Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook - Report - Page 15
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Energy Storage Guidebook
California Energy Code
California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code or Title 24, Part 6) establishes energy
efficiency requirements for permitted New Construction, Alteration, and Addition projects. The Energy Code
is developed to support increased building energy efficiency that is cost-effective, reduces greenhouse gas
emissions, and promotes electric grid load flexibility, with battery storage as a key component. The Energy
Code governs many elements of a new construction building, including but not limited to installing a battery
energy storage system or meeting the battery readiness requirements when not installing a battery energy
storage system. Additions and alterations to an existing building are not required to meet the battery
readiness, nor installed battery energy storage system requirements.
New construction single-family homes are not required to install a battery energy storage system, but the
battery readiness requirements apply. The requirements dictate the design and installation of features in
support of a battery energy storage system being easily installed in the future. New construction, singlefamily projects can consider installing a battery energy storage system to gain compliance flexibility in
showing compliance to the Energy Code, but only when using the performance approach. If a battery energy
storage system is installed, it exempts the single-family project from the battery readiness requirements.
Refer to the Energy Code Ace in Section 5: Resources for more guidance and support on the California
Energy Code.
Multifamily Residential and Commercial
California Electrical Code
The California Electrical Code, Part 3 of Title 24, governs the installation of the electrical aspects of ESS for
all building and property types. Energy storage systems are covered in Section 706, specifically ESS with a
capacity greater than 1 kWh.
The California Electrical Code also calls out standards frequently referenced in ESS installations:
NFPA 855, Standard for the installation of ESS
NFPA 111, Standard on Stored Electrical Energy Emergency and Standby Systems
NECA 416, Recommended Practice for Installing ESS
UL 9540, Standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment
The California Electrical Code includes provisions for commissioning and maintenance for systems that are
not installed in one- and two-family dwellings.
California Energy Code
California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code or Title 24, Part 6) establishes energy
efficiency requirements for permitted New Construction, Alteration, and Addition projects. The Energy Code
is developed to support increased building energy efficiency that is cost-effective, reduces greenhouse gas
emissions, and promotes electric grid load flexibility, with battery storage as a key component. The Energy
Code governs many elements of a new construction building, including but not limited to installing a battery
energy storage system or meeting the battery readiness requirements when not installing a battery energy
storage system. Additions and alterations to an existing building are not required to meet the battery
readiness, nor installed battery energy storage system requirements. Photovoltaic solar and battery storage
system requirements are prescriptively required for many types of new construction commercial buildings
and all new construction high-rise multifamily buildings (four habitable stories or more).
Refer to the Energy Code Ace in Section 5: Resources for more guidance and support on the California
Energy Code.
