<html><body><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Perfect. My AHJ made reference during conversation that on another ESS he saw a tire mark outside of normal path and he might fail for that but I told him that was not Code intent. Will read your article and thank you for the help. </div><div id="ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line" data-applydefaultfontstyles="true" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" dir="auto"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></div></div><div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature" dir="auto"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Howard "Scot" Arey</b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Owner, Solar CenTex</b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">NABCEP PV Installation Professional</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">TECL 29755</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">254-300-1228 </div></div><div dir="auto" id="mail-editor-reference-message-container" class=""><br><hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%"><div id="divRplyFwdMsg" style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong>From:</strong> RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><br><strong>Sent:</strong> Thursday, September 11, 2025 5:07:35 PM<br><strong>To:</strong> RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><br><strong>Cc:</strong> Jason Szumlanski <jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com><br><strong>Subject:</strong> Re: [RE-wrenches] My AHJ insisting on "Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant" 18-inch requirement<br></div><br><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Awesome! I'm glad it helped.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">By the way, I just published my article on protecting ESS from vehicular traffic here: <a href="https://floridasolardesigngroup.com/protecting-home-batteries-from-vehicle-impact">https://floridasolardesigngroup.com/protecting-home-batteries-from-vehicle-impact</a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The IFC already has guidance with a reasonable framework. The Florida Building Code is about to adopt it. I had to dig DEEP to find the code committee amendment on this. I will admit - ChatGPT's Agent Mode with a Plus subscription pointed me in the right direction.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The real key takeaway is that the code is trying to protect ESS from the **normal path** of vehicular traffic, not to prevent all calamities.</div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><br>Jason Szumlanski<div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956</span></div><div><font color="#333333" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208</font></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM scot.arey--- 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 class="msg-2608216464557545909">
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Jason's well-laid arguments won the day here. Very much the logic you laid out and the AHJ reluctantly conceded the point. <br>
<br>
He tried going directly to Mechanical Code but I said no, pertinent sections of IMC are in IRC, Ch 12-24. Then he tried saying that IFC had more stringent requirements that R330 (ESS) but I said, no you won't find any reference to 18" in the ESS section of
it. And the individual sections of IRC Ch12-24 spell out the 18" inch reqt when appropriate but that is absent from R330.<br>
<br>
Really appreciate the great feedback, Jason. If nothing else, this was a good exercise in Code refresher for me and to navigate a way-too-complex IRC that is too easily over-applied by an AHJ. At least my own city's AHJ (the site of the project) was open to
robust debate and thick-skinned enough to reverse himself.<br>
<br>
Phew...this would have been an expensive "de-retrofit" And I'll say again, the Enphase ESS in a six battery config is awesome. 24,000-watts of continuous power and "whole house" backup is easily gained. Little long time-wise to wire the six together but it's
a nice setup. Very pleased with it.</div>
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<b>Howard "Scot" Arey</b></div>
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<div id="m_-2608216464557545909divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> on behalf of Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 11, 2025 1:39 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a> <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Ray Walters <<a href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] My AHJ insisting on "Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant" 18-inch requirement</font>
<div> </div>
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<div>
<p>I second Jason's sentiments. We need to 'gently' but firmly push back on all these extra code requirements, otherwise we'll be so buried, we won't be able to stay in business. We've been under attack from various factions since the 1980s, who have thrown
unreasonable requirements at us. Recall utilities requiring gold plated disconnects or million dollar liability policies to grid tie. Many folks are trying to politicize our industry, and we need to let everyone know that energy independence is very American.
So is safe, affordable construction. </p>
<p>Ray Walters<br>
Remote Solar</p>
<div>On 9/11/2025 4:17 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I have had AHJs try to shoehorn solar panels into the mechanical code before. I think your best bet is to argue the applicability of the mechanical code entirely. Expressio unius est
exclusio alterius / The expression of one thing implies the exclusion of others. If the IRC authors wanted M1307.3 to apply to ESS, they would have said so in R328.</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I would go with something like:</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This equipment is a UL 9540-listed energy storage system, specifically tested to the UL 9540A standard. The applicable section of the IRC is R328 (or 2023 IRC Section 327), not the
mechanical code. Chapter 13 applies to mechanical appliances such as HVAC equipment or combustion devices—not sealed electrical ESS. This product does not fall under the scope of M1301.1 and is not subject to M1307.3.</div>
<br>
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">If they don't accept that, I would ask them to:</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Point to the section in M1301.1 that covers ESS. Explain why R328 doesn’t apply, despite being specifically titled “Energy Storage Systems.”</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">On another subject, I have been involved in another AHJ battle regarding protection against vehicular traffic, and I have a blog post on the subject coming out soon. Fortunately, the
next Florida Building Code draft mirrors the IRC, which includes a clear schematic that clarifies the requirements. </div>
<br>
</div>
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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Good luck, and don't let them win!</div>
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<div dir="ltr"><br>
Jason Szumlanski
<div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">
<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">
<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:13px">Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956</span></div>
<div><font color="#333333" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208</font></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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<div>
<div dir="ltr">On Tue, Sep 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM scot.arey--- via RE-wrenches
<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org></a> wrote:<br>
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Seeking your suggestions and direction. My AHJ - after acknowledging that the Enphase 5p battery has a floor mount option - now insists that it must be 18-inches above the garage floor unless I can produce something that says it is "Flammable Vapor Ignition
Resistant."<br>
<br>
We all know there is no open flame from an ESS and I know the 9540A depicts a battery at 6-inches.<br>
<br>
Anybody run into this and have suggestions on what I might show back to the AHJ?</div>
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