pv magazine Webinar | Training on UL 9540A, NFPA 855, and large-scale fire validation of 6.25 MWh BESS containers (US focus)

As battery energy storage systems increase in size and energy density, fire codes and testing standards are tightening. The 2025 revision of UL 9540A and the 2026 edition of NFPA 855 introduce updated expectations around explosion prevention, enclosure performance and large-scale fire testing.

This webinar will begin with a focused interpretation of what these changes mean for manufacturers, developers, EPCs, authorities having jurisdiction, and insurers. LaTanya Schwalb, Principal Engineer at UL Solutions, will outline how UL 9540A large-scale fire testing is evolving and how NFPA 855 (2026) is expected to shape design, spacing and permitting decisions. She has more than 20 years’ experience in product safety certification and contributes to key standards committees including UL 9540 and UL 9540A.

In the second part of the webinar, a Hithium specialist will then present the company’s ∞Power 6.25 MWh container large-scale fire test. He will explain how the test was configured, what conditions were applied, and how the enclosure and internal safety systems responded under extreme thermal load.

The session will examine lessons learned and what validated test results may mean for spacing strategies, material selection and active safety system design.

This session will focus on the broader Americas market, including North and South America.

Key discussion points include:
● Presentation and discussion of UL 9540A (2025) and NFPA 855 (2026)
● The role of full-scale fire testing in demonstrating compliance
● How validated test data is considered and presented
● Design considerations for high-energy-density containerised BESS
● The webinar will close with a live Q&A session.

Questions can be submitted beforehand in the comments window when registering or in the chat during the live webinar.
Tristan Rayner, editor at pv magazine, will be the moderator of this webinar.
Registration for this webinar is free of charge.