Angelo Zandona, owner of Keystone Fire Consultants, was recently featured in Time Business News, where he shared insights on the growing importance of Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA) for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects.
As utility-scale energy storage continues to expand across North America, developers and project stakeholders face increasing scrutiny regarding fire protection, life safety, and regulatory compliance. In the article, Angelo Zandona explains why the Hazard Mitigation Analysis has become one of the most important documents in the permitting and approval process for modern battery energy storage facilities.
The feature examines how HMAs help identify potential failure scenarios, evaluate the consequences of thermal runaway events, and establish mitigation measures that reduce risk to acceptable levels. According to Angelo Zandona, a well-prepared HMA serves as the foundation for critical project decisions involving site layout, setback distances, emergency response planning, water supply requirements, and explosion protection strategies.
The article also explores the evolution of NFPA 855 and the industry’s shift toward performance-based safety evaluations. As battery technologies continue to evolve, project teams are increasingly required to demonstrate that their specific systems can operate safely under foreseeable failure conditions rather than relying solely on prescriptive code requirements.
Another key topic discussed is the role of UL 9540A testing and site-specific hazard assessments. The article highlights how comprehensive HMAs integrate battery test data, local emergency response capabilities, environmental conditions, and adjacent exposures to create a complete safety framework for project review.
Through Keystone Fire Consultants, Angelo Zandona works with developers, EPC contractors, manufacturers, and infrastructure stakeholders to address complex fire and life safety challenges associated with energy storage projects. His experience in hazard analysis, code compliance, and risk mitigation helps support safer, more efficient project development.