Josh Dinaburg of CSA Group discusses testing, standards, and fire risks in energy storage systems, outlining the evolving challenges, stakeholder concerns, and future of third-party certification.
What prompted CSA Group to organise the BESS Forum during NFPA 2025, and what were your goals in bringing together such a diverse group from both fire safety and energy storage communities?
This is a complex issue with many stakeholders. You have manufacturers, distributors, fire protection engineers, first responders, and community representatives all involved in some way. NFPA provided the perfect venue to bring these groups together. We weren’t there to promote CSA Group—our role was to create a forum for open dialogue. We wanted to elevate understanding around energy storage fire risks and build shared insights.
This is especially important for CSA Group because the BESS space brings us into a different corner of NFPA than we’ve traditionally operated in. We’re not known for detectors or alarm panels—but battery safety puts us at the centre of the conversation. So the forum was a way to make an impact, to listen, and to demonstrate our commitment to this evolving safety challenge.
What kind of response did you get from attendees and what kinds of insights emerged from the conversation that perhaps you hadn’t anticipated?
It was really productive. What stood out was that the discussion moved beyond just fire propagation. We started hearing more about explosion protection and deflagration prevention systems—topics I believe will define the next big conversations in this space. That kind of forward-thinking approach was great to see.
Could you help clarify for readers how NFPA 855 and UL 9540 relate to each other, especially in terms of overlap and what it all means for manufacturers and code officials trying to navigate compliance?
Sure. Think of it this way: Codes dictate enforcement—what’s required in a jurisdiction. Standards outline how to get the data to satisfy those codes. You have test standards like UL 9540A, or CSA C800, that help regulators and design professionals understand how systems behave under fire conditions.
Our role as a testing lab is to provide data that others can use to make informed decisions. The goal is less overlap, more consistency. Harmonisation helps everyone—manufacturers, code officials, AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction). But it’s important to understand these aren’t the same thing. Standards are tools; codes are the rulebooks.
What makes CSA Group’s approach to battery energy storage system testing stand apart from others in this rapidly evolving field?
It’s a complex and evolving industry. The technology is advancing fast, and codes are always trying to catch up. At CSA Group, we focus heavily on client education. Helping our customers navigate the testing landscape, installation codes, and jurisdictional requirements is just as important as the actual testing.
We also have a hands-on approach. I’m personally involved in most of our BESS projects. That allows us to offer real technical insights and help ensure nothing gets overlooked. Our clients aren’t just getting test data—they’re getting strategic guidance through a very complicated safety environment.
