I saw my first Tesla Power Wall install recently. The batteries were mounted in a mechanical area in a dwelling unit to serve as backup power (No solar on site.) and it looked to me to be a compliant install. But after looking at NEC 480.10(E) I am not sure egress requirements are met. The NEC offers no definition of “designated battery room.” Would any Power Wall installation require panic hardware?
Tesla Power Wall
- Thread starter wyboy
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ramsy
Roger Ruhle dba NoFixNoPay
- Location
- LA basin, CA
- Occupation
- Service Electrician 2020 NEC
Good call on section 480.10 Battery Locations.
However, the egress reference per 2017 NEC 110.26(C)(1) & (D)(1) only requires one door & no storage within dedicated equipment space measurements.
The AHJ may consider the dedicated room a garage, with other junk, as long as that junk doesn't violate equipment space.
However, the egress reference per 2017 NEC 110.26(C)(1) & (D)(1) only requires one door & no storage within dedicated equipment space measurements.
The AHJ may consider the dedicated room a garage, with other junk, as long as that junk doesn't violate equipment space.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
I think it would be an AHJ's call whether the room is 'dedicated.'
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
With the gel cell type batteries the requirements of a "battery room" are relaxed as they don't give off the same gases as the old type did.
ggunn
PE (Electrical), NABCEP certified
- Location
- Austin, TX, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer - Photovoltaic Systems
Yes, we see this all the time. We install lots of these units, mostly in conjunction with PV (solar). Most of them are in garages and some of the garages actually have cars in them.
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