With UL 9540A 6th Edition now mandating large-scale fire testing and NFPA 855-2026 introducing expanded Hazard Mitigation Analysis requirements, BESS manufacturers face a more complex compliance landscape than ever before. This webinar will help participants understand applicable standard requirements, identify gaps, and determine what manufacturers and project developers need to do to move from LSFT data to AHJ approval with confidence.
Overview
The battery energy storage compliance landscape changed significantly in 2026. UL 9540A 6th Edition introduced mandatory large-scale fire testing (LSFT) at the installation level but passing this test may not be sufficient to obtain installation approval. NFPA 855-2026 independently requires LSFT by an approved testing laboratory and mandates that a registered design professional develop a Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA) evaluating the survivability of critical safety systems during a thermal runaway event. The data required for a defensible HMA peak heat flux, BMS response, detection system timelines, and safety system survivability is not comprehensively required by UL 9540A 6th Edition alone.
In this webinar, Omri Tayyara, Ph.D. (CSA Group) and Nicholas Bartlett, P.E. (ATAR FIRE) walk through the complete compliance journey from product certification through installation approval, explaining how CSA/ANSI C800:25 and UL 9540A work together to support AHJ approval under NFPA 855-2026.
Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what each standard requires, what data their projects need, and how to help avoid the late-stage compliance failures that compromise schedules and project approval. CSA Group, in collaboration with leading fire protection engineering partners, can support clients through every step of this journey from cell-level testing through LSFT, NFPA 68/69 analysis, HMA development, and emergency response planning.
Key Takeaways
- Identify what UL 9540A 6th Edition LSFT requires, what data it produces, and where it can fall short for HMA development under NFPA 855-2026.
- Understand what engineering-grade data CSA/ANSI C800:25 requires and how it directly supports NFPA 855-2026 HMA documentation.
- Apply NFPA 68 deflagration analysis as a design-stage requirement to optimize LSFT outcomes.
- Access a turn-key NFPA 855 compliance pathway from cell testing through stamped AHJ-ready engineering reports through CSA Group's integrated testing and fire protection engineering approach.
Speakers
Omri Tayyara, Ph.D., is the Business Manager for Energy Storage, Energy, and Power at CSA Group, where he works at the intersection of engineering, safety, and market deployment. Tayyara holds a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto. His academic research focused on multi-scale thermal optimization for high-power-density electronics, combining experimental validation with computational modeling — experience that continues to inform his applied work in safety and performance evaluation.
At CSA Group, Tayyara leads and supports initiatives spanning battery safety, energy storage systems, large-scale fire testing, and electrification technologies. His work includes developing custom research and development testing programs, strengthening partnerships with manufacturers and developers, and building analytical frameworks that support evidence-driven decision-making across the energy storage ecosystem.
Nicholas Bartlett, P.E., is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer with 20 years’ experience in general fire protection code consulting and code enforcement, energy storage systems, hydrogen technologies, fire protection design, hazardous materials, fire modeling and smoke control, and wildland fire. He has served as a Fire Marshal and AHJ for over 12 years at jurisdictions in California and Colorado. Bartlett has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a masters degree in fire safety engineering from the International Masters in Fire Safety Engineering program in Europe.
With respect to battery safety, Bartlett is involved in codes and standards development. He is currently a technical committee member of NFPA 855 - Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, NFPA 800 - Battery Code, UL 9540 - Energy Storage Systems, UL 1487 - Battery Containment Enclosures, and UL 1973 - Stationary and Motive Batteries.