For the past several years, Apex Town Council has been very focused on supporting photovoltaic systems (solar) being installed on homes in our community. With the advancements in technology, we are now experiencing some challenges with systems that contain lithium ion batteries to store energy. The issue that we are having is that there is no code language that requires a main disconnect between the batteries and the home. Code requires a disconnect that doesn't allow energy to return the grid when the power goes out, but there isn't any language that provides the requirement to install a single disconnect to completely deenergize the home in the event of a fire. It is my understanding that in order to de-energize the home, it would require someone with sufficient knowledge to go to each battery and "flip" individual switches at each battery. To make this worse, battery locations may not be on exterior walls and some can be installed on the opposite side of the house from the meter.
Has anyone else ran into this situation and if so, have you came up with a reasonable solution that allows a single disconnect to de-energize a structure?
Thank you!
Keith McGee
Fire Chief
Apex Fire Department
