Water isn’t always the best answer to BESS fires

Fire protection experts advocate for containment-focused strategies against battery fires, prioritizing the isolation of thermal runaway propagation over direct flame suppression measures.

Rethinking BESS Fire Response: Why Water Isn’t Always the Solution

When a battery energy storage system (BESS) catches fire, the instinctive response—flooding it with water—can be counterproductive. Instead, experts advocate a controlled cooling strategy focused on containment rather than aggressive suppression.

Understanding the Dual Risks

Mishaal SyedNaveed, Senior Fire Protection Engineer at Wärtsilä Energy Storage, outlines the critical hazards: conventional fires and potential explosions. Toxic/flammable gases released during thermal runaway pose explosion risks if ignited.

The Danger of Direct Suppression

SyedNaveed warns that spraying water directly onto battery enclosures may exacerbate conditions—introducing oxygen or disturbing gas concentrations could trigger explosions.

The Paradigm Shift

Modern protocols emphasize:

Controlled cooling to slow thermal runaway propagation
Barrier containment to limit fire spread
Avoiding intrusive measures that disrupt off-gassing patterns