Hithium, a prominent global provider of energy storage technology, has successfully finished the first large-scale, all-open-door fire test of its ∞Block 5MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). This groundbreaking accomplishment marks a turning point in the worldwide energy storage sector and establishes a new standard for safety certification techniques.
More thorough and uniform safety testing is desperately needed as thermal runaway and other BESS safety events raise growing concerns. To satisfy this need, the open-door fire test was created, which includes four final test challenges:
- All open-door combustion: The container doors remained fully open throughout the test, creating an unrestrained combustion environment with intensified oxygen flow—far more severe than traditional closed-door scenarios
- 15cm minimum spacing: The BESS were placed side by side and back to back with just 15cm spacing. Despite flames over 1300°C, no thermal propagation occurred, proving effective close-range isolation.
- Fire suppression system deactivated: All fire suppression systems were deactivated. The system relied solely on passive fire protection to withstand prolonged intense fire, demonstrating autonomous fire resistance and reliability.
- 100% State of Charge (SOC): The BESS was tested at full capacity to maximize thermal energy release, validating the system’s reliability and stability under the harshest conditions.
The test closely followed UL 9540A and NFPA 855 safety regulations and was carried out by UL Solutions, a worldwide renowned safety certification authority, in front of trained U.S. fire protection experts and customers.
The system structure held up well after 15 hours of complete combustion, and none of the three nearby containers had any fire spread. This outcome demonstrates that, even in the most severe circumstances, Hithium’s multi-layered passive safety design and heat isolation capabilities are reliable.
This accomplishment demonstrates Hithium’s dedication to quality and innovation and offers insightful information for upcoming industry safety standards. As the industry moves toward a safer and more dependable future, Hithium will keep advancing safety performance via technology and international cooperation.
