Case study · Energy
BESS operator (NDA)
Battery Energy Storage Site signage
BESS site safety signage including thermal-runaway warnings, lithium-ion-specific procedures, fire-suppression notices, and DSEAR-rated zone markers for a 50MW grid-scale battery installation in the East Midlands.
60
Signs across the site
20
Battery containers signed
Liaison
Fire and rescue service consultation
50MW
Site capacity
The challenge
BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) sites are an emerging UK infrastructure category and the signage requirements are still being refined as fire and rescue services develop response protocols for lithium-ion thermal runaway. The operator commissioned signage as part of pre-energisation handover and needed compliance with DSEAR, the Fire Safety Order, and emerging BS-standard guidance for BESS — plus operator-specific procedures for thermal-runaway response.
What we did
Signage developed in consultation with the operator's emergency response coordinator and the local fire and rescue service. DSEAR zone markers at battery containers, lithium-ion thermal-runaway warning signs with response protocol summary, fire-suppression system identification, water-supply markers, emergency isolation procedures, and arc flash hazard at HV switchgear. All external signage in aluminium composite for 10+ year life expected on the site.
BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) sites are an emerging UK infrastructure category — utility-scale battery installations connected to the grid for frequency response, peak shaving, and renewable integration. The 50MW site in the East Midlands was commissioned for grid balancing services with a major UK power utility off-taker.
The brief
BESS signage requirements are still being refined as fire and rescue services develop response protocols for lithium-ion thermal runaway events. The operator needed: DSEAR zone signage at the battery containers (where electrolyte vapour creates explosive atmosphere risk during a thermal event), lithium-ion-specific warning signs with response protocol summary visible from the perimeter, fire-suppression system identification (water-mist, aerosol), water-supply markers for fire and rescue intervention, emergency isolation procedures at the HV switchgear, and arc flash hazard signs at the relevant compartments.
Critically, signage needed to support fire and rescue service intervention — first-on-scene firefighters needed to know container references, isolation points, water supply locations, and thermal-runaway-specific guidance from the perimeter without entering the site.
What we did
Specification developed in consultation with the operator's emergency response coordinator and the local fire and rescue service. Container-by-container signage with unique reference, capacity, and isolation procedure. Fire and rescue service "first arrival" board at the perimeter gate showing site layout, isolation points, water supply, and thermal-runaway response summary. DSEAR zone classification at every container with Ex-rating requirements. Arc flash hazard signs at the HV switchgear with calculated incident energy and PPE category.
All external signage in aluminium composite with reflective specification for 24-hour visibility — BESS sites are unmanned and emergency response may arrive at any time.
The result
Pre-energisation handover passed without signage findings. The fire and rescue service "first arrival" board has been adopted as a template by the operator for subsequent BESS sites in their portfolio.
"BESS signage is genuinely emerging territory. Direct Signs engaged with our fire and rescue liaison properly and produced something that supports first-on-scene response, not just compliance ticks."
Emergency Response Coordinator
BESS operator (NDA)
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