U.S. Codes and Standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems
An overview of the relevant codes and standards governing the safe deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems in the United States.
This document offers a curated overview of the relevant codes and standards (C+S) governing the safe deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems in the United States. It emphasizes the key technical frameworks that shape project design, permitting, and operation, including safety, construction, and electrical requirements, while helping stakeholders navigate a complex and evolving regulatory environment.
This guide includes visual mapping of how these codes and standards interrelate, highlights major updates in the 2026 edition of NFPA 855, and identifies where overlapping compliance obligations may arise. It is not intended as a prescriptive checklist, but rather as a navigational tool for developers, local authorities, engineers, and AHJs. Users are encouraged to consult source standards directly when designing or reviewing BESS projects.
New additions and annotations in this version reflect ACP’s latest engagement with standards bodies and fire safety experts, and aim to support safe, scalable storage deployment across jurisdictions.
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