Fire and Electrical Safety Standards

Modern energy storage systems are expected to comply with multiple international safety frameworks:

• UL 9540 / UL 9540A: System-level evaluation of fire risk and thermal runaway propagation through large-scale testing

• NFPA 855: Installation rules covering spacing, fire suppression systems, and site layout

• IEC 62619: International standard addressing battery safety, durability, and reliability

Together, these standards aim to mitigate risk from the cell level through to full system integration.

Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience

With energy storage systems increasingly connected to energy management platforms and grid operators, cybersecurity is now regulated alongside physical safety.

The EU Cyber Resilience Act (effective from 2027) requires connected products to include:

• Embedded cybersecurity protection features

• Ongoing security patching and firmware updates

• Supply chain risk and vulnerability management

For storage projects, this means cybersecurity readiness is becoming a prerequisite for market access.

Certification and Market Access

In practice, most energy storage projects—especially those seeking third-party financing—require a clear and verifiable certification portfolio, including:

• CE marking for EU market entry

• UN 38.3 certification for safe transportation of battery systems

• Local grid interconnection approvals

• For medium- and large-scale projects, alignment with UL 9540A or equivalent fire safety validation

Incomplete certification often leads to project delays, increased insurance premiums, or financing challenges.

A Practical Three-Step Approach to Selecting Compliant Energy Storage Systems

Step 1: Define the Application Scenario

Safety and compliance requirements vary significantly by use case:

• Residential energy storage (5–80 kWh)
  Used for backup power and electricity cost optimization, with a focus on intrinsic battery safety and grid compatibility.

• Commercial and industrial energy storage (100–418 kWh)
  Commonly deployed for peak shaving, demand charge management, and demand response, requiring higher system reliability and integrated fire protection.

• Grid-side and utility-scale energy storage (1.2–5 MWh and above)
  Designed for frequency regulation, capacity services, and renewable integration, where system-level safety validation is critical.

Step 2: Verify Certification Completeness

Project developers should confirm that suppliers can provide:

• Valid and up-to-date CE certificates

• Full UN 38.3 test reports

• Compliance with IEC 62619 battery safety requirements

• A clear UL 9540 / UL 9540A compliance pathway for larger systems

Projects using fully certified systems are more likely to secure financing and insurance support.

Step 3: Evaluate System-Level Safety and Monitoring Capabilities

Beyond certifications, long-term safety depends on system architecture:

• Multi-layer fire detection and suppression

• Coordinated thermal runaway protection at cell, module, and system levels

• Remote monitoring, fault diagnostics, and cybersecurity-aligned software update mechanisms

These features are especially important for commercial and industrial energy storage projects with long operational lifetimes.

Product Matching by Application: Configuration References

• Residential and Small Commercial Energy Storage (5–80 kWh)

Distributed applications prioritize modular design, ease of installation, and safety.
Dagong ESS residential energy storage systems, available in stackable and wall-mounted formats, cover capacities from 5 kWh to 80 kWh and use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry. These systems are suitable for residential PV integration, backup power, and tariff optimization while meeting CE and UN 38.3 requirements.

• Commercial and Industrial Energy Storage Systems (100–418 kWh)

For industrial parks, commercial buildings, and data centers, energy storage systems must deliver high reliability and scalable performance.

Dagong ESS liquid-cooled commercial and industrial energy storage systems (100–418 kWh) adopt modular cabinet designs and support applications such as peak shaving, demand charge reduction, and demand response participation. Integrated fire protection and remote monitoring capabilities make them suitable as standardized deployment units in European C&I projects.

• Containerized and Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems (1.2–5 MWh)

Grid-side and large industrial applications require a high degree of system integration and safety validation.

Dagong ESS containerized energy storage systems (1.2–5 MWh) integrate battery systems, PCS, EMS, fire suppression, and thermal management into standardized containers. These solutions are widely used in capacity markets, frequency regulation, and renewable energy integration projects, with design pathways aligned to UL 9540A and IEC safety standards.

Compliance as the Foundation of Bankable Energy Storage Projects

In Europe and North America, energy storage systems are increasingly treated as long-term infrastructure assets rather than standalone equipment. Compliance with safety, cybersecurity, and certification standards directly affects financing, insurance, and operational performance.

By aligning application scenarios with certified system architectures—ranging from residential to commercial and grid-scale—project developers can reduce risk, accelerate approvals, and build energy storage assets that are both compliant and bankable.