VDMA 24994: practical test requirements for internal fire scenarios
General guidelines often say something about fire resistance, but do not always delve deeply into what happens in the event of an internal battery fire. VDMA 24994 specifically describes test requirements that assess how battery cabinets perform when a battery fails from within, for example, during thermal runaway. This is a process where cells enter a chain reaction due to internal overheating, with ignition or explosion as a possible consequence.
The premise of VDMA 24994 is clear: does the incident remain confined to the cabinet and is escalation to the environment prevented?
What is being tested?
During the testing, it is determined whether the cabinet continues to function as intended under severe conditions. Important evaluation points include:
- Containment of fire and smoke: does the fire remain in the cabinet and does smoke not escape uncontrollably?
- Resistance to internal pressure: does the structure remain intact under pressure buildup and shock loading?
- Temperature on the outside: does the outside temperature remain below 150 ┬░C to prevent escalation?
When the cabinet passes all components, it complies with the VDMA 24994 test requirements. The manufacturer can substantiate this with a corresponding ECB-S certificate as proof that the solution has been tested against a worst-case scenario and demonstrates the desired behavior.
Why "demonstrably" weighs increasingly heavily
Regulators, insurers, and clients increasingly want insight into how risks are covered—and especially whether measures are demonstrable. A solution that has been tested according to VDMA 24994 and has an ECB-S certificate can be demonstrated, making your case stronger towards external parties and reducing the chance of disputes regarding liability, damage claims, or acceptance conditions.
What do you gain by complying with VDMA 24994?
The aftermath of a battery fire can be significant: evacuations, downtime, recovery costs, damage to property and inventory, and risks for employees. A storage or charging solution that demonstrably complies with VDMA 24994 is therefore not an extra, but a targeted step to limit consequential damage and protect continuity.
With VDMA 24994, you show that your policy is geared towards realistic scenarios and demonstrable performance, not based on assumptions or good fortune.
