Poland introduces new fire‑safety rules for home energy storage and solar panels

The Polish Ministry of Development and Technology is drafting a decree that revises the rules for installing battery storage systems in residential and multi‑family buildings. The proposal creates four capacity classes (up to 30 kWh, 30‑60 kWh, 60‑120 kWh, and above 120 kWh) and relaxes requirements for smaller units, while mandating autonomous smoke and carbon‑monoxide detectors for batteries up to 30 kWh. Installations of batteries up to 11 kWh are permitted in apartments, balconies or technical rooms, provided they meet distance and enclosure standards.

A separate regulation for photovoltaic (PV) systems will take effect on 20 September. It requires an emergency shut‑off, isolation‑monitoring devices, short‑circuit sensors and a dedicated smoke detector near the inverter. The decree also sets minimum distances from windows and doors, bans cable routing through occupied chimneys, and introduces a visible sign to alert fire crews to the presence of PV equipment. Both measures aim to reduce fire risk and standardise safety practices for the growing renewable‑energy market in Poland.