With more than a decade of experience deploying and operating energy storage systems for our customers, the Fluence fleet has delivered grid services with a strong safety record around the globe.

We see safety as a foundational element of our corporate value of Responsibility — rooted in our heritage of power generation and industrial systems design. Safety is all-pervasive in our company culture and the partnerships we build with our customers, from system design to construction and operations.

Integrated Safety from Cell to System

We design energy storage solutions that operate as a single integrated system with safety embedded in every layer of controls and hardware. All systems are built with 24/7 remote monitoring and control capabilities. The Fluence Cube is equipped with comprehensive safety features, including fire detection, fast-stop, deflagration panels, and more.

Fluence systems are designed to meet UL and IEC standards at the cell, module, rack, container, and system levels, including UL1973, UL9540a, IEC62619, IEC61508, NFPA 855 and more. We partner with leading suppliers and conducts rigorous qualifications and certifications on all hardware components and subsystems.

GROUND FAULT DETECTION

Electrical insulation monitoring devices are present on each DC battery bus to detect faults and disconnect the system before a serious problem occurs.

FAST STOP

Fast-stop functionality is automatically triggered by Cube safety features in response to incipient gas or smoke detection and sudden changes in battery operating parameters (via Fluence OS). Manual fast-stop can also be performed by operators or first responders.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

The fire alarm system includes smoke and temperature detectors (which trigger external horn, strobe light, and F-stop), an external horn + strobe light, and an optional aerosol cannister.

DEFLAGRATION PANELS

Deflagration panels compliant with NFPA 68 are used to direct the force of any internal pressure within the Cube upwards in the event of a pressure build up.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES

Lockable disconnect switch, open door sensor, gas spring damper, and sliding door lock features ensure the Cube can be safely operated by personnel.

Fluence provides site safety planning templates and industry best practices for use by system owners in preparing customized emergency response plans. We support system owners with operation and maintenance documentation, including required PPE and service protocols, and deliver onsite training for maintenance personnel, such as key hazard identification.

Our Approach to Safety Engineering

Undertake a continual safety engineering process which assesses risk potentially associated with battery-based energy storage.

Consider all phases of a potential event, with mitigations seeking to prevent an event, limit the extent of an event, and safely conclude an event.

Incorporate both design mitigations and procedural mitigations in system engineering and delivery. 

Participate in global standards committees related to safety to both learn from and influence latest industry norms.

 

Meet Barbara LaBarge, Global Safety and Quality Director

“At Fluence, safety is everyone’s responsibility. All employees have ‘stop work’ authority, a right that helps us prevent accidents and drive continuous improvement across the company. I am working hard to embed a culture of safety and quality so deep into the fabric of the organization that it spills over to other aspects of our lives and has a positive influence at home and in our communities.”

Upholding HSEQ Standards Across Projects Worldwide

Our formal policies on Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) meet the highest global standards, often exceeding local and regional regulations. Ensuring a safe work environment is explicit in every aspect of our business — all Fluence employees understand they have the authority to stop work if a potential safety hazard is spotted, whether on a project site or in corporate offices.

We continually reinforce our commitment to safety through ongoing education and training. We maintain a Safety Portal as a resource for employees to easily access information on risk assessment, job hazard and incident analysis, training and procedures. This platform is one way, among others, that we promote HSEQ transparency and continuous performance improvement.

ISO 45001

Compliance with the ISO 45001 international occupational health and safety standard demonstrates our commitment to creating and maintaining management systems that provide our customers and employees with an environment aimed at preventing occupational injuries.

ISO 14001

At Fluence, our ISO 14001 compliance is reflected in our commitment to minimize and prevent adverse environmental impacts of our projects by conserving resources and improving energy efficiency at the planning and purchasing stages.

ISO 9001

Fluence maintains an Integrated Management System (IMS) that drives the continuous improvement cycle process targeted in ISO 9001. We perform regular audits on the procedures and processes we use to conduct our business and set our supplier qualifications.

SA8000

Fluence is certified in accordance with the SA8000 ethical standard, which is dedicated to promoting socially acceptable practices in the workplace.

Our safety philosophy in action.

See how we are safely moving our critical infrastructure projects forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more