Join us for the NCN SFPE Monthly Presentation and Happy Hour!
Presentation Title: Indoor Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) or "What the H$!& are you putting in my building?"
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 4:30pm. Presentation starts at 5pm
Location: Holmes US - 235 Montgomery St, Suite 1250
Presentation Summary: As the use of lithium-ion BESS continues to grow rapidly in commercial, industrial, and utility applications, understanding their unique hazards and regulatory requirements is essential for safe deployment—particularly in indoor environments. This presentation provides an overview of the key fire, explosion, and toxic gas risks associated with indoor lithium-ion BESS installations, highlighting lessons learned from real-world incidents and case studies.
Attendees will gain insight into the latest codes, standards, and guidelines governing BESS design, installation, and fire protection. The session will also discuss strategies for hazard mitigation, such as ventilation design, gas detection, fire suppression systems, and emergency response planning.Through this presentation participants will see how code compliance, risk assessment, and system design practices can significantly influence incident outcomes. The goal of this presentation is to enhance understanding of indoor BESS hazards, promote safer system integration, and support informed decision-making by designers and stakeholders.
Presenter Bios:
Karli Steranka is a Senior Fire Protection Engineer at Fire & Risk Alliance. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a registered professional engineer in California. Karli provides technical support in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, engineering analyses, and fire and life safety code consulting, with expertise in battery energy storage system (BESS) hazards, hazardous materials, and other industrial risks. She also has applied research experience from her graduate studies, where she used the CFD model Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to analyze liquid pool fires and evaluate the feasibility of water mist systems as an alternative to foam-based fire suppression systems in aircraft hangars.
Don't miss out the fun, networking, appetizers and drinks*!
*Tickets include two drinks and snacks.
