Section 320 — BATTERY STORAGE

Exceptions:

1. New or refurbished batteries installed in the equipment, devices or vehicles they are designed to power.
2. New or refurbished batteries packed for use with the equipment, devices or vehicles they are designed to power.
3. Batteries in original retail packaging that are rated at not more than 300 watt-hours for lithium-ion batteries or contain not more than 25 grams of lithium metal for lithium metal batteries.
4. Temporary storage of batteries or battery components during the battery manufacturing process prior to completion of final quality control checks.
5. Temporary storage of batteries during the vehicle manufacturing or repair process. 6. Batteries in use, staged for use after charging, or charging for use with equipment that are rated at 300 watt-hours or less for lithium-ion batteries or contain 25 grams or less of lithium metal for lithium metal batteries.

320.1.1 Lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries. The storage of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries shall comply with Sections 320.2 through 320.4.3.3.

320.1.2 Other battery types. Batteries in storage, other than lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries, shall comply with Sections 320.5 through 320.5.6.

Permits shall be required for an accumulation of more than 15 cubic feet (0.42 m [3] ) of lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries, other than batteries listed in the exceptions to Section 321.1, as set forth in Section 105.5.28.

A fire safety plan shall be provided in accordance with Section 404. In addition, the fire safety plan shall include emergency response actions to be taken upon detection of a fire or possible fire involving lithium-ion or lithium metal battery storage.

Lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries shall be stored in accordance with Section 320.4.1, 320.4.2 or 320.4.3, as applicable. 320.4.1 Limited indoor storage in containers. A maximum volume of 15 cubic feet (0.42 m [3] ) of lithium-ion or lithium metal batter- ies per fire area shall be permitted where stored in accordance with any of the methods provided in Sections 320.4.1.1 through 320.4.1.3.

320.4.1.1 Used or unwanted battery collection. Areas where used or unwanted lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries are collected from the public or employees shall comply with all of the following:

1. Containers shall be open top and constructed of noncombustible materials or shall be approved for battery collection.

2. Individual containers and groups of containers shall not exceed a capacity of 7.5 cubic feet (0.21 m [3] ).

3. A second container or group of containers shall be separated by not less than 3 feet (914 mm) of open space or 10 feet (3048 mm) of space that contains combustible materials.

4. Containers shall be located not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) from exits or exit access doors.

320.4.1.2 Waste storage. Waste batteries that are packaged in accordance with DOTn shipping requirements.

320.4.1.3 Miscellaneous storage. Limited storage of lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries, other than collection of used or unwanted batteries or waste storage, shall comply with any of the following: 1. Stored in containers complying with Section 320.4.1.1. 2. Stored in original wholesale packaging or containers complying with DOTn regulations. 3. Approved battery storage cabinets. 4. Other approved storage methods.

320.4.2 Indoor storage areas. Indoor storage areas for lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries, other than those complying with Section 320.4.1, shall comply with Sections 320.4.2.1 through 320.4.2.6.

320.4.2.1 Technical opinion and report. A technical opinion and report complying with Section 104.2.2 shall be prepared to evaluate the fire and explosion risks associated with the indoor storage area and to make recommendations for fire and explosion protection. The report shall be submitted to the fire code official and shall require the fire code official’s approval prior to issuance of a permit. In addition to the requirements of Section 104.2.2, the technical opinion and report shall specifically evaluate the following:

1. The potential for deflagration of flammable gases released during a thermal runaway event.
2. The basis of design for an automatic sprinkler system or other approved fire suppression system. Such design basis shall reference relevant full-scale fire testing or another approved method of demonstrating sufficiency of the recommended design.

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

320.4.2.2 Construction requirements. Where indoor storage areas for lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries are located in a building with other uses, battery storage areas shall be separated from the remainder of the building by 2-hour rated fire barriers or horizontal assemblies. Fire barriers shall be constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code, and horizontal assemblies shall be constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the California Building Code .

Exceptions:

1. Where battery storage is contained in one or more approved prefabricated portable structures providing a complete 2-hour fire-resistance-rated enclosure, fire barriers and horizontal assemblies are not required.
2. Where battery storage is limited to new batteries in packaging that has been demonstrated to and approved by the fire code official as sufficient to isolate a fire in packaging to the package interior, fire barriers and horizontal assemblies are not required.

320.4.2.3 Fire protection systems. Indoor storage areas for lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system complying with Section 903.3.1.1 or an approved alternative fire suppression system.

320.4.2.4 Fire alarm systems. Indoor storage areas for lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries shall be provided with an approved automatic fire detection and alarm system complying with Section 907. The fire detection system shall use air-aspirating smoke detection, radiant energy-sensing fire detection or both.

320.4.2.5 Explosion control. Where the approved technical opinion and report required by Section 320.4.2.1 recommends explosion control, explosion control complying with Section 911 shall be provided.

320.4.2.6 Reduced requirements for storage of partially charged batteries. Indoor storage areas for lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries with a demonstrated state of charge not exceeding 30 percent shall not be required to comply with Sections 320.4.2.1, 320.4.2.2 and 320.4.2.5, provided that procedures for limiting and verifying that the state of charge will not exceed 30 percent have been approved.

320.4.3 Outdoor storage. Outdoor storage of lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries shall comply with Sections 320.4.3.1 through 320.4.3.6 .

320.4.3.1 Technical opinion and report. A technical opinion and report complying with Section 104.8.2 shall be prepared to eval- uate the fire and explosion risks associated with outdoor storage of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries and to make recommendations for fire and explosion protection. The report shall be submitted to the fire code official and shall require the fire code official’s approval. In addition to the requirements of Section 104.2.2, the technical opinion and report shall evaluate all of the following: 1. Compliance with this section. 2. Firefighting access and water supply for emergencies involving outdoor battery storage. 3. Outdoor battery fire and explosion hazards 4. Hazards involving flying debris during fire incidents igniting adjacent storage areas, buildings, or other exposure hazards.

on 104.2.2, the technical opinion and report shall evaluate all of_ the following: 1. Compliance with this section. 2. Firefighting access and water supply for emergencies involving outdoor battery storage. 3. Outdoor battery fire and explosion hazards 4. Hazards involving flying debris during fire incidents igniting adjacent storage areas, buildings, or other exposure hazards.

5. Handling, storage, and monitoring of damaged batteries and post-fire monitoring.

320.4.3.2 Distance from storage to exposures. Outdoor storage of lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries shall comply with one of the following:

1. Battery storage shall be located not less than 20 feet (6096 mm) from any building, lot line, public street, public alley, public way or means of egress.
2. Battery storage shall be located not less than 3 feet (914 mm) from any building, lot line, public street, public alley, public way or means of egress, where the battery storage is separated by a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated assembly without openings or penetrations and extending 5 feet (1524 mm) above and to the sides of the battery storage area.
3. Battery storage shall be located not less than 3 feet (914 mm) from any building, lot line, public street, public alley, public way or means of egress, where batteries are contained in approved, prefabricated portable structures providing a complete 2-hour fire-resistance-rated enclosure. 4. A maximum of 15 cubic feet of lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries or cells packaged in accordance with DOTn shipping requirements where not less than 3 feet (914 mm) from any building with noncombustible exterior walls, lot line, public street, public alley, public way or means of egress.

320.4.3.3 Storage area size limits and separation. Outdoor storage areas for lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries shall not exceed 900 square feet (83.6 m [2] ). The height of battery storage in such areas shall not exceed 10 feet (3048 mm). Multiple battery storage areas shall be separated from each other by not less than 20 feet (6096 mm) of open space. 320.4.3.4 Fire detection. Outdoor storage areas for lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries exceeding 900 square feet (371 m [2] ), regardless of whether such areas are open, under weather protection or in a prefabricated portable structure, shall be provided with an approved automatic fire detection and alarm system complying with Section 907. The fire detection system shall use radiant energy-sensing fire detection.

320.4.3.5 Containers. Containers for outdoor storage of used or waste batteries shall be open-top and constructed of noncom- bustible materials, containers complying with DOTn regulations for lithium-ion and lithium-metal transportation or shall be approved for battery collection and storage.

3-18 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

320.4.3.6 Weather protection. Where weather protection is provided for sheltering outdoor lithium-ion or lithium metal battery storage or use areas, such areas shall be considered outdoor storage or use where the weather protection structure complies with all of the following: 1. Walls shall not obstruct more than one side or more than 25 percent of the perimeter of the storage area. 2. The overhead structure shall be of approved noncombustible construction with a maximum area of 3,600 square feet (334.5 m [2] ). 3. The distance from the structure to buildings, lot lines, public ways or means of egress to a public way shall be not less than the distance required for an outside storage in Section 320.4.3.2. 4. Weather protection structures used for sheltering lithium-ion or lithium metal battery storage shall be separated from lithium-ion or lithium metal battery piles or additional weather protection structures used to shelter lithium-ion or lith- ium metal battery storage by not less than 20 feet (4572 mm). 5. The height of battery storage in such areas shall not exceed 10 feet (3048 mm).

Batteries in storage, other than lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries, with a volume of more than 15 cubic feet (0.42 m [3] ) within a fire area shall be in compliance with Sections 320.5.1 through 320.5.6.

320.5.1 Structural and seismic design. Storage shall be protected against accidental dislodgement. Racks and shelving used for storage shall be designed in accordance with the California Building Code as applicable.

320.5.2 Impact protection. Where battery storage is subject to vehicle traffic, the storage shall be protected against impact in accor- dance with Section 312 or other approved methods.

320.5.3 Battery charging. Battery charging shall be performed in accordance with manufacturer instructions utilizing listed or approved charging devices.

320.5.4 Mechanical exhaust system. Where battery charging can produce flammable gases a mechanical exhaust system shall be provided in accordance with the California Mechanical Code. The mechanical exhaust system shall be designed to limit the maximum concentration of flammable gas to 25 percent of the lower flammable limit (LFL) of the total volume of the room or area during the worst-case event of simultaneous charging of batteries at the maximum charge rate, in accordance with nationally recognized standards.

320.5.5 Spill control. Spill control supplies shall be provided to control liquid electrolyte spills. The method shall be capable of controlling a spill from the single largest battery stored or handled.

320.5.6 Hazard warning signage. The entrances to battery storage areas shall be provided with warning signage that states, “BATTERY STORAGE AREA” and “ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL DEVICES” and lists the types of batteries present. The size, color, and letter- ing shall be approved.