Envision proves BESS fire resilience in CSA-certified test

China’s Envision Energy has successfully concluded a full-scale burn test of its smart‑trading ESS system under the rigorous CSA C800 protocol. Conducted under the supervision of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), North American fire protection engineers (FPE), its strategic client, and CSA’s on-site observers, this trial mimicked a real-world station scenario – with four 5 MWh cabinets charged to 100 % SOC, packed tightly (only 5 cm apart), and no fire suppression intervention.

This closely spaced arrangement significantly escalated the risk of thermal propagation. Cabinet A was deliberately ignited – accelerated via forced heating and stripped insulation – and reached 1,297 °C after 6 hours and 32 minutes, igniting a controlled blaze that persisted for over 49 hours. Manwhile, cabinets B, C and D stayed nearly unaffected: their battery temperatures remained at 35–44 °C, well below critical thresholds. Post-test inspections confirmed no structural deformation or systemic propagation, with sealing intact and smoke fully captured and safely processed.

Envision attributes this success to its layered safety architecture – cell‑pack‑system integration, high‑safety cells from Envision Power, thermal runaway early-warning and pack-level fire control systems. The test not only validates asset containment under extreme conditions but also quantifies risks -paving the way for insurance readiness and commercial acceleration.

Envision is not alone. Several major players have recently released comparative burn test data. Sungrow conducted a 20 MWh liquid‑cooled BESS burn test under DNV oversight, with four 5 MWh cabinets tightly arranged—with no fire spread observed.

Prevalon Energy reported completion of a 6 MWh CSA TS‑800 large-scale fire test (back-to-back, side-by-side), also showing strong fire containment. Hithium, Canadian Solar, and Fluence have each conducted large‑scale fire testing, with cabinets enduring over 48 hours at >1,000 °C without propagation.

These burn tests reflect an accelerating trend towards extreme safety validation in the ESS sector. Rigorous protocols like CSA TS‑800/C800 and UL 9540A are increasingly becoming prerequisites for market acceptance, insurance coverage, and large-scale deployment. Vendors are investing millions—not only to bolster technical credibility but also to rebuild confidence in a sector challenged by high-profile fires.

As BESS capacity scales globally, such transparent, worst-case safety benchmarking is poised to become the hallmark of leading companies—and likely a regulatory requirement in the shift from price competition to safety leadership.