1. Reasons for Amendment
ㅇESS-related fires have continued to occur despite the government's efforts on safety measures for ESS on two separate occasions (June 2019 and February 2020) and the efforts of manufacturers.
ㅇ Accordingly, it aims to prevent ESS-related fires and help the ESS industry secure sustainable competitiveness, by promptly implementing the Reinforced Safety Measures on ESS (May 2022).
2. Major Provisions
A. Changing the “charging rate limit” of secondary batteries for ESS to the “End of Life” (Article 512.1.2)
ㅇ The “charging rate limit” shall be changed to the “End of Life.”*
* EOL (End of Life): The capacity of secondary batteries up to the warranty period of ESS facilities, which secondary battery manufacturers offer to ESS operators in consideration of hardening/deterioration of batteries
B. Improvement in the standards for insulation resistance of IT grounding system (Article 511.2.7 (6)).
ㅇ It stipulates to have an alarm and automatic shut-off function when the insulation resistance does not meet the standards suggested by the manufacturer.
C. Mandatory installation of the exhaust facilities in the secondary battery room (Article 512.1.3 (1))
ㅇ The safety standards and requirements shall be improved to ensure that ESSs using lithium batteries shall be equipped with the exhaust facilities to reduce internal pressure for the purpose of preventing rupture or explosion of secondary batteries.
D. Establishment of the standards for installation of manufacturer's own fire extinguishing systems and prevention of mis-wiring by equipment (Article 511.1.2 (4), 512.1.3 (3))
ㅇ The electric storage device shall have its own fire extinguishing system to prevent a fire from spreading, and a name plate shall be attached to each group, and shall be improved to prevent mis-wiring by equipment.
E. Mandatory installation of a fireproof bulkhead to prevent the fire from spreading (Article 512.1.5 “G”)
ㅇ Mandatory installation of a fireproof bulkhead for secondary batteries of 5 MWh or less
F. Improvement of safety standards and requirements to prevent flooding of outdoor ESS facilities (Article 512.1.5 “C”(5))
ㅇ The height of the installed ESS (30 cm or more from the ground surface) and the results of on-site investigation of flooding accidents shall be reflected in the safety standards (for salt farms or reclaimed land, 60 cm or more from the ground surface).
H. Improvement of operational standards for ESS safety management (Article 511.2.7 (8), 512.1.4 (2), (3), (4), 512.2, 512.3.2)
ㅇ It stipulates emergency stop time (within 5 seconds), flammable and flammable gas monitoring, installation of CCTV at a secondary battery room and storage of records (time synchronization, 7 days), power management system facilities, etc.
I. Establishment of detailed standards considering the characteristics of each type of secondary battery (Article 512)
ㅇ For vanadium-based secondary batteries and flow batteries with a low risk of thermal runaway, new standards for such facilities shall be established in consideration of their characteristics (prevention of electrolyte leakage, corrosion resistance, ventilation, etc.).
J. Establishment of regulations to ensure the safety of secondary batteries after use (Article 511.2.5)
ㅇ It stipulates that the secondary battery shall be certified for conformity by system unit from the Certification Authorities for the initial capacity and remaining capacity.
K. Establishment of safety standards considering the characteristics of mobile ESS (Article 513.1)
ㅇ It stipulates that international regulations (IFC, NFPA855) shall be applied mutatis mutandis to the safety standards necessary for transportation and storage.
- The safety standards shall be newly established; the period of use in the same place (within 30 days), installation site (indoor installation prohibited), separation distance (more than 3 m for dangerous articles, more than 1.5 m for fence), vibration measurement, etc.
