The rapid deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to support renewable energy integration introduces complex fire and explosion hazards that challenge traditional safety frameworks in Australia. NFPA 855:2026 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems is the leading global fire safety standard for ESS installations. Therefore, understanding and correctly applying NFPA 855:2026 is critical to managing fire safety risk and meeting regulatory compliance. This full-day workshop is designed to help participants confidently interpret code requirements, understand the intent behind them, and apply practical, defensible mitigation strategies in real-world environments.

This workshop is ideal for:

• Fire Safety Engineers, Fire Services Designers & Electrical Engineers
• Fire Brigades, Certifiers & Regulatory Authorities
• Electricity network providers, operators & designers
• BESS EPC contractors and installers
• Battery Safety Specialists
• Facilities Managers
• Dangerous Goods Consultants
• Fire safety compliance & Risk management professionals
• Emergency response planners

What You’ll Learn

• The course will cover specific topics such as:
• NFPA 855 – New 2026 Requirements and Concepts
• Large Scale Fire Testing (LSFT) - Deep Dive
• NFPA 68: Prescriptive & Performance Based Approaches
• NFPA 68: Partial Volume Deflagrations
• NFPA 68/69: CFD Modelling + Examples
• NFPA 69: Design Approaches
• UL 9540/9540A
• Fire Suppression/Detection
• Hazard Mitigation Analysis
• BESS Siting
• Battery Management Systems
• Emergency Response and Planning

International Expertise

The workshop will be delivered by Lote Consulting and ATAR Fire, with presenters travelling from the United States to share global experience, testing data, and regulatory insight. During Fire Australia 2026, Lote Consulting will also present sessions on BESS fire safety to build context and industry awareness ahead of the workshop.

Nicholas Bartlett, Senior Fire Engineer, ATAR Fire (USA)

Nicholas Bartlett, P.E. is an AHJ and Licensed Fire Protection Engineer/ Professional Engineer throughout the United States with 18 years’ fire protection experience.

Nick is involved with the code development process in the International Fire Code (IFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and UL Standards committees. Committee work includes serving as technical member of NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, NFPA 800, Battery Code, UL 9540, Energy Storage Systems, UL 1487, Battery Containment Enclosures, UL 1973, Stationary and Motive Batteries, CSA C801, Detection and Mitigation Systems for Battery Failure Events, and NFPA 1140, Standard for Wildland Fire Protection.

Nick is deeply integrated in current energy storage system code development as a member of the NFPA 855 & NFPA 800 technical committees and UL 1487/1973/9540/9540A technical committees. Nick is the instructor of a full day NFPA 855 course, having instructed nearly to 1,000 AHJs, engineers, and other professionals in the USA and abroad.

Dr Amer Magrabi, Director, Lote Consulting - Fire I Security 

Amer is Director – Fire & Risk Engineering at Lote Consulting based in Sydney. He is a NER Chartered Fire Safety Engineer (CPEng), Fellow of Engineers Australia (FIEAust) with over 25 years’ experience across Australia and Asia-Pacific.   Amer is the founding partner of Lote Consulting – Fire I Security (established in 2013) leading multidisciplinary teams that deliver fire code compliance, fire testing, security, and risk management services. His current work in the BESS sector focuses on integrating Large Scale Fire Testing (LSFT) evidence and NFPA 855:2026 into HIPAP2-compliant Fire Safety Studies for grid-scale BESS projects, bridging laboratory results and field design to improve firefighter safety and community risk outcomes.

Why Attend

• Strengthen your ability to interpret and apply NFPA 855 with confidence

• Understand the why behind requirements to support better safety decisions
• Learn directly from internationally recognised BESS fire safety experts
• Gain practical knowledge you can apply immediately in design, approval, and response planning

***Please note that this Course is not taught on behalf of NFPA or the NFPA 855 Technical Committee

Event Details

Thank you to our event partners: 

Proudly supported by our principal sponsor:

Thanks to our major sponsors: