NFPA 855 Decommissioning Checklist v2.1 (2024)

The NFPA 855 Decommissioning Checklist v2.1 (2024) serves as a field-deployable engineering tool designed to ensure that BESS installations—ranging from utility-scale containerized lithium-ion systems to commercial distributed storage—are decommissioned with rigor equivalent to their commissioning phase. It emphasizes a phased approach: pre-decommissioning planning (including hazard assessment, stakeholder coordination, and permit acquisition), system isolation and de-energization (verified via lockout/tagout, voltage testing, and residual energy dissipation), physical dismantling (with PPE, thermal runaway mitigation, and battery module handling protocols), and post-removal site restoration (soil/groundwater assessment, remediation verification, and documentation for regulatory closure). A core principle is 'hazard-informed sequencing': tasks are ordered to eliminate or reduce risks before proceeding—for example, verifying full state-of-charge depletion and thermal stabilization prior to mechanical disassembly. The checklist also embeds sustainability accountability by requiring material recovery rates tracking, recyclability reporting per UL 1974 and R2v3 standards, and third-party verification of landfill diversion targets. Its v2.1 update incorporates lessons learned from 2022–2023 incident investigations, including enhanced guidance on aqueous electrolyte spill containment, solid-state battery-specific discharge protocols, and cybersecurity asset retirement (e.g., erasing BMS firmware and network credentials).