Battery safety on multifamily housing

More apartment and condo buildings are adding solar panels paired with battery storage to cut energy costs, and a new report from Clean Energy Group looks at what that means for fire safety. The batteries used in most systems today are lithium-ion, which can occasionally enter "thermal runaway" — an uncontrolled overheating that leads to fire. The report notes these fires are rare and becoming rarer as technology, codes, and standards improve. For comparison, it points out that diesel generators, the kind sold at hardware stores, cause an estimated 100 deaths a year in the U.S., mostly from carbon monoxide poisoning.

For residents of multifamily buildings with these systems, the report recommends that building owners and local fire departments make sure residents know where the batteries are located and what to do if there's a fire. As with most fires, evacuation is the standard response, since smoke from a battery fire can spread quickly and contains gases that may be harmful to people with asthma or heart conditions. The report found that contamination beyond the immediate fire area has not been a problem in past incidents in the U.S., since toxic gases tend to stay near the fire site and disperse quickly outdoors. After a fire, building owners are advised to work with environmental agencies to check air and water quality nearby.

If your building has solar and battery storage, or is considering it, the report's main point is that clear communication about the system's location, purpose, and safety plan helps residents feel prepared rather than alarmed.