Rigorous CSA TS-800 Fire Safety Test

CLOU Electronics'recent success with the CSA TS-800 fire test for its Aqua-C2.5 system has sparked widespread attention across social media and industry press. Completed in April 2025 under challenging, real-world conditions, this achievement marks a turning point in grid-scale energy storage safety. The industry's enthusiastic response highlights the importance of CLOU's active ventilation and explosion suppression technology, which now sets a new standard for high-density battery deployments.

CSA TS-800: Engineering the Ultimate Stress Test

CSA Group's protocol was executed under maximal difficulty parameters:

Layout Innovation: Four cabinets (A/B/C/D) deployed in side-by-side and back-to-back configurations replicating 20 MWh station density
Minimal Spacing: Cabinets positioned at 40% reduced clearance versus industry norms
Failure Simulation: Deliberate disablement of primary firefighting systems
Extreme Duration: 59-hour continuous thermal exposure beyond standard requirements
Witnessed Validation: CSA Group engineers supervised all test phases in real-time

Multi-Physics Safety Architecture

The Aqua-C2.5 integrates seven proprietary protection subsystems:

Active Threat Mitigation

Dynamic Ventilation System: Thermal pressure differentials evacuate flammable gases at 120m³/min
Directional Flame Guidance: Fixed-angle louvers channel 1300°C flames vertically (22° deflection)
Explosion Suppression: Rupture discs activate at 150 kPa for instant pressure relief

Passive Resilience

Thermal Armor: Ceramic-composite insulation withstands >1300°C for 59 h continuous exposure
Natural Exhaust Network: Gravity-driven ventilation maintains protection during power loss
Structural Reinforcement: Carbon-fibre reinforced joints withstand 8.5 G seismic loads

Intelligent Monitoring

Proactive Cell Sensing: 500 ms response to pressure anomalies at cell level
Redundant Ducting: Dual-path ventilation ensures operation during partial system failures

Test Methodology: Beyond Compliance Standards

The protocol simulated worst-case scenarios across four validation phases:

Phase 1: Thermal Runaway Initiation

Heater-induced failure in Enclosure A with active suppression disabled
Temperature ramp rate: 50°C/minute to 1300°C core threshold

Phase 2: Propagation Resistance

59 h 10 min full-duration fire progression to natural attenuation
Adjacent Enclosure C positioned at 15 cm clearance (industry minimum: 60 cm)

Phase 3: Structural Integrity Analysis

Real-time deformation tracking via laser interferometry
Pressure cycling between 50-150 kPa

Phase 4: Post-Exposure Functional Testing

Internal component inspection
Insulation layer integrity verification

Unprecedented Results Data

Metric	Cabinet A (Ignited)	Cabinet C (Adjacent)	Industry Standard
Peak Temperature	>1300°C	80.71°C	<200°C
Structural Deformation	1.2 mm	0.3 mm	<5 mm
Pressure Events	3 controlled releases	0	N/A
Post-Test Function	92% components operational	100% operational	N/A

Critical Observations

Zero thermal runaway propagation to adjacent systems
No activation of pressure relief valves in neighbouring enclosures
Insulation layers retained 97% mass integrity after 59 h exposure
Flame guidance system contained 98.7% of particulate matter

Complementary Safety Ecosystem

Beyond CSA TS-800, the Aqua-C2.5 achieves (selection):

UL9540A: Cell-level propagation prevention
IEEE693: Seismic resilience certification (8.5 G compliance)
IEC 62933-5-2: Environmental stress validation

Industry Transformation

This achievement enables:

Space Optimization: 34% denser installations than current norms
Fault Tolerance: Operates through fire suppression system failures
Cost Reduction: Eliminates 80% of auxiliary fireproofing materials
Deployment Flexibility: Suitable for urban microgrids and critical infrastructure

Takeaway

CLOU's Aqua-C2.5 uses multi-layered protection to improve safety. The system's performance under 59 hours of extreme thermal stress – without external intervention – demonstrates unmatched resilience in grid-scale storage. By redefining enclosure spacing requirements and proving active ventilation efficacy, this technology accelerates safe deployment of high-density storage solutions where traditional designs fail.

Ready to take your energy storage safety to the next level? Contact CLOUContact Us today to learn how the Aqua-C2.5 can protect your assets and strengthen your grid.