Presentation: NFPA 855 Energy Storage Systems
This class will present a brief overview and history of energy storage but focus mainly on requirements for the 2018 and 2021 IFC as well as NFPA 855. It will also detail the hazards associated with this industry and how the codes were developed to protect energy storage.
Guest Presenters:
Kara Gerczysnki is currently the Division Chief of Administration and Prevention for the Elizabeth Fire Protection District. She has worked for the district over 16 years and has various responsibilities in the prevention division and overall administration of the department. She serves on the NFPA 855 committee and helped develop the first version of NFPA 855. She also sits on the UL 9540A Standards Technical Panel. This panels deal with the standard for test method for evaluating thermal runaway fire propagation in battery energy storage systems.
Bob Davidson is the Managing Partner of Davidson Code Concepts, LLC, Mr. Davidson has more than thirty three years of experience in both the volunteer and career fire service as well as law enforcement, emergency management and EMS experience. With over 25 years as a code enforcer he retired as Fire Marshal in charge of the Fire Safety Division of the South Brunswick Township Code Enforcement Department with responsibilities including enforcement of the NJ Uniform Fire Code and managing the Office of Emergency Management. He has experience teaching a variety of subjects involving health, safety and code enforcement for the International Association of Fire Fighters; the International Code Council; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; The NJ University of Medicine and Dentistry; Middlesex County College, Middlesex County NJ Fire Academy, University of North Carolina School of Architecture, Charlotte Campus and University of Texas-Arlington Campus. He has been a speaker at numerous NFPA World Safety Conferences as well as at state and regional code official conferences.
