Simpliphi and NFPA 855

[pss]

So I want to swap out my aging FLA bank for a lithium battery bank. I have 2 major sources, maybe more where I can just pick them up the batteries locally and avoid any freight or shipping charges. So I have been looking at the Homegrid stack, the Fortress Power eVault Max and the Simpliphi 3.8-48-M. It seems that from a comparison point of view, the Homegrid would be limited to a 4 stack under NFPA 855, but I would just need to connect the +/- to my big copper buss bar. But if i want to go beyond 4 according to NFPA 855, I would need a second stack. And each stack has to be 6 feet from combustibles in my garage and three feet from the walls and each other. Sort of sticking out in the middle of the floor. The Fortress power unit would have the same issues regarding placement of more than 1 unit. The Simpliphi on the other hand could be placed onto the wall, but NFPA defines batters as a "cluster" also limiting them to 20 kWh. So I could get 5 of them, but not six. The battery cabinets from Simpliphi along with buss bars are costly and the 6 space cabinet violates NFPA 855 by kW rating if filled. If I put the 5 units on the wall in a cluster, them Simpliphi wants 5 positive and 5 negative cables of equal lengths to land on the buss bars. So that cost plus their wall mounts adds a lot to the total.

Since I am connecting to a Radian, I don't need communicating batteries at this time. It also seems that the Simpliphi by specs seems to be a more durable battery in terms of promised cycles and the actual battery quality. But, If i want to add more than 5 to my system, I have to space them out on the wall away from the others meaning longer buss landings.

So I am looking for input from people who may have pondered this situation already. I called Simpliphi and Homegrid and they are basically ignorant of the NFPA 855. They only know UL9540 and 9540A.

[provo]

I called Simpliphi and Homegrid and they are basically ignorant of the NFPA 855. They only know UL9540 and 9540A.

I'd bet the AHJ around here is also .

[fcwlp]

And each stack has to be 6 feet from combustibles in my garage and three feet from the walls and each other. Sort of sticking out in the middle of the floor.

Don't forget the bollards so that you don't run into them with your car.
.
Oh how I enjoy my AHJ which does not even permit or inspect off-grid systems and is on 2011 NFPA 70 NEC. FYI, I refuse the install any lithium NMC batteries, which is what so much of the latest NFPA 855 is geared towards.

[raysun]

I refuse the install any lithium NMC batteries, which is what so much of the latest NFPA 855 is geared towards.

I couldn't read the code, but was wondering if there was a distinction between the various lithium chemistries. (My money's on "No".)

I do believe I would put 5 Phi 3.8-48 in place for inspection.
Afterwards I'd install the balance of the battery. But that's just me.

[SumPowerRays]

I believe all you need to do is seperate the battery banks with a 4 hour firewall. 8x8x16 CMU filled with grout, place one bank on one side of the CMU wall and the other bank on the other side. Conduit between wall would need firestopping rated for the 4 hour wall.

Edit: ESS can't be installed in habitable spaces.

[pss]

In a google search box, type this in:

326a nfpa 2020.pdf

In the results of the search, about 3-4 down you should see:

NFPA 2020 - County of San Diego

should come up. Click on it and you will get a download of the NFPA 855 regulation to read.

I am installing in my garage which has a sprinkler system and drywall.

So maybe we can go further on this topic after being a little more up to speed.

This regulation is the way in California. I am not certain if the code inspectors even know how to inspect for this standard or since it is a fire prevention code, if it is the responsibility of Cal Fire to now inspect an installed ESS for compliance with this code. How would they even know to do an inspection since they are not part of permitting? However, the big elephant in the room is what happens if the code is not followed, a fire does break out, damages occur and maybe even injury to a person. Who pays and who is liable? I can just see my insurance company doing everything possible to get out of paying a claim. Property insurers ask what breed of dog you have. Soon I expect they will ask if you have an ESS, and if so what brand, age, capacity, etc. as a risk factor for insurance. Maybe they even include it as a policy exclusion in case of fire. sort of like the mold route.