🔋 Fire Safety and Battery Confidence: What UL9540A Means for the Narrabri Community Battery

Sally Hunter
Jul 3
3 min read

As the world transitions to cleaner energy solutions, the role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is more crucial than ever. But with large-scale batteries comes a natural concern—safety. How do we ensure these systems can be trusted in residential or community environments?

That’s where UL9540A comes in, a rigorous fire safety test standard that serves as the industry benchmark for assessing thermal runaway and fire propagation risks in lithium-ion batteries.

For the Narrabri Community Battery, this testing standard isn’t just a checkbox—it's a core part of its safety-first design.

🔍 What is UL9540A?

UL9540A is a test method developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to evaluate the fire propagation risk of energy storage systems. It specifically analyses thermal runaway—a chain reaction that can occur in lithium-ion cells due to overheating or damage.

UL9540A is unique because it simulates worst-case scenarios by intentionally inducing failure in battery cells, modules, and systems to determine:

If the fire propagates beyond its source
How gases are vented
Whether ignition or explosion is possible

The test is conducted in four stages:

Cell level
Module level
Unit/Rack level
Installation level (optional)

At each stage, the system must contain thermal events to avoid progressing to the next level of testing—proving it can isolate and prevent fire escalation.

The different components of a commercial scale battery

The Narrabri Community Battery underwent UL9540A testing across multiple levels with the following results:

“Thermal runaway was induced in the Cell but no fire could be induced... when forced, thermal runaway was contained to the module level... testing showed also at a rack level that fire is contained”

This shows the battery system is:

Resistant to fire propagation at the most granular levels
Certified to contain any issues that do arise
Compliant with industry-leading fire safety standards

🛡️ Built-In Safety Systems

Beyond certification, Narrabri’s community battery is engineered for multi-layered protection, including:

🔥 Battery Management System (BMS)

Monitors individual cells and modules
Initiates shutdown at first signs of trouble

🌡️ Temperature & Smoke Detectors

Integrated within the enclosure
Communicates with the fire suppression system

💨 Deflagration Panels

Relieve pressure build-up safely upward, away from people or property

🧯 Fire Suppression System (FSS)

Aerosol dispersion floods the unit in case of ignition risk
Prevents open-flame fires from developing

🔌 Protection Relay Scheme

Automatically isolates the system from the grid during electrical faults
Complies with AS4777 Australian Standards

🌐 Remote Monitoring and Response

Narrabri’s battery is under 24/7 remote surveillance with SMS/email escalation to key personnel. This means that in the event of:

Smoke, sparks, or unusual noise
Electrical issues or overheating
Communication breakdown

…an alert is sent instantly and the system can be remotely shut down to avoid escalation.

Additionally, the system is designed with no external manual shutdown to prevent tampering or vandalism—an important community safety feature.

🧾 Emergency Protocols That Matter

In an incident, here's what the response looks like:

Public is instructed to stay clear and call 000
Fire brigade is notified of lithium-ion risk
System is auto-shut down remotely
Logs are reviewed, diagnostics completed
System is only restarted once certified safe

📚 Why UL9540A Certification Matters

UL9540A isn’t just an industry standard. It provides:

Confidence for communities
Peace of mind for responders
Proof for insurers and regulators
Global recognition of battery safety standards

UL’s reputation and global use of this testing standard make it the most trusted fire safety validation for grid-connected battery systems.

💡 Final Thoughts

The Narrabri Community Battery stands as a leading example of how clean energy doesn’t compromise on safety. By meeting UL9540A certification and integrating robust response systems, Narrabri shows that innovation and responsibility can go hand-in-hand.

Residents can rest easy knowing this is one of the safest battery systems available—watched 24/7, tested to global standards, and ready to power the future responsibly.