Fluence Energy, a provider intelligent energy storage, services and asset optimization software has announced the successful completion of one of the largest fire safety evaluations in the energy storage industry.
In partnership with CSA Group, who provide product testing, inspection and certification organization, Fluence rigorously tested its high-density Gridstack Pro 5000 Series system.
Prior to the fire tests, Fluence conducted five days of explosion testing; two days of dispersion testing followed by three days of deflagration testing.
During dispersion testing, the system’s active ventilation effectively exhausted gases as designed, in compliance with NFPA 69, demonstrating its ability to prevent flammable gas accumulation.
During deflagration testing, all six deflagration panels deployed as intended, in accordance with NFPA 68, validating the effectiveness of Gridstack Pro 5000’s passive safety features under extreme conditions.
Gridstack Pro 5000 is designed to deliver up to 5.6 MWh of energy within a 20-foot enclosure.
To validate its safety at this scale, the system underwent rigorous testing using fully charged batteries. The large-scale fire tests were conducted at Safe Laboratories in North Carolina under the observation of CSA Group.
These tests far exceeded the requirements of the current UL 9540A standard and aligned with emerging safety standards, including the forthcoming NFPA 855 (2026).
Four enclosures containing live batteries were set up using minimum spacings, with the deflagration panels on the center enclosure opened. A fire was deliberately ignited in the center enclosure and allowed to fully develop without the use of fire suppression or firefighting intervention.
The results confirmed that Gridstack Pro 5000 enclosures are designed to prevent propagation of battery fires under the conditions tested, even in tightly spaced layouts.
No enclosure-to-enclosure propagation occurred, and surrounding battery cells remained within safe limits.
Peter Williams, Fluence SVP and Chief Product and Supply Chain Officer said: “We designed Gridstack Pro 5000 to push the boundaries of what is possible in energy storage density and with that comes a responsibility to prove it can be done safely.
“This testing goes far beyond what the industry currently requires and is not only a validation of our design, but a real-world demonstration of how next-generation systems must perform under worst-case scenarios.”
To promote transparency and technical rigor, Fluence invited independent observers, including subject matter experts from organizations such as Hiller and members of standards development committees, to observe testing at Safe Labs.
Paul Hayes, Hiller VP of Energy Infrastructure, Fire Protection Engineer said: “Fluence continues to show its commitment to fire safety by going above and beyond industry standards.
“The scale and extent of their testing demonstrate readiness to meet the requirements of the upcoming 2026 NFPA 855 safety standard ahead of publication.
“Gridstack Pro 5000’s successful performance under multiple physical test scenarios confirms the system’s safety architecture and Fluence’s commitment to industry safety standards.”
Throughout the fire tests, Fluence collected detailed gas sampling data to support plume analysis, emergency response training, and permitting guidance—complementing the company’s broader safety initiatives, including specialized battery energy storage system training for first responders.
Fluence Energy has announced its Gridstack Pro 5000 has passed fire safety evaluations in partnership with the CSA Group.
