Fire Safety No. 56: Impact on BESS Installation Layout. Explaining Special Provisions for Open Spaces, Safety Distances, and Li-ion Batteries!

The specialized news site "BESS NEWS," which freely publishes important information on grid-scale battery storage systems, has recently released an explanatory article titled "[Fire Safety No. 56] Large BESS / Battery Storage Requires Confirmation? ~New Special Provisions for Open Spaces, Safety Distances, and Li-ion Outdoor Storage~." This article organizes the impact of the hazardous materials regulation revisions, announced by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency on April 3, 2026, on BESS practical operations. The revisions introduce new arrangements concerning "open spaces" required around hazardous material facilities, "safety distances" between hazardous material facilities and high-pressure gas facilities, and special provisions for outdoor storage facilities handling certain hazardous materials stored by Li-ion batteries.

While BESS are electrical facilities, issues related to hazardous material facilities and outdoor storage under the Fire Service Act may arise depending on battery and spare module storage methods, types and quantities of hazardous materials, and facility layout. BESS NEWS organizes these revisions not merely as legal updates but as practical themes related to BESS site planning, layout design, and fire department consultations.

Table of Contents

Themes Explained by BESS NEWS This Time
1-1. Revision of Hazardous Materials Regulations Indicated by Fire Safety No. 56
1-2. Three Key Changes to Note in BESS Practical Operations

Points That May Affect BESS Installation Layout
2-1. Expansion of Special Provisions for Open Spaces
2-2. Review of Safety Distances from High-Pressure Gas Facilities, etc.
2-3. New Special Provisions Established for Outdoor Storage of Li-ion Batteries

Practical Considerations Often Overlooked
3-1. It's Not That You Can "Install Freely Without Open Space"
3-2. Not All Li-ion Batteries Are Subject to the Special Provisions
3-3. Both Fire Safety No. 56 and Operational Notifications Need to Be Confirmed

1. Themes Explained by BESS NEWS This Time

This BESS NEWS article primarily focuses on the content of the hazardous materials regulation revisions announced by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency that are most relevant to BESS practical operations. The main themes are "open spaces" to be provided around hazardous material facilities, "safety distances" between hazardous material facilities and high-pressure gas facilities, and special provisions for outdoor storage facilities handling only Class 2 or Class 4 hazardous materials stored by Li-ion batteries. BESS NEWS goes beyond merely introducing the articles of the system, organizing the information from perspectives that are frequently required for BESS projects, such as "site layout," "adjacent facilities," "storage of spare modules," "sprinkler systems," and "fire department consultations."

2. Points That May Affect BESS Installation Layout

The first point of interest in this revision is the special provisions for open spaces.

Open space refers to the safety area secured around hazardous material facilities. In this revision, special provisions have been expanded, allowing for the reduction or elimination of the width of open spaces under certain conditions, provided that fire-effective measures such as fire-resistant fences, sprinkler systems, and open spaces for fire fighting activities are taken.

Furthermore, safety distances from high-pressure gas facilities, etc., have also been reviewed. If high-pressure gas equipment or other hazardous material facilities are near a BESS site, measures such as fire-resistant fences may affect the layout plan.

Moreover, particularly noteworthy for BESS practical operations are the special provisions for outdoor storage facilities handling certain hazardous materials stored by Li-ion batteries. The main body of the article organizes the conditions that must be confirmed in practice, such as cubicle-type equipment, surrounding open spaces, and sprinkler systems for certain scales or larger.

3. Practical Considerations Often Overlooked

A common misunderstanding regarding this revision is the perception that "open spaces are no longer required." In reality, the reduction or elimination of open spaces is only permitted when certain fire prevention measures and conditions for fire fighting activities are met. It does not simply mean that BESS can be installed freely without any open space. Another point of caution is that not all Li-ion batteries are subject to these outdoor storage special provisions. Whether they are subject depends on the type, quantity, and actual storage and handling of hazardous materials. The main body of the BESS NEWS article, in addition to Fire Safety No. 56, also touches upon the operational notification Fire Safety No. 63, issued on the same date, introducing points to be organized before consulting with the competent fire department.

[Main Primary Sources Referenced in the Article]

Fire and Disaster Management Agency "Regarding the Promulgation of Cabinet Order Partially Revising the Regulations on Hazardous Materials, etc. (Fire Safety No. 56)"

Fire and Disaster Management Agency "Regarding the Operation of Cabinet Order Partially Revising the Regulations on Hazardous Materials, etc. (Notification) (Fire Safety No. 63)"

Fire and Disaster Management Agency "Results of Public Comment on the Draft Cabinet Order Partially Revising the Regulations on Hazardous Materials, etc., and Promulgation of the Revised Cabinet Order, etc."

[BESS NEWS Editorial Comment]

The important point with this theme is not to view the revision merely as "a relaxation of distance regulations." For open spaces and safety distances, it's not just about maintaining distance, but also about fire-resistant fences, sprinkler systems, and other fire prevention measures.