Article by Saleel Anthrathodiyil published in Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics – June 2026
The rapid growth of rechargeable battery-powered products is creating new fire protection challenges for warehouses, manufacturers, distributors, recyclers, and facility owners. In his article, “Tackling Fire Code Requirements for Storage of Batteries in Warehouses,” Saleel Anthrathodiyil, PE, CFPS, explains why lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries can no longer be treated as ordinary stored commodities.
The article examines the hazards associated with bulk battery storage, including thermal runaway, fire propagation, flammable gas generation, deflagration potential, and emergency response challenges. It also outlines how recent updates to the International Fire Code (IFC) and NFPA 855 are moving toward a more hazard-specific approach based on battery chemistry, state of charge (SoC), quantity, storage configuration, and battery condition.
Key topics covered include requirements and exceptions for batteries stored with equipment, the significance of maintaining batteries at reduced SoC, additional precautions for damaged, defective, or recalled (DDR) batteries, outdoor storage limitations, and high-piled storage requirements. The article also discusses sprinkler protection and the differences between FM Global and European VdS guidance for lithium-ion battery storage.
A central takeaway is that battery storage should be addressed early in the warehouse design and permitting process. Depending on the facility and storage conditions, requirements may include automatic sprinklers, detection systems, fire-rated separation, explosion control, outdoor separation distances, fire safety plans, and specialized storage arrangements. Early involvement of a qualified fire protection engineer can help facilities evaluate applicable codes, coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), and develop practical protection strategies.
To read the article on Food Logistics website, please click here.
About the Author
Saleel Anthrathodiyil, PE, CFPS
Saleel Anthrathodiyil, PE, CFPS is a Fire Protection Team Lead at Telgian Engineering & Consulting (TEC). Saleel is responsible for delivering comprehensive fire protection engineering solutions, with a focus on performance-based design and compliance with local and international codes. He also oversees and provides technical leadership in areas such as smoke control design, code consulting, fire modeling, and life safety strategies across diverse project types.