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Saft completes large-scale fire testing for I-Flex battery storage system

Saft’s I-Flex battery energy storage system underwent large-scale fire testing designed to measure whether a fire could spread between adjacent battery containers.

By

Gwenaelle Deboutte

Jun 30, 2026

Saft has completed large-scale fire tests on its I-Flex battery energy storage system (BESS) under the latest ANSI/CAN/UL 9540A:2026 fire test standard, with the company reporting that fire remained confined to the initiating container under the test conditions.

The TotalEnergies subsidiary said the tests were conducted by independent certification body UL Solutions in April using commercial I-Flex containers without modifications or additional fire protection measures. The I-Flex system is available in 3.4 MWh, 4.3 MWh, and 5.1 MWh configurations for utility-scale storage projects.

The testing involved four battery containers, including three positioned side by side to evaluate fire propagation under a realistic installation layout. Adjacent containers were separated by 15 cm, while opposing containers were spaced 3.25 m apart.

Saft said the tests simulated an extreme scenario by deliberately triggering thermal runaway in a fully charged container after disabling or removing safety systems and leaving the container doors open to increase the oxygen supply. The objective was to evaluate fire propagation, heat release, and the resilience of neighboring systems.

According to the company, the fire remained contained within the initiating container, with slow fire propagation and limited heat release during the early stages. Saft added that no thermal runaway or cell venting occurred in adjacent containers and that all neighboring structures remained intact.

From pv magazine France

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Written by

Gwenaelle Deboutte

Gwénaëlle has been a journalist for over 15 years and heads the editorial team of the pv magazine France website and its French-language newsletter. Since 2015, she has been covering developments in the renewable energy sector for the professional press. In parallel, she reports on economics and industrial policy in Europe.

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