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Texas BESS Safety FAQ for Jurisdictions

The Texas State Fire Marshal published an FAQ addressing battery energy storage system (BESS) safety standards for jurisdictions under its authority. The document explains NFPA 855 requirements including thermal runaway protection, fire detection and suppression systems, emergency operations planning, and inspection and maintenance mandates. The FAQ also highlights differences between the 2020 and 2023 editions of NFPA 855, noting the newer edition consolidated BESS requirements into Chapter 9 and added guidance on lithium-ion battery safety in Annex G.