Location of solar panels battery's

Topgun gune

Hi, I'm thinking of having solar panels installed and was wondering if there are regulations requirements on the location of the battery's in side your house????

Def_IRL

likely we will follow the new UK standards soon

https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/electrical-installations-protection-against-fire-of-battery-energy-storage-systems-for-use-in-dwellings-specification?version=standard&tab=overview

Regarding battery location, the basic premise is that the best place for storage batteries is outside
dwellings and away from habitable rooms. Where it is not practicable to locate batteries outdoors,
some basic requirements are provided for locations containing storage batteries, based on the
principles that:
• batteries are separated from habitable rooms, and means of escape for inhabitants, by suitable
fire compartmentation;
• fire detection is provided for the battery location, interlinked to a fire alarm system to warn
inhabitants of a detected fire; and
• means of escape for inhabitants are not inhibited.
Whilst battery fires, at the time of writing, are low frequency, they have a high impact due to their
behaviour in fire. Since some batteries can exhibit focussed jet-like flaming, a higher degree of fire
compartmentation should be considered. Fire compartmentation requirements might need to be
assessed in future editions of this standard, as there are currently gaps in the knowledge of how fire
compartmentation resists lithium battery fires.
This specification is also based on the premise that electrical energy storage systems competent
persons are defined in accordance with the Building Regulations Approved Documents of England or
the relevant devolved national equivalents in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The United States National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) document, NFPA 855, Standard for
the installation of stationary energy storage systems [3] was used as a guide when developing
requirements for storage battery installation locations, and maximum values of stored energy

...Ghost...

No regs as such, but recommend not putting in house, or attic if at all possible. Small risk of fire and also attic tends to be very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Batteries tend to favour comfortable temps. I keep mine in my side entrance which is enclosed. Also have them in cabinets soon to be enclosed for the winter.

Topgun gune

Thank you Ghosh an electrician friend give me the same advice & possible house insurance company will too.

Thank you.

J

conor_mc

House insurance wasn’t concerned in the slightest when I informed them.

Topgun gune

Hi Conor Mc. That's interesting. I was told that house insurance companies are requesting that solar panel batteries be stored outside the house.

Jc

conor_mc

I’ve not heard that at all, and presumably it’d be all over this forum if it was happening. My house insurance is with Aviva, they didn’t care about it when I increased my coverage to account for it.

Topgun gune

Thanks Conor I feel more assured now.

Jc

flyer_query

@OP check out links similar to below regarding "PAS 63100:2024".

https://nxtgenenergy.co.uk/blog/solar-industry-update-battery-installations-in-lofts/#:~:text=The%20PAS%2063100%3A2024%2C%20issued,rather%20a%20best%20practice%20guide.

Its an issue the UK authorities have acted on and issued a best practice, expect either our authorities to follow suit or at the very least insurance companies to use as a reason to add a "load" on to their quotes. If you are at the stage where you can avoid placing batteries in the attic I would advise doing so to save hassle down the road.

Also search elsewhere, plenty of users on this site have batteries in the attic and will choose to bury their heads in the sand so advice will be skewed.

Topgun gune

Yes the location of the solar panel batteries in the house seems to be a grey area at the moment. It's similar to the gas meters in you house years a go. Now they are sighted out side.

Thank you for your response.

J

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122672028#Comment_122672028

This old nugget, what's really relevant is the battery chemistry, I have 32 cells in my house and no concern whatsoever, the good guys of course….

LiFePO4 Vs Lithium Ion & Other Batteries - Why They’re #1 (lithiumhub.com)

Topgun gune

That's great information thank you.

J

flyer_query

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122676831#Comment_122676831

Case and point

I have 32 cells in my attic, at this stage I am too invested to move them to a safe place therefore I will place my head in the sand as I have no other choice. Please reinforce my decision (not really a decision as I made an uneducated decision based on a salesman recommendation who was no way motivated by their commission)

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122678323#Comment_122678323

Premature collapse due to an external fire (to the solar PV) is a very valid point.

But your link..

Last Updated: 13 September 2024

The British Standards Institute (BSI) has recently released new recommendations regarding home battery installations, including those in loft spaces. One common inquiry we receive from our customers following the publication of the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) is whether a solar battery can be installed in a loft. The answer is a resounding yes, with some important details to consider.

flyer_query

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122678363#Comment_122678363

Ahh my link was a sales company, Arab selling sand…

as I said OP needs to investigate themselves, both a sales company and posters on here too invested in their earlier uneducated decisions (sometimes based on sales persuasion motivated by sales commission) may mean pinch of salt is needed.

mark my words, insurance companies within the next 36 months will start “loading” those with batteries in attics. Similar to alarms etc it will become a question on quotes

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122678386#Comment_122678386

You were the one that provided the link. I wont go do your research, to prove your point. (ive no skin in this game, mines in the garage. Was much more convenient there. )

LFP batteries dont catch fire, and if they are put on fire, they don't have thermal runaway like Li-Ion.
All Solar storage batteries are LFP. I'm more concerned about the fridge going on fire vs the solar battery.

Destruction tests of LFP cells:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9xZf4p8PkQ

and comparison to li-pol and lithium Titanate (LTO) [also a very stable chemistry with huge cycle life]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzt9RZ0FQyM

dathi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122678501#Comment_122678501

they are not so much concerned with the batteries exploding but with them generating an arc fault

graememk

Arc fault in the batteries?, on a 48v system? Or PV?

Suppose doesn't matter where it is then. interlinked smoke detectors so you can get out.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122678501#Comment_122678501

I was surprised to learn that my sisters recent install of a Qcell system has an NCA battery.

Qcells_Data_sheet_Q.HOME_CORE_H4_A4_2024-02_Rev05_EN.pdf

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122685045#Comment_122685045

Didn't know that existed. "High" voltage too.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122685285#Comment_122685285

15 year warranty on inverter and battery, quality components inside the inverter too. German company, bought out by South Koreans.

mike_2009

Was told by a rep that putting the proposed battery in my utility room was an issue as needs to kept 2 meters away from a water source, also living rooms may be a no no soon. Outside was preferred. Selling on might be an issue later if regs changed perhaps in the meantime? Was meant to be installed in attic in last house but pitch too low so went into dining area at the other end of the kitchen and I later enclosed it in a press (with ventilation) to keep small hands away from it and all the dials (isolation switches)! Times change though! I've a 4000 litre rainwater tank out back, might fill it with sand one day and heat it up!!

Topgun gune

Yes Mike 2009. I'm in the plumbing/ heating trade and remember when gas meters were inside the house. Now they have to be located outside with regulations.

I would expect if they change the rules it wouldn't effect the existing installation that have batteries inside the house.

tlaavtech

I was told this weekend that changes in the regs are imminent, and that batteries must be outside in the future. I'm getting my install done in a few weeks time. (And I had just started to clear the attic too!)

Big Lar

I used to have them in the utility room which made the room grand and warm but got nervous and moved them to the shed.

Def_IRL

also…

https://youtu.be/kuZA7KyR3Hc?feature=shared

Topgun gune

Thanks you Lar. I'm definitely going to get my battery installed outside when I'm getting my solar panel instalation.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122751136#Comment_122751136

Total clickbait nonsense, "breaking news, battery systems banned in the Uk" Then goes on to say nothing of the sort.