16 October 2025
Fire protection design
PV and BESS installations fire protection (Battery energy storage system - energy storage system) - how to meet stringent legal standards and requirements of insurers?
Contemporary industrial energy is based on efficient photovoltaic installations and energy storage systems (BESS). As their scale increases, the investor's responsibility for the fire safety of the facility also increases. Legal regulations, including the regulation of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, and the internal guidelines of insurers, create a thicket of requirements. Their independent analysis may slow down or even prevent the implementation of green energy, so it is worth using the knowledge of specialists.
HYMON POWERED BY KAJIMA offers a "FRANGE PLUS" program providing comprehensive support in fire protection, guaranteeing the highest level of compliance and safety of the installation. This comprehensive protection system provides:
- fire risk analysis,
- Selection of certified materials and components compliant with Polish and international standards,
- additional fire protection,
- design and documentation that meets the requirements of the State Fire Service and insurers,
- Preparation of the facility for reception and use, including markings and training of staff.
There are many fire regulations. Use our know-how to make them work in favor of your installation.
Fire-fighting risk analysis - the foundation of a safe project
Each investment in a PV or BESS installation in a commercial facility must start with a detailed fire risk analysis. This is a key element that allows you to adjust the security to the specifics of a given building and its purpose. Properly conducted risk analysis is not limited to the assessment of the installation itself, but also includes the integration of its components with the architecture and existing security of the facility.
The "Pozż Plus" program does not stop at respecting the provisions of Polish law, which is the minimum necessary when designing the installation. We also refer to recommendations supported by insurance practice and global standards (even more stringent than domestic recommendations).
Why is it important to you?
Fire safety of PV installations and energy storage systems (BESS) is not only a legal requirement - it is a key element of the protection of investments and continuity of the company's operation.
Many investors think about fire regulations only in the context of "fire prevention", but The real benefits start much earlier.
- Project prepared in accordance with the standards (PN-EN, IEC, NFPA) and fire-fighting appraiser agreed Accelerates the acceptance of investments. No objections from the PSP (State Fire Service) mean faster commissioning of the installation and an earlier return on investment.
- Insurance companies more and more often condition the policy on the compliance of the installation with fire protection standards. The fire protection project taking into account the highest standards is a guarantee that the installation is safe and compliant, thanks to which you can count on: lower insurance premium, greater probability of full payment of compensation, no risk of refusal to pay after incident (e.g. by non-certified materials or design errors).
- More credibility in technical and ESG audits. Increasingly, industrial investors are audited by funds, partners or banks financing renewable energy. P. Poż Plus is a certificate of conscious risk management, which has a positive effect on the assessment of ESG and the company's credibility.
- operational safety and less breakdowns. Correctly designed and constructed photovoltaic installation, with additional protection, reduces the risk of failure, electric arc, overheating of cables or smaller yields. This means less downtime, less costly interventions and lower system maintenance costs for years.
- Greater property value and easier technical audit. The facility with documented fire protection is more attractive when selling, renting or refinancing. The POŻ Plus project is also a proof of compliance with WT, CPR, PN-EN and PSP recommendations, which increases the technical and formal value of the building.
Why us and not the internal technical department?
The POŻ PLUS project was created from the market need to share responsibility for safety with a professional, reliable and experienced partner.
Specialized companies like Hymon Powered by Kajima are working based on several parallel standards and regulations - not only Polish (PN, WT, Regulation of the Ministry of Interior and Administration), but also international (IEC, NFPA, FM Global, VDS). We also rely on our many years of experience. Each implementation of our 15 years of activity is for us learning to solve practical problems. Today we are richer with the knowledge that we will be happy to use in your project.
the internal technical team would have to sacrifice several dozen hours on the analysis of regulations, components and security. Thanks to the "P.poż Plus" program, we will do it in a structured mannersaving up to 70% of the time of the owner or the technical department.
By outsourcing the "P. Pożz Plus" program, the investor has one partner responsible for:
- design,
- documentation,
- implementation,
- Contact with the PSP and the insurer.
Hymon Powered by Kajima Takes full responsibility for compliance with regulations and the course of receipt.
How do we do it? So a few words about specific solutions
As part of the "Pozż Plus" program, we carry out, inter alia, verification of the load capacity and fire resistance of roof elements. Improper verification of insulation, substrate or support structure (appropriate fire resistance standards) can lead to rejection of insurance claims in the event of an incident.
The choice of components is also fundamental. In the program "Pozż Plus" Hymon Powered by Kajima, we recommend modules with fire certification compliant with IEC 61730-2 (classification of the results of the spread-of-flame / burning-brand) confirmed by a notified body (e.g. TÜV, UL). It should be remembered that the classification of the module is only one element of the general assessment - the final decision on the method of assembly and protection requires structural analysis of the roof and local regulations.
Photovoltaic installations, especially on large industrial roofs, require not only passive protections (non-flammable materials, steel structures, fire insulations), but also active fire detectionwhich allows for early detection of the threat and quick response. This goal is achieved, among others, by:
- DC fire breakers on circuits that meet the requirements of Polish law (§183 of the Regulation of the Ministry of Interior and Administration).
- Rapid-Shutdown / MLPE technologies (e.g. Module-Level Disconnect) significantly reduce the voltage in DC systems after the safety system has been triggered. Their parameters depend on the solutions used and local requirements (eg NEC / 690.12 in the USA), therefore the parameters are adjusted in accordance with the applicable regulations and guidelines of the PSP / insurer.
Additional detection systems are not yet obligatory in Polish law, but they are Recommended in NFPA 855 guidelines (for PV and BESS) and in good practices of PV design. In the installations "Pozż Plus" we also recommend the use of:
- Heat or flame detectors on the roof
Temperature detectors responding to rapid temperature gains or optical detectors (IR) detecting flame in hard-to-reach places.
- Smoke detectors in critical zones
In the case of roof modules without the possibility of immediate access, smoke detectors can inform about a fire in its early phase.
- Integration with the building fire system
All detectors should be connected to the building fire alarm system (SSP) to enable automatic power cut off, triggering emergency signals and alerting emergency services. We provide full Integration of modular electronics with fire breakers and fire detection systems in the building.
Energy Warehouses (BESS) - protection in accordance with stringent standards
Energy storage systems (BESS) pose a specific fire protection challenge due to the characteristics of lithium-ion cells. It is crucial in BESS projects Fire zone secretion and the use of appropriate extinguishing systems.
For BESS systems, we base our projects on NFPA 855 requirements and on the safety criteria contained in IEC 62933-5-1. Where required by the insurer or good practice, we use test methods (e.g. UL 9540A) to assess the risk of fire spreading and the selection of the zone extinguishing/separation system.
We implement solutions according to global standards:
- BESS components are located in separate fire protection zones.
- We recommend dedicated Extinguishing systems (e.g. gas, water fog) based on standards NFPA 855 and IEC 62933-5-1. These are additional safety standards, not compulsory national regulations.
Comprehensive documentation and operational readiness
The proper implementation of the project is just the beginning. For complete safety and efficient course of possible rescue operations, a complete fire protection documentation and operational readiness.
As part of the "Pozż Plus" we provide:
- Full and precise DC/AC cable route markings, circuit breakers and voltage warnings. Correct markings inform the emergency services about the nature of the facility and allow for a safe firefighting operation.
- we prepare Fire safety instructions, evacuation plans and detailed PV and BESS installation diagrams with the location of emergency switches.
- we carry out Training for technical staff and we cooperate with local units of the State Fire Service (PSP) in the knowledge of the layout of installations and emergency procedures.
Thanks to these standards, your installation not only complies with restrictive regulations, but it is also there Unreservedly honored by the fire brigade and the insurer.
Find out more about the ‘P.POŻ PLUS’ programme!
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