<div dir="ltr"><div>In California we are currently working under the I-codes, so we work under the residential (CRC) or fire (CRC) codes. California is in process of adopting NFPA 855 which I believe will go into effect July 1, 2026. The wording in the CRC or CFC is as follows:</div><div><br></div><div><img src="cid:ii_mbp8o9qf0" alt="image.png" width="562" height="402"></div><div><br></div><div>You can see it's similar to the 855 language. Clients with unfinished attached garage or utility rooms either have to sheetrock the entire space or can build a utility closet within the unfinished space that meets the requirements. Both are fairly expensive options, depending on how large and cluttered the space is. Anyway, it what it is. As we've become used to dealing with this, we try to focus on the improved safety that sheet rocking provides and just recommend that clients bite the bullet and get it done. It definitely kills some projects. Alternatively, we can mount batteries outside which has drawbacks and may not be feasible in colder climates.</div><div><br></div><div>If this requirement isn't being upheld in your jurisdiction, it is probably just a matter of time before they catch on.</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div><br></div><div>August</div><div>Luminalt </div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p><br></p></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 6:18 AM Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><div>For those of you installing batteries inside homes how are you treating this poorly-worded section of Code? </div><div dir="auto"> </div><div><b>NFPA 855 - 15.4.2:</b></div><div><i>If the room or space where the ESS is to be installed is not finished or non-combustible, the walls and ceilings of the room or space shall be protected with not less than 5/8 in. Type X gypsum board.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div dir="auto">This section of fire code has given us much consternation over the years. Most installations in this climate are going into unfinished basements. Are you all installing 5/8 sheetrock for the entire basement? Just the area around the batteries? Something else?</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks in advance for any thoughts.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">--<br><div dir="ltr">Nicholas Ponzio <br>Building Energy<br>1570 South Brownell Road<br>Williston, VT 05495</div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.buildingenergyvt.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com</a></div><div dir="ltr"><img width="200" height="118" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zLpKAgDa52XFxRwn1ImZ6B7kz-NKN9U0SJvLOILiiB7uS_hl9XDbHJzjSfEyIaQt5MWOn3x0w"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8px">"Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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