Expert Workshop Q&A

Fire protection for energy storage in

electrical utility infrastructure
March 7, 2023

Contact: Gerd Hülsen

gerd.huelsen@siemens.com
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1. Q: Do they will give the certificate to attend this event?

A: As this is a webinar with informative content where we don´t provide a certificate. You may get
a certificate when booking a course with our
Power Academy, Link: https://www.siemens.com/poweracademy.

2. Q: What’s the procedure to prevent fire hazardous?

A: Earliest possible off-gassing detection, and build-up of the necessary extinguishing gas
concentration before the separator collapses.

3. Q: What kind of fire detectors do you recommend, and what kind of automatic
extinguishing agent
A: Siemens recomment using our aspirating smoke detector, FDA221 or FDA241, and/or a
multicriteria point type detector with a CO-sensor FDOOTC241, OOHC740 or OOHC941.

4. Q: Battery maintenance for 765kv,400kv,230kv,110kv,33kv above all substation to DC

Leackage, Temperature control,pilot cell maintenance explain.
A: Please provide us with details of the BESS used.

5. Q: DC Leackage,pilot cell, Temperature control explain.

A: Please specify your question

6. Q: Are batteries the source of the \spinning reserve\” capacity?”

A: Yes, BESS are also used to stabilize the grid.

7. Q: Is there any EU standard that regulates BMS monitoring of overheating potential fire in
Europe?
A: We are not aware of such an European-wide regulation.

8. Q: Are there any particular EN Standards setting out fire protection and extinguishing
standards for the installation of lithium-ion batteries both for commercial use (e.g. storage
systems) and for domestic use (with PV Systems)?
A: No, such EN standards do not exist, yet.

9. Q: From Arizona accident, does that mean FK-5-1-12 is not suitable for BESS protection?
A: Yes. Siemens only recommends using natural agents for lithium-ion fires, such as nitrogen or
carbon dioxide.

10. Q: Is there any experience with surges and lightning as a reason for fire?
A: In our fire tests, we also use electric arcs to ignite explosive atmospheres

11. Q: Could you please give us mor examples of serious incidences?

A: We do not keep a systematic record of BESS fires.

12. Q: High temperature could make steam and brust

A: Yes. High temperatures can create a battery failure.

13. Q: Is it advisable to install Lithium Battery cells (within cabinets), inside a

Transformer-LV switch room switch room?
A: If a suitable protection concept is applied, there is no argument against such a set-up
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14. Q: without having any complicated Fire protection system, Can we have a fire blanket tied
at ceiling level, which can come down and cover the battery bank withe help of detection or
fusible link?
A: No, a cover alone will not work, the batteries bring everything it takes to propagate. The large
amounts of off-gas will blow away fire blankets.

15. Q: How much gas is released from the batteries in the event of a fire/thermal surge? Is
there any data on how many liters of gas are formed, per kg of battery?
A: This depends from cell type to cell type and size (prismatic, pouch and cylindrical cells all behave
different). Also the cell chemistry might provide a different answer to this question.

16. Q: Would you recommend using the ASD to detect off-gassing and to automatically shut
off the battery banks?
A: Yes. This is our recommendation!

17. Q: What is the level of false alarms with the off-gassing detection functionality on the
ASDs?
A: We have no information about false alarms from our systems.

18. Q: Which type of fire protection system is recommended for embedded electronic system
and in substation automation systems
A: For such fire risks, we recommend gas extinguishing systems, preferably with natural
extinguishing agents.

19. Q: what is the time allowance between the off-gas and thermal runaway? is off-gas
process reversible, so that the cell will not reach thermal runaway stage?
A: This depends from cell type to cell type (prismatic, pouch and cylindrical cells all behave
different). Also the cell chemistry and the type of separator may have an effect on the time
between the off-gassing and the thermal runaway.Off-gassing is not reversible.

20. Q: Are there any DIN Standards setting this detection?

A: There is no separate standard for off-gassing detection. We use EN 54 or UL certified fire
detectors.

21. Q: What is your opinion on flooding the battery enclosures with water? What are the pros
and cons? Also, what is your opinion on the \let-it-burn\” approach?”
A: In our opinion, water extinguishing systems are not suitable for preventing propagation within
modules or racks. Prevention of propagation from rack to rack can probably be prevented.

22. Q: What SIL Level (Functional Safety - IEC61508) does this system fulfill (detection,
controller panel & nitrogen actuator)
A: The EN 54 certified FDA241 aspirating smoke detector used is also SIL2 rated.

23. Q: Is the off-gassing Aspirating Sensor sensitive enough to pick up on a single lithium cell
failure in a large room?
A: Yes, with proper system design, our FDA 241 detects even the off-gassing of the smallest 18650
round cells.
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24. Q: How do you manage pollution to avoid false alarms. Energy plants are not in a clean
enviroment
A: We can adjust the operating parameters of our detectors according to the environmental
condition in a wide range.

25. Q: when using gas fire prevention how important is the level of structural integrity to
maintain gas concentration
A: For the effectiveness of an extinguishing system, it is very important to achieve the necessary
holding time. The basic prerequisite for this is sufficient tightness of the extinguishing area.

26. Q: do you apply N2 for the whole system or localized to cell level?
A: Our gas extinguishing systems are total-flooding systems, and flood the entire extinguishing
area

27. Q: The challenges of Lithium Batteries are very similar to the super capacitor systems (gas
explosion, fire load & propagation). Could the system be applied to protect super capacitor
system as well?
A: We have not yet dealt with the design of Super capacitor, which is why we cannot make a
reliable statement on this subject even though it is assumed to be rather similar.

28. Q: how do you gurantee the evacuation before n2-extinguishing

A: For accessible areas, an evacuation alarm and a corresponding trigger delay can be set. It should
be mentioned that the N2 itself does not pose any danger to persons.

29. Q: How do you solve the challenge with aspirating detectors in terms of always existing
air drafts caused ba HVAC systems in Li-battery rooms?
A: By taking the air flow into account in the design of the aspiration pipe system. We cannot see
any major challenge here.

30. Q: How can this system be applied for closely spaced outdoor li-ion cabinets?
A: In such configurations, the detectors must be placed in the cabinet.

31. Q: What size of ESS are these applied? do you have any suggestions for smaller ESS that
are installed in e.g family houses?
A: In principle, such systems can also be used for smaller installations. From our point of view, at
least one suitable detection and alerting system for the residents should be installed even for small
facilities,

32. Q: Did you test under 100%SoC; as SoC might be really influential in TR behaviour.
A: Yes, the SOC has a great significance in the development of thermal runaways. Our tests always
start with SOC 100%.

33. Q: what fire test standard did you use to get VDS certificate?
A: VdS 3115

34. Q: With the N2 gas protection, are there special personnel protection for room entry?
A: Evacuation alarm and the safe evacuation of people is always considered when installing a
Siemens exinguishing system, and is controlled by an EN 12094 approved extinguishing control
panel.
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35. Q: Howmany ASDs normaly and how to place them for an ISO container sized Battery
A: Depending on national requirements for activation of automatic extinguishing systems typically
1 or 2 aspirating smoke detectors.

36. Q: Do you believe that N2 fire-fighting is adequate? There is the perception that only
water fire-fighting can cool adequetely Li-ion cells, so that we avoid thermal run-out.
A: This is a question of proof of effectiveness. Only the execution of such effectiveness test against
the set protection goal leads to answer.

37. Q: is it ok to discharge N2 supperssion when humans are in the area? how is this
managed?
A: N2 is present in the air, and is safe for humans. Nevertheless, an evacuation alarm will always
make sure humans leave the effected area before the extinguishing system starts. And it is precisely
this proof that we provide when we apply our VdS-certified protection concept.

38. Q: Can you test to detect a developing separator failure before it happens?
A: No.

39. Q: Is it necessary for private Equipment too? Storage approx. 10-15 kWh
A: In principle, such systems can also be used for smaller installations. From our point of view, at
least one suitable detection and alerting system for the residents should be installed even for small
facilities,

40. Q: if there is fire, then the whole system would shut down. Then how and where Siemens
fire system gets power?
A: Our fire alarm systems have their own and independent back-up batteries

41. Q: Can this system be implemented on other battery technologies? Such as Zn-Br,
NaNiCl4, lead acid etc?
A: No. What is a fire risk for one system is the release of toxic substances for another.

42. Q: For Lithium Ion battery energy storage project, can we use water sprinkler system in
case of any abnormalaties during thermal runaway?
A: See answer above on using water. Siemens doesn’t recommend using water.

43. Q: Is there a min distance to be maintained between Li Ion battery and aspirating pipes to
achieve the detection time
A: Yes, the air transport time is and will be considered in the design. However, with the typical
room sizes of BESS, we are far from the design limits.

44. Q: How much will routine maintenance of the cells with a battery tester reduce risk of
such fires?
A: We cannot make any statements about the lifetime and monitoring of the state of health of
battery cells.

45. Q: Do you suggest any kind of arc protection suit for maintenance personnel for entering
in the battery room?
A: With regard to the personal protective equipment required , the instructions of the BESS
manufacturer and operator must be followed, in each case.
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46. Q: Do you have any case study of linking the PV system with the BESS system in energy
management issue?
A: No.

47. Q: Hi, is there any solution for battery thermal explosions inside an outdoor cabinet with
heat exchangers? (E.g.. Telecommunications )
A: Our system should be suitable here, too. Please contact us in case of need.

48. Q: how are you sure that secondary fire will not occur, after the \first fire\” is already
extinguished? the container of Nitrogen can be already empty”
A: This is achieved by a professional design and installation of the fire protection system.

49. Q: What will be the cost of the system??

A: Please contact your local Siemens contact for a price inforamtion.

50. Q: Siemens fire control system can connect with 3rd party building management system?
A: Yes. Our fire panel can be connected to 3rd party building management systems.

51. Q: Can we use foam system for the battery fire suppression?
A: No. We do not recommend using any other extinguishing agent than natural agents.

52. Q: Is an automatic nitrogen system suggested for all types of batteries?

A: Yes.

53. Q: To make ASD more effective, is it recommendable to install the pipes within the battery
racks? also to make N2 system more effective, what is the recommended percentage of
perforation for racks and module cabinets, so that N2 can reach the affected cells sufficiently?
A: In principle, it is advantageous to place the sampling points as close as possible to the location of
the offgassing, reducing the time required for detection. In practice, however, it is sufficient to place
the sampling points in the exhaust air stream of the modules. The size of the exhaust opening is
not a decisive factor.

54. Q: level of detection is ppm ppb ?

A: We typically evaluate values from 50 ppm CO. We set the actual setting depending on the cell
type and installation situation.

55. Q: Is it possible to connect your system to a fire detection system DIN 14675 and use it as
detection and extinguish system or is there not an approval yet?
A: Of cause, as DIN 14675 describes the propper installation and operation of a fire alarm system
(in addition to DIN VDE 0833-1 and -2) covering fire department-specific requirements.

56. Q: How Siemens Fire Detection for ESS comunnicate with BMS (via Modbus, via CAN)?
A: Communication with BMS is possible hardwired or via gateway. For gateway connections
Modbus is common.

57. Q: Does the proposed system is stable against the release of small amount (which won’t
lead to fire)? of off_gases?
A: Siemens always recommend testing the cells, and during such tests it would be possible to see at
what level an off-gassing event is detected.
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58. Q: As far as hydrogen generation, transportation & storage are concerned, how can we
make use of this system ?
A: Protection against fire and explosion hazards of hydrogen requires other approaches.

59. Q: Plz . I missed some information. Why do we have to use spikes .plz explain again
A: Battery cell penetration is a very common method of forcing a battery into a thermal runaway
very fast.

60. Q: Thank you! It will be interresting to test your gas extinguish system versus a
sprinklersystem with F-500 Fire Suppression Encapsulator Agent. you already told us about
the shadows that water miss, but the water are cooling thou.
A: Water applied to a battery module or rack from the outside, with or without additives, will not
reach battery cells. Another downside of using water is the contaminated water that will be created
afterwards.

61. Q: Number of tests you presented here are too limited to draw big conclusions. Do you
have some publicly available reports?
A: Yes. Please download our BESS White Paper. See also BVES and euralarm publications.

62. Q: Is there a similarity between SIEMENS application vs USA manufacturer applications?

A: Our solution is based on the use of approved fire detectors - EN and UL. Simple gas sensors
without any relevant approval are in no way comparable.

63. Q: Is Aerosol powder suitable for BESS?

A: According to DIN EN 15276-2 paragraph 4.2.1, aerosol extinguishing systems are not to be used
for fighting LI-ion battery Fires.

64. Q: What SIL Level (Functional Safety - IEC61508) does this system fulfill (detection,
controller panel & nitrogen actuator) Thomas S
A: The FDA 241 detector is SIL 2 classified.

65. Q: about lightning, what about the surge, traditional surge arrestors are ok for battery
storage
A: We cannot make any statement on the subject of lightning protection for BESS.

66. Q: What kind of electrolyte particle FDA to detect?

A: Essential roles in off-gassing detection are played by elcrolyte condensate

67. Q: EPRI has a datebase that collects all ESS accidents

A: Great!

68. Q: Is it effective to use a thermal camera with air sampling?

A: We are not aware of such products. We would be happy to learn more here.

69. Q: as an electrical engineer, what measures are required to avoid short circuit in heavy
industries?
A: Please specify the question
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70. Q: Is there a specific period of time after Nitrogen has been dumped before access can be
made(by firefighters)/oxygen re-introduced?
A: Yes. There is a holding time, which needs to be calculated project by project.

71. Q: Would your solution be also work on board of vessels loaded with electric vehicles?
A: The capabilities of off-gassing and fire detection in battery systems of ESS and EVs are too
different. EVs require different solutions, which will be presented at the upcoming EUSAS
conference in Frankfurt.

72. Q: the presentation is on charged storage setups; any spin-off of the explained analysis
and research for battery production occupancies?
A: We are also working on the protection of giga-factories. A good introduction to this topic is our
technical report, which we have worked out together with Tüv Süd and RWTH Aachen.

73. Q: From which battery capacity up would you recommend installing a dedicated
estinguishing system like Sinorix?
A: ertified fire detectors at home. Use of extinguishing systems should be based on an individual
risk assessment.

74. Q: Any substitute of Battery ?

A: LIBs are among the most powerful storage systems and will certainly be around for many years
to come.

75. Q: Will the ASD detect early fire if it is installed in a room where there is an exhaust fan?
A: Yes, see anser above.

76. Q: fusible link work better inside generators

A: Please specify our question.

77. Q: When the early detection system detects off-gassing from a cell, does the system shut
down only the module/cell which is effected? Or does it shut down the whole BESS?
A: This depends on the design of the BESS. As a rule, the entire system is switched off.

78. Q: Which is the safest battery type from the point of view of fire??
A: No LIB is without fire or explosion hazard. For example, LFP have less “intense” thermal runaway
and potential easier to manage propagation risk, but also emit a lot of explosive gas. Any LIB
requires fire protection.

79. Q: What is the recommended fire fighting system for BESS? As per what standards?
A: Our VdS certified Sinorix inert gas extinguishing systems in combination with certified fire alarm
systems.

80. Q: Is there any gas emission that must be evacuated outside the battery enclosure in a
normal battery case?
A: In normal operation no, in the event of an accident a cocktail of hazardous gases is released,
which must be vented.
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81. Q: I have been usng the asd for almost 20 years, and i find them to be the best as they
detect very very incipient faults before any irreparable damage if alarms are not ignored
A: Wonderful!

82. Q: Is the system suitable for the use in the maritime sector? Is it in accordance with the
rules of classification societies?
A: In principle, yes, but unfortunately not all the products used have marine approvals yet.

83. Q: What is the advantage of using nitrogen instead of CO2?

A: Nitrogen is not hazardous to people in the extinguishing concentration

84. Q: which fire suppression sysytem to be use for VRLA batteries?

A: In the case of VRLA batteries, the primary concern is adequate ventilation of the battery room
and protection against external fires.

85. Q: Would you recommend both the clean agent for electrical fires and N2 for batteries or
would the N2 work for both types of fires in the same space?
A: Yes, N2 can be used for both.

86. Q: if it is reasonable to install a fire detection and suppression systems do you think the
insurer would pay out if you did not install a system such as the one you have presented?
A: Only the insurer can answer that. From our point of view, it is primarily a matter of protecting
the investment, minimizing business interruption and protecting the environment.

87. Q: could you tell us which an example of agent can be used for battery?
A: Nitrogen IG100, Argon IG01, CO2 or mixtures of those

88. Q: What gases is your air sampling detecting?

A: Our aspirating smoke detector detects the aerosol released during off-gassing and therefore does
not need to be adapted to gases.

89. Q: What is the recommended maximum distance between the battery and the ASD
detector?
A: That depends solely on how much time I have between off-gassing and separator collapse.
20-30m is no problem.

90. Q: Is there any SIL requirements for this system?

A: The aspirating smoke detector is SIL2 classified

91. Q: if we get private answers, I would be interested also about what to do at home, if
installing batteries there, no one usually thinks about a fire protection system, I am a bit lost
here, because this should come with the battery as recommendation at least
A: In my opinion, at least fire detectors should be installed. The battery storage should always be
installed in a separate room with ventilation to the outside.

92. Q: What would be the best fire extinguishing system once the complete container is on
fire?
A: If the complete fire is on fire, fire fighters would control the fire using water.
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93. Q: insurance companies dictate fire solutions. have any appro ed your system?
A: Our protection concept is VdS approved

94. Q: please, share to us the document for Brandschutzsystem, which you referred to and it
is for public as Norm
A: Please use QR code shared our visite our website

95. Q: Should the structure where the Lithium-Ion batteries are stored to be fire protected to
any special considerations like the structural failure temperature?
A: During a Thermal Runaway, very high temperatures can result resulting in irreversible damage to
building structures.

96. Q: If yes, what is the worst case critical temperature to be considered in case of steel
structure?
A: As far as I know - I am not a statician - steel loses its strength under load at temperatures of 500
°C and above.

97. Q: are these sensors only for early fire/smoke detection? What about the presence of
hazardous gas sensing?
A: Our detectors are designed solely for the earliest possible off-gassing and fire detection.

98. Q: LiFePO4 batteries have less risk of fire? Why do not use them instead of Li-ion?
A: Lower risk does not mean no risk. LiFePo4 cells have a significant risk of gas explosion.

99. Q: also what is appropriate FD solution for the UPS DC cable?

A: Early fire detection with aspirating smoke detectors

100. Q: Why do not adopt fire segregation by dividing the building in compartments, to avoid
fire propagation?
A: Only separation means willingness to accept the total loss of everything in a section.

101. Q: what electrical devices for fire protection did you use, where can we find in Siemens
website?
A: Yes, please use shared QR code or check Siemens website.

102. Q: Where the batteries in the test constructed with any passive fire barrier between cells
A: No

103. Q: how does the pentrate a steel box holding the battery cells?
A: the stell box was prepared

104. Q: FDA 241 , right?

A: yes

105. Q: is the protection system tested for all battery chemestries? i.e. NMC, LI-fe ...etc
A: We have tested NMC, LFP, LNR, ICR / NRC, INR and IMR cells.

106. Q: How long are maintenance intervals? Who can do the maintanance of the Systems?
A: In most countries, fire protection systems must be inspected annually.
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107. Q: Have you stadistics about number instalations & incidents happent?
A: No.

108. Q: Question: to Battery Storage systems - In terms of fire detection, have you any
experience with interference from rectifier electromagnetic fields in regard to automatic fire
detectors
A: No.

109. Q: Any tests done with fire outside the batterypack i.e in cars forinstans
A: Yes. We will shortly present results for EV-car fires as well.

110. Q: Can NOVEC1230 be used instead of Nitrogen?

A: No. Even the manufacturer of the extinguishing agent does not take over any guarantee for the
effectiveness with lithium-ion fires.

111. Q: Where should ASDs be located for early detection?

A: A aspirating detector system is equipped with an aspirating pipe system, the aspirating points of
the pipe system must be placed in the air flow of the BESS in the best possible way.

112. Q: Would that solution also be applicable for eCar ?

A: We will shortly present a solution for EV-car fires.

113. Q: Is this protection sysrem affects ventilation and personell safety

A: No.

114. Q: shouldn’t there also be early warning detection to protect the battery modules by
monitoring float current and temperature per module/cell?
A: Yes, if possible.

115. Q: What communication protocales are availaible for panel alarm?

A: We are using Siemens FCnet and BACnet.

116. Q: Do you rely only on the ASD or is cell temperature also considered?
A: For energy storage systems we rely on the ASD. For other types of battery fires (e.g. in
producton) a multi-criteria point type detector can be used.

117. Q: Is it possible that the environmental dust in a Substation affects the ASD?
A: Only if the system has not been configured correctly.

118. Q: Any cost estimate for 120 kVA UPS battery bank?
A: Please contact your local Siemens office to get a price offer.

119. Q: What is the advantage of our ASD system against the vesda system?
A: Our system detects the off-gassing as early as possible and reliably.
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120. Q: Newcastle University performed tests during 2022 where amongst other media, liguid
Nitrogen was applied directly to the TR battery. Liquid Nitrogen would evaporate and create
a high expanding N2 cloud that would minimize, O2 around the batteries. The results of the
test showed that N2 had no effect on stopping TR propagation. Any comments?
A: That is clear, because even a however cold medium is not able to repair the separator defect. No
extinguishing agent stops the initials Thermal Runaway. However, I would assume, that with such
an arrangement cools down so far that no propagation occurs.

121. Q: what is the medium life of fire/smoke sensors?

A: Up to 10 years

122. Q: What is the proper disposal of FM 200 or other clean agent after operation?
A: We will forward the question to a specialist for disposal. According to my knowledge they are
destroyed chemically-thermal by a reaction at 600 to 800°C with calcium oxide and/or calcium
hydroxide. The process is costly in any case.

123. Q: Were there any gas and fire detector and any ASD in Battery Station in Arizona that
you show at the beginning ? If there was why it coul not be detected by ASD? As far as I know
it being adjusted 2ooN and when 2 of them detect the fire and smoke it needs to activate the
extinguishing system
A: At this point I would like to refer to the published McMicken Report.

124. Q: You were talking about hydrogen fluoride in the off-gas. This means that the all
surrounding equipment is damaged when a battery is off gassing?
A: yes, this must be expected

125. Q: What kind of gas detector use to prevent fire?

A: Our extinguishing systems prevent the fire in interaction with our fire Our extinguishing systems
prevent the fire in interaction with our fire detectors

126. Q: What type of cell is more critical in terms of fire risk: Pouch or cylindric, please explain
why, thank you!
A: It is less the design of a single cell and more the design of the battery module and the possibility
of heat transfer between the cells.

127. Q: Is fire protection automated system is compatible with other companies Li-ion Battery
pack ?
A: In principle, our system can be used to protect any BESS. However, there is no one-fits-all
solution, so we always test new unknown systems.

128. Q: Sometimes I saw long venting and explosion afterwards. Sometimes you see
eplosions immediately, when you do thermal propagation tests. Does the system fuction in
the case of a sudden occuring propagation?
A: In principle, our system can be used to protect any BESS. However, there is no one-fits-all
solution, so we always test new unknown systems.

129. Q: When using Li-ion batteries for UPS in an unmanned station with limited access for
maintenance, what solution is recommended for low maintenance situation.
A: The solution presented in the webinar.
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130. Q: where do we find in Siemens website the series of these devices for preventing the
fire, smoke, monoxide, ofgasing, etc?
A: pleas use QR codes shared

131. Q: Hi! Have you received confirmation from an independent party about the tests with
N2 to prevent fire propogation?
A: Yes, our concept is VdS approved.

132. Q: Can the off-gas build an explosion atmosphere? And what is the lower/upper
explosion limit of builded off-gas?
A: Yes, without taking countermeasures, the formation of explosive atmospheres usually occurs.
The limits of ignition capability can be found in the literature.

133. Q: Is usual false alarms in gas or smoke detections in sand or dast environments?
A: Our detectors are very reliable against false alarms.

134. Q: Hi! Have you received confirmation from an independent party about the tests with
N2 to prevent fire propogation?
A: Yes, our concept is VdS approved.

135. Q: Does the extinguishing system has impact on the nearby electrical equipment like
converters and so on?
A: No

136. Q: There is an automated fire system developed by Siemens, the full circuit with
protection devices?
A: Please specify our question.

137. Q: with this Siemens Solutions can we reduce working spaces in a battery room
compared with traditional solutions?
A: We do not expect a significantly smaller footprint

138. Q: Is there any solutions for implemanting a solution for E Bus depots during the loading
in the night
A: We will soon present our solution for the protection of EV charging stations.

139. Q: Datacenters have been around for at least 30 years, batteries for them too. Detection
and extinguishing solutions the same. How is your solution different from existing solutions?
A: It is very similar.

140. Q: Is better do not use \mangan cobalt\” because in the case of presence of cobalt is
subjected to SEVESO III, whot you think about that ?”
A: We cannot make any statement on this.

141. Q: Is there a norm in germany for battery fire protection? And are there other
certification institutes like VdS
A: A standard is not yet available. Yes, there are other notifying bodies in addition to VdS.
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142. Q: what other alarm or monitoring points in the battery management system can help
with early detection of possible fires?
A: Basically all measurable operating parameters of a cell

143. Q: The tests are conducted considering the flammable type material and quantity includ-
ed in the battery? If battery larger than the standard protection system the battery is divided
into parts placed in different operation rooms?Thank you
A: The goal of our protection concept is the limitation to a single module, maximum to a single
rack. Rack to rack propagation is then ruled out, i.e. any number of racks can be placed in one
room. The amount of extinguishing agent is calculated on the basis of the room volume and bat-
tery type.

144. Q: FM200 also currently use _with HSSD (High Speed smoke Detector) , which is typical
like early identification of Low Smoke due to burning of wires inside the Panel, The Siemens
proposes ASD different?.
A: Comparatively simple smoke detection is done by many aspirating smoke detector systems. LIB
Off-gas detection by Siemens detectors, only.

145. Q: We using ABC power fire extinguisher

A: We only recommend natural agents, such as nitrogen and CO2.

146. Q: must the off gassing be captured or can it be vented to atmosphere?

A: It would certainly be desirable if it were possible to hold back offgas and flue gas, but as with all
fire incidents, this is not possible

147. Q: are the BESS systems you’ve been involved with have spill containment?
A: We are increasingly seeing BESS projects with fire water retention systems.
Published by Siemens 2023

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