San Diego Municipal Code § 511.1207 Electrical Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
§511.1207 Electrical Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
(a) Local Amendment. Section 1207.1, General, is amended to read as follows:
The provisions in this section are applicable to stationary and mobile electrical energy storage systems (ESS).
Exception: ESS in Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies shall only be required to comply with section 1207.11 of the 2025 California Fire Code except where section 1207.11.4 requires compliance with sections 1207.1 through 1207.9 of the 2025 California Fire Code. Other residential occupancies shall comply with sections 1207.1 through 1207.9, unless below the ESS Threshold Quantities in Table 1207.1.3, in which case shall comply with section 1207.11.
(b) Local Amendment. Section 1207.2.1, Commissioning, is amended to read as follows:
Commissioning of newly installed ESS and existing ESS that have been retrofitted, replaced, or previously decommissioned and are returning to service shall be conducted prior to the ESS being placed in service in accordance with a commissioning plan that has been approved prior to initiating commissioning. The commissioning plan shall include the following:
(1) a narrative description of the activities that will be accomplished during each phase of commissioning, including the personnel intended to accomplish each of the activities;
(2) a listing of the specific ESS and associated components, controls and safety-related devices to be tested, a description of the tests to be performed, and the functions to be tested;
(3) conditions under which all testing will be performed, which are representative of the conditions during normal operation of the system;
(4) documentation of the owner’s project requirements and the basis of design necessary to understand the installation and operation of the ESS;
(5) verification that required equipment and systems are installed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications;
(6) integrated testing for all fire and safety systems;
(7) testing for any required thermal management, ventilation or exhaust systems associated with the ESS installation;
(8) preparation and delivery of operation and maintenance documentation;
(9) training of facility operating and maintenance staff;
(10) identification and documentation of the requirements for maintaining system performance to meet the original design intent during the operation phase;
(11) identification and documentation of personnel who are qualified to service, maintain, and decommission the ESS, and respond to incidents involving the ESS, including documentation that such service has been contracted for;
(12) a decommissioning plan for removing the ESS from service, and from the facility in which it is located. The plan shall include details on providing a safe, orderly shutdown of energy storage and safety systems with notification to the code officials prior to the actual decommissioning of the system. The decommissioning plan shall include contingencies for removing an intact operational ESS from service, and for removing an ESS from service that has been damaged by a fire or other event; and
(13) a site-specific emergency response plan that substantially conforms to the format and content provided in National Fire Protection Association 855 Appendix G 11.9.
(c) Local Amendment. Section 1207.3.4, Energy Storage Management System, is amended to read as follows:
Where required by the ESS listing, an approved energy storage management system that monitors and balances cell voltages, currents and temperatures within the manufacturer’s specifications shall be provided to the Fire Code Official. The system shall disconnect electrical connections to the ESS or otherwise place it in a safe condition if potentially hazardous temperatures or other conditions such as short circuits, over voltage or under voltage are detected. The system shall transmit a trouble signal to an approved location and to an approved annunciator panel if potentially hazardous temperatures or other conditions such as short circuits, over voltage or under voltage are detected.
(d) Local Addition. Section 1207.3.4.1, Annunciator Panel, is added as follows:
The annunciator panel shall visibly indicate hazardous conditions including hazardous temperatures, short circuits, over voltage or under voltage when detected. The location of the annunciator panel shall be approved by the Fire Code Official.
(e) Local Amendment. Section 1207.7, Indoor ESS Installations, is amended to read as follows:
Indoor ESS installations shall be in accordance with sections 1207.7.3 through 1207.7.4 of the 2025 California Fire Code. (Material based on National Fire Protection Association 855 2023 Ed.)
(f) Local Amendment. Table 1207.7, Indoor ESS Installations, is amended to read as follows:
Table 1207.7
Indoor ESS Installations
Compliance Required
Feature | Section
Prohibited ESS installation locations | 1207.7.3
Elevation | 1207.5.3
Fire suppression systems | 1207.5.5
Fire-resistance-rated separations | 1207.7.4
General installation requirements | 1207.4
Maximum allowable quantities | 1207.5.2
Size and separation | 1207.5.1
Smoke and automatic fire detectiona | 1207.5.4
Technology specific protection | 1207.6
a. Lead-acid and nickel-cadmium battery systems installed in Group U buildings and structures less than 1,500 square feet (139 m2) under the exclusive control of communications utilities, and operating at less than 50 VAC and 60 VDC in accordance with NFPA 76, are not required to have an approved automatic smoke or fire detection system.
(g) Not Adopted. Sections 1207.7.1 through 1207.7.2 are not adopted.
(h) Local Amendment. Section 1207.7.3, Prohibited ESS Installation Locations, is amended to read as follows:
ESS shall not be installed in any of the following locations:
(1) sleeping units;
(2) dwelling units;
(3) electrical rooms; except in nondedicated electrical rooms containing equipment supported by the ESS as approved by the Fire Code Official; and
(4) rooms and areas housing the fire alarm control panel, fire pump, emergency responder communications enhancement systems equipment, and other fire protection and life safety system equipment as determined by the Fire Code Official.
(i) Local Amendment. Section 1207.7.4, Fire-Resistance-Rated Separations, is amended to read as follows:
Rooms and areas containing ESS shall be separated from other areas in the building by two-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with section 707 of the California Building Code and two-hour horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with 2022 California Building Code, Title 24, Part 2, Section 711 (2025), as appropriate.
(j) Local Amendment. Section 1207.11, ESS in Group R Occupancies, is amended to read as follows:
ESS in all Group R-3 and R-4 Occupancies and Other Residential Occupancies below the ESS Threshold Quantities in Table 1207.1.3, shall be in accordance with sections 1207.11.1 through 1207.11.9 of the California Fire Code, with the following exceptions:
(1) ESS listed and labeled in accordance with UL 9540 and marked “For use in residential dwelling units,” where installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the California Electrical Code.
(2) ESS rated less than 1 kWh (3.6 megajoules).
(“Electrical Energy Storage Systems (ESS)” added 1-29-2026 by O-22043 N.S.; effective 2-28-2026.)