Battery-room fire requirements: lithium-ion capacity and design preparation

Circular 3/2025 applies from 1 August 2025 to specified new building-plan submissions, including new buildings and defined major reconstruction or alteration cases. For changes to an existing battery room, review the original approvals and proposed work to establish the applicable requirements.

The amendment requires water-based automatic fixed protection in fire compartments containing more than 20 kWh of lithium-ion batteries, with cases above 600 kWh requiring individual consideration by FSD. Check the complete amendment for applicability.

Ask the supplier for battery chemistry, capacity per module, total capacity and expansion plans, alongside room and fire-compartment drawings. For an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), include the actual battery count and capacity so the design team can assess the installation.

Ask the design team how fire protection, ventilation, extraction, power and monitoring will work together, and allow space for maintenance. The quote should list the equipment and connection work so the owner can understand the cost of the complete proposal.

Adding battery modules or changing chemistry can alter the basis of the original design. Update the capacity schedule and layout before procurement and ask the professional team to assess the proposed change.

Separate design coordination, installation, testing and documentation in the quotation, with a list of client information needed. Retain the final capacity and configuration records for maintenance and future expansion.