Research
2nd Annual Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit Summary Report
Prepared by Casey C. Grant, PE
October 2011
Download the "Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit Summary" report (PDF, 2MB)
This report summarizes the findings and discussions that took place at the 2nd Annual Electric Vehicle safety Standards Summit, held in Detroit, Michigan in September 2011 and co-hosted by SAE and NFPA.
Electrical Vehicle Charging and NFPA Electrical Safety
Codes and Standards
Prepared by Lonny Simonian, PE, Dr. Thomas Korman, PE, Dr. Frederick W. Mowrer, and David Philips
October 2011
Download the "Electric Vehicle Charging" report (PDF, 1.1 MB)
This report presents the results of a project whose overall goal is to facilitate the safe integration of electric vehicles in the nation’s electrical safety infrastructure. It describes a review of technologies likely to impact electrical safety and presents an assessment of needed changes to codes and standards and a roadmap for needed research on this topic.
Assessment of
Powered Rescue Tool Capabilities
with High-Strength Alloys
and Composite Materials
Prepared by Casey C. Grant, PE, and Brian Merrifield, Fire Protection Research Foundation
October 2011
Download the "Assessment of Powered Rescue Tool Capabilities" report (PDF, 2 MB)
This project identifies, collects, and assesses various informational aspects of this topic involving high-strength metal alloys and composite materials that are challenging the performance of the present generation of powered rescue tools. This includes consideration of vehicle extrication scenarios, clarification on the use of these high-strength materials, review of the existing field inventory of powered rescue tools, and recommendation to address identified knowledge gaps.
U.S. National Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit report
December 2010
Download the "U.S. National Electrical Vehicle Safety Standards Summit" report (PDF, 6 MB)
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the SAE International have released a summary report from the co-hosted U.S. National Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit held in October that focused on how current codes and standards address safety and electrical infrastructure concerns related to electric vehicles. The summary report prepared by the Fire Protection Research Foundation, an affiliate of NFPA, focuses on fundamental codes and standards issues as they pertain to electric vehicles in the areas of: vehicles; built infrastructure; and emergency responders.
Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency Response for Electric Drive and Hybrid Electric Vehicles
A DHS/Assistance to Firefighter Grants Funded Study
prepared by Casey C. Grant, PE, Fire Protection Research Foundation
May 2010
Download the "Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency Response" report (PDF, 4 MB)
Executive Summary
As the use of alternative energy proliferates, the fire service has identified a number of areas of concern with hazard mitigation and emergency response. This includes electric and hybrid electric vehicles, which are introducing new and unexpected hazards to fire fighters and other emergency responders.
The goal of this report is to assemble and disseminate best practice information for fire fighters and fireground incident commanders to assist in their decision making process for handling electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Specifically, this study focuses on vehicles intended for roadway passenger use involving fire and/or rescue emergency situations, either on the roadway or at charging/docking stations (e.g., garages). The project deliverables will be in the form of a written report, which will include best practices that can serve as the basis for training program development by others.
The deliverables for this project collectively review the available baseline information, identify the fundamental principles and key details involving fire/rescue tactics and strategy, provide a summary of core basics, and address and clarify related issues such as training needs, areas needing further research, revisions to codes/standards, and other applicable topics.
A companion study to this report focuses on solar power systems rather than electric and hybrid electric vehicles (Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency Response for Solar Power Systems, FPRF). This has taken an identical approach and focuses on assembling and disseminating best practice information for fire fighters and fireground incident commanders to assist in their decision making process. This companion report addresses buildings and other structures with solar power systems that are intended to supply power to the respective structure, with a primary focus on solar photovoltaic panels used for electric power generation.
This overall initiative (consisting of the reports on Electric Drive and Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Solar Power Systems) is funded through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).