaining an outdated Code base unless that Code
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stores energy in an electric, thermal, or gaseous state for direct use for heating or cooling at a later time in a manner that avoids the need to use electricity or other fuel
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International Fire Code (IFC) [B6]. With a similar scope to NFPA 1, the IFC includes ESS-related content in Section 1207 that is largely harmonized with NFPA 855.
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An energy storage system is defined in the 2022 Energy Code as one or more devices assembled together to store electrical energy and supply electrical energy to selected loads at a future time.
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This section provides details in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and the language (underscored and struck-through) from
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