NFPA 800 to Redefine Lithium-Ion Battery Safety as Construction Industry Faces Rising Fire Risk

The imminent release of the National Fire Protection Association’s new Battery Safety Code, NFPA 800, underscores the growing fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries across the construction and infrastructure sectors, according to RAMTECH, a temporary fire detection and site safety solutions company.

NFPA 800 is the first full-lifecycle standard for battery safety, covering manufacturing, transport, installation, operation, emergency response and end-of-life management. The code – which is expected to be published on a provisional basis shortly – follows an accelerated development process driven by the rapid expansion of lithium-ion technologies across construction, energy and industrial sectors.

When compromised by damage or overcharging, tools and equipment can enter thermal runaway — a state of uncontrollable, self-heating that produces intense heat and flammable gases. On active sites, these risks are amplified by temporary charging setups and evolving storage conditions where supervision and early detection are often inconsistent.

NFPA 800 introduces energy thresholds and maximum allowable quantities that determine when additional safeguards are required. It also aligns with existing standards including NFPA 241, NFPA 70, NFPA 72 and NFPA 855.

For construction and facilities professionals, these thresholds will directly influence how batteries are stored, charged and managed on active sites.

NFPA 800 is expected to remain valid for two years while it moves through the NFPA’s standard development process. While it is unlikely to immediately become enforceable in building codes, it is expected to influence best practice across construction and infrastructure projects.

Expert contributors within the life safety sector suggest the standard will act as a vital unifying document for the industry.

Contractors, developers and facilities managers are urged to review site-level battery safety procedures in light of NFPA 800, particularly around storage, charging, detection and emergency response planning.