Bureau Veritas has released a guide to identify and enhance existing operational safety standards for battery management systems (BMS). The goal is to help industries that use BMS systems improve the safety and reliability of their energy storage devices, thus optimising the overall performance of their products.
Based on international standards in force (IEC 61508, EN50126/128/129, ISO 26262), the Functional and Safety Guide for Battery Management System (BMS*) assessment & certification guide puts forth a comprehensive approach to managing risks associated with BMS systems. In addition to creating a consistent frame of reference, Bureau Veritas has identified the various risks to be taken into account for the design and use of energy storage devices to ensure safe and reliable operation in all industrial applications.
The risks and requirements identified in this new frame of reference apply to both stationary batteries (local energy storage, smart grids, auxiliary power systems, etc.) and batteries used to power embedded applications (electric vehicles, rail transport, aeronautics, defence, etc.). The guide highlights several significant points, including the need to:
– federate and involve all industry stakeholders (designers, integrators and users) in risk management and continuous enhancement initiatives,
– systematically take account of the full life cycle of equipment when assessing risks (from the design phase through to activation and use),
– devote the same level of attention to software components of BMS systems as to the equipment itself.
François-Xavier Tobo, safety and operations manager at Bureau Veritas, stated: “Batteries and BMS systems will be central to the main technological innovations of the future: smart grids, renewable energy, 100% electric cars and more. Risk reduction and performance levels of energy storage devices have become major issues from an economic, industrial and environmental perspective. By putting forth its risk management expertise in this guide, Bureau Veritas is contributing to the energy transition of tomorrow.”
BMS Guide can be downloaded for free from this link: http://bureauveritas-evenements.com/bms/index.php
