MPs highlight the need for further BESS Fire Safety Regulations
MPs highlight the need for further BESS Fire Safety Regulations
The UK government has come under growing pressure from Members of Parliament to strengthen safety regulations for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). As a company specialising in fire safety solutions, Lee Fire & Security understands the importance of proactive regulation to protect businesses, communities and emergency services.
In this article, we will take a look at the developments regarding a call to action for updated fire safety guidelines on commercial premises’ at risk from battery energy storage system (BESS) fires.
What Triggered a Renewed Focus on Such Fire Safety Regulations?
MPs from across all parties in the UK have urged the government to introduce mandatory fire service consultation, enforce minimum separation distances and establish statutory safety standards for BESS locations.
Many MPs emphasised that, while guidance exists, legal mandates are presently insufficient. One highlighted weakness is that fire and rescue services are not statutory consultees during planning, which restricts their involvement.
Why business owners should care
BESS installations are crucial for managing renewable energy, but they carry risks:
- As of January 2025, there were at least 121 operational grid-scale BESS sites in the UK, with a combined capacity near 2.6 GW – rising further when smaller installations are included.
- Globally, large lithium-ion BESS carry an inherent risk of thermal runaway, a chain reaction that has triggered fires and toxic gas emissions, even in advanced energy markets like South Korea, which saw 23 major incidents between 2020 and 2022, including a deadly explosion.
For business owners, this means:
- Heightened fire hazards at or near premises.
- Greater scrutiny of safety measures during planning and operation.
- Potential rising insurance premiums and legal liability if safety gaps emerge.
What MPs are calling for
To better protect businesses and communities, MPs want four key improvements:
- Mandatory fire service consultation during the planning stage.
- Regulatory minimum separation distances to safeguard adjacent properties.
- Statutory standards for fire detection, suppression, and safety infrastructure.
- Stronger enforcement, including inspections under environmental permitting regulations.
While the government argues that existing frameworks covering health and safety, fire regulations and planning guidance offer sufficient safeguards, MPs contend that they lack clarity, enforceability and consistency.
How businesses should respond now
Even before new laws come into force, proactive measures are wise:
- Model best practice – Engage with the local fire and rescue service early in planning and consider separation distances beyond guidance.
- Operate to high standards – Invest in fire detection, thermal monitoring, suppression systems, and spill-control planning.
- Maintain compliance – Perform and review fire risk assessments per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Record robustly – Document your decisions on site layout, risk mitigation and evacuation routes—useful if or when regulations tighten.
Don’t Wait For Law Enforcement To Begin Implementing Better Practices of Fire Protection
As BESS deployment expands, so does the risk profile. MPs are urging the government to shift from advisory guidelines to clear, enforceable safety regulations. For business owners, this signals two immediate actions:
- Strengthen safety protocols now – don’t wait for future laws.
- Prepare for emerging regulations – stay ahead by documenting compliance and engaging with authorities.
