The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has released a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for public comments on the Independent Third-Party Fire Safety Audit of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The draft has been issued in line with regulation 122 (L)(1) of the proposed Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2025. The move aims to put in place a structured and independent fire safety audit mechanism for BESS installations across the country.
The objective of the SOP is to ensure that BESS installations are maintained in a condition free from fire-related safety risks. It seeks to prevent harm to humans, animals, and property, while also supporting overall grid stability. The CEA has noted that BESS installations are inherently vulnerable to fire hazards, mainly due to risks such as thermal runaway and cascading failures of battery cells. The proposed framework is intended to reduce these risks through regular and independent checks.
As per the draft SOP, the primary responsibility for fire safety compliance lies with the owner of the BESS installation. The owner must arrange fire safety audits through Independent Third-Party Agencies (ITPAs) and obtain the required fire safety approval before applying for the first-time energization of the system. A copy of the fire safety audit report must be submitted along with the energization application. The owner is also required to ensure that periodic audits are conducted during the operational life of the project.
The SOP mandates that each BESS owner designate a “BESS fire safety officer.” This officer will inspect the installation at intervals not exceeding six months, carry out periodic tests, and maintain detailed records using the checklist provided in Annexure-I of the SOP. All audit and inspection records must be preserved for a minimum period of ten years. In the event of any fire incident, the owner must inform the CEA, the Directorate General of Fire Services (DGFS), and the concerned auditor or ITPA within 48 hours.
Independent Third-Party Agencies responsible for conducting audits will be accredited or empaneled by the DGFS. These agencies must be legal entities in India or reputed international inspection bodies with an office in India. They are required to have at least three qualified auditors on their regular payroll and must ensure independence, impartiality, integrity, and confidentiality in their audit processes. ITPAs are also required to retain audit records for at least ten years.
The SOP lays down specific qualifications for auditors. A qualified auditor should hold a diploma in fire safety from a recognized institute or be a registered Chief Labour Inspector or Regional Labour Inspector, along with completing the DGFS-specified training and certification. Industry experts with a minimum of two years of experience in BESS fire safety may also be certified, provided they complete the required training within two years of the DGFS issuing its guidelines.
Fire safety audits must be conducted by a team of at least two qualified auditors. The minimum audit duration is defined as two man-days for BESS installations up to 100 MWh capacity, with an additional one man-day for every extra 50 MWh capacity or part thereof. The SOP also specifies three types of audits: a pre-commissioning fire safety audit before first-time energization, a periodic fire safety audit at intervals not exceeding five years, and a special fire safety audit after major upgrades, repairs, or any fire incident.
Auditors are required to submit the audit report within three working days of completing the audit. The report must clearly list observations, non-compliances, and recommended corrective actions along with timelines. Once the owner submits a satisfactory compliance report, the auditor must issue the fire safety approval within three working days. The CEA has stated that the SOP will be reviewed every two years to align it with international best practices. Public comments on the draft SOP have been invited until January 11, 2026.
