14F-12-1207 Electrical energy storage systems (ESS).
The provisions of IFC Section 1207 are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
1. Revise the exception to Section 1207.1 by replacing “R-3 and R-4” with “R-3, R-4 and R 5.”
2. Delete Section 1207.1.2.
3. Revise Table 1207.1.3 as shown:
TABLE 1207.1.3 – ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (ESS) THRESHOLD QUANTITIES
TECHNOLOGY | ENERGY CAPACITY a
Capacitor ESS | 3 kWh
Flow batteries b | 20 kWh
Lead-acid batteries, all types | 70 kWh c
Lithium-ion batteries | 20 kWh
Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) and nickel zinc (Ni-Zn) batteries | 70 kWh
Nonelectrochemical ESS d | 70 kWh
Other battery technologies | 10 kWh
Other electrochemical ESS technologies | 3 kWh
Sodium nickel chloride batteries | 70 kWh
Zinc manganese dioxide batteries (Zn-MnO2) | 70 kWh
For SI: 1 kilowatt hour = 3.6 megajoules. a. Energy capacity is the total energy capable of being stored (nameplate rating), not the usable energy rating. For units rated in amp-hours, kWh shall equal rated voltage times amp-hour rating divided by 1,000. b. Shall include vanadium, zinc-bromine, polysulfide-bromide and other flowing electrolyte-type technologies. c. Fifty gallons of lead-acid battery electrolyte shall be considered equivalent to 70 kWh. d. Covers nonelectrochemical technologies such as flywheel and thermal ESS.
4. Revise Section 1207.1.4 to read:
“1207.1.4 Permits and licenses.
Permits and licenses shall be obtained for ESS as follows:
1. Construction permits shall be obtained for stationary ESS installations and for mobile ESS charging and storage installations covered by Section 1207.10.1. Permits shall be obtained in accordance with Chapter 4 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
2. Hazardous materials use licenses shall be obtained for stationary ESS installations and for mobile ESS deployment operations covered by Section 1207.10.3. Licenses shall be obtained in accordance with Section 4-6-210 of the Municipal Code of Chicago.”
5. Revise Section 1207.1.4.1 to read:
“1207.1.4.1 Communication utilities.
Hazardous materials use licenses shall not be required for lead-acid and nickel-cadmium battery systems at facilities under the exclusive control of communications utilities that comply with NFPA 76 and operate at less than 50 voltage alternating current (VAC) and 60 voltage direct current (VDC).”
6. Revise Section 1207.1.5 by replacing “the permit application” with “permit and license applications” and replacing “Section 404" with “Section 15-4-101 of the Municipal Code of Chicago.”
7. Delete Section 1207.1.5.1.
8. Revise Section 1207.1.6 by replacing “104.2.2” with “411.1.1 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.”
9. Revise the second and third sentences of Section 1207.1.7 to read:
“The testing shall be conducted or witnessed and reported by a testing laboratory acceptable to the fire code official and show that a fire involving one ESS will not propagate to an adjacent ESS, and where installed within buildings, enclosed areas and walk-in units will be contained within the room, enclosed area or walk-in unit for the duration of the test. The test report shall be provided to the fire code official for review and approval in accordance with Section 411.1.1 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.”
10. Revise Section 1207.1.8 by replacing “system owner, agent or lessee” with “owner.”
11. Revise the first sentence of Section 1207.1.8.1 to read:
“Where, in the opinion of the fire code official, it is essential for public safety that trained personnel be on-site to respond to possible ignition or re-ignition of a damaged ESS, the owner shall dispatch within 15 minutes one or more fire mitigation personnel to the premise, as required by the fire code official, at the owner’s expense.”
12. Revise Section 1207.2.1 by replacing “approved” with “submitted to the fire code official for review at least 14 days.”
13. Revise Item 5 in Section 1207.2.1 by replacing “approved plans and specifications” with “construction permit and license.”
14. Delete Exception 3 to Section 1207.2.1.
15. Revise Section 1207.2.1.2 by deleting “approved.”
16. Revise Section 1207.2.2 by deleting “approved.”
17. Revise Section 1207.2.3 by replacing “code official” with “fire code official.”
18. Delete Exception 2 to Section 1207.3.1.
19. Revise Section 1207.3.4 by deleting “approved.”
20. Revise Section 1207.3.7 by replacing “105.6.6” with “Chapter 4 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.”
21. Delete Item 2 in Section 1207.3.7.1.
22. Revise Section 1207.3.9 by replacing “as permitted in Section 104.9.1” with “where approved by the fire code official” and by deleting “approved.”
23. Revise Section 1207.4.2 by resetting “Access” in italic type and by replacing “permit” with “allow.”
24. Revise Section 1207.4.8 by replacing “Approved signs” with “Signs” and by deleting the exception.
25. Revise Section 1207.4.9 by deleting “and safeguarded in an approved manner.”
26. Revise Section 1207.5.1 by deleting Exception 2.
27. Revise Section 1207.5.2 by deleting “within rooms, areas and walk-in units.”
28. Revise Item 1 in Section 1207.5.3 to read:
“1. Where the floor is located more than 70 feet (21 336 mm) above grade plane.”
29. Delete Exception 2 to Section 1207.5.3.
30. Revise Section 1207.5.4 by deleting each “approved” and by replacing “907.2” with “907.2 of the Chicago Building Code.”
31. Delete Section 1207.5.4.1.
32. Revise Section 1207.5.5 by replacing each “903.3.1.1” with “903.3.1.1 of the Chicago Building Code” and “904” with “904 of the Chicago Building Code.”
33. Delete Exception 2 to Section 1207.5.5.
34. Revise Section 1207.5.5.1 to read:
“1207.5.5.1 Water-reactive systems.
Electrochemical ESS that utilize water-reactive materials shall be protected by an alternative automatic fire- extinguishing system in accordance with Section 904 of the Chicago Building Code. Such installations shall require large-scale fire testing complying with Section 1207.1.7.”
35. Revise Section 1207.5.7 be deleting the second sentence.
36. Revise Section 1207.6.1.2.4 by replacing “916” with “916 of the Chicago Building Code.”
37. Revise Exception 2 to Section 1207.6.3 by replacing “104.2.2” with “411.1.1 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.”
38. Delete Exception 5 to Section 1207.6.3.
39. Revise Section 1207.7.3 to read:
“1207.7.3 Dwelling units and sleeping units.
ESS shall not be installed in dwelling units or sleeping units.”
40. Delete the exception to Section 1207.10.1.
41. Delete the exception to Section 1207.10.2.
42. Revise Section 1207.10.3 and its subsections to read:
“1207.10.3 Permits and licenses.
Construction permits and hazardous materials use licenses shall be obtained for charging and storage of mobile ESS as required by Section 1207.1.4. Hazardous materials use licenses shall be obtained for deployment of mobile ESS as required by Section 1207.1.4.
1207.10.3.1 Construction documents.
Construction documents complying with Section 1207.1.5 shall be submitted with the construction permit application for mobile ESS charging and storage locations.
1207.10.3.2 Deployment documents.
The following information shall be provided with the hazardous materials use license applications for mobile ESS deployments:
1. Relevant information for the mobile ESS equipment and protection measures in the construction documents required by Section 1207.1.5.
2. Location and layout diagram of the area in which the mobile ESS is to be deployed, including a scale diagram of all nearby exposures.
3. Location and content of signage, including no smoking signs.
4. Description of fencing to be provided around the ESS, including locking methods.
5. Details on fire suppression, smoke and automatic fire detection, system monitoring, thermal management, exhaust ventilation and explosion control, if provided.
6. For deployment, the intended duration of operation, including anticipated connection and disconnection times and dates.
7. Location and description of local staging stops during transit to the deployment site. See Section 1207.10.7.5.
8. Description of the temporary wiring, including connection methods, conductor type and size, and circuit overcurrent protection to be provided.
9. Description of how fire suppression system connections to water supplies or extinguishing agents are to be provided.
10. Contact information for personnel who are responsible for maintaining and servicing the equipment and responding to emergencies as required by Section 1207.1.8.1.
(Material based on NFPA 855 2023 Ed.)”
43. Delete Section 1207.10.4.
44. Revise Section 1207.10.5 by replacing “on the construction and operational permits” with “by the construction permits and hazardous materials use licenses.”
45. Revise Exception 2 to Section 1207.10.7.1 to read:
“2. Mobile ESS deployments shall not exceed 180 days unless an additional license is obtained.”
46. Revise Section 1207.10.7.5 by replacing “permit” with “license.”
47. Revise Section 1207.10.7.6 by replacing “approved” with “noncombustible.”
48. Revise Section 1207.10.7.7 by replacing “in accordance with Section 310” with “in conspicuous locations.”
49. Revise Section 1207.11 by replacing each “R-3 and R-4” with “R-3, R-4 and R-5.”
50. Revise Section 1207.11.6 by replacing “R-3 and R-4” with “R-3, R-4 and R-5” and “907.2.11” with “907.2.10 of the Chicago Building Code.”
51. Revise Section 1207.11.9 by deleting “owner or.”
