Getting a home solar battery is a smart move for saving money and using more clean energy. But finding the right spot for your battery matters — not just for convenience, but for fire safety, regulatory compliance, and peace of mind. As solar battery installations increase, safety standards have become stricter. These rules protect your home, your family, and your investment.
At SolarThoughts®, we install systems across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, and we follow standards like AS/NZS 5139:2019. This standard outlines exactly where batteries can and cannot be placed, what fire barriers are needed, and how to meet electrical safety rules.
Many homeowners prefer to install their battery outside or in a garage to avoid safety bollards in living spaces. Garages are often optimal — they’re non-habitable spaces and make compliance simpler. Let’s dive into the practical rules, what you need to know, and how to choose the best location for your battery.
Understanding Battery Fire Safety Standards
The big driver behind these rules is fire safety. Batteries store significant energy, and in rare cases can lead to fire, toxic fumes, or heat hazards if not installed correctly. AS/NZS 5139:2019 sets out the general installation and safety requirements for battery energy storage systems (BESSs).
For example, the standard lists hazards such as fire hazard, chemical hazard, explosion risk, and the importance of proper location, barriers, and spacing.
Habitable vs Non-Habitable Rooms
A core concept: where the battery is placed relative to rooms where people live. The standard distinguishes between:
- Habitable rooms: places a person lives, sleeps, or spends extended time — bedrooms, living rooms, study, etc.
- Non-habitable rooms: places like garages, laundries, storerooms, etc.
Choosing a non-habitable room typically means fewer fire-barrier requirements, making compliance easier.
Fireproofing Requirements for Battery Installations
If your battery sits near or behind a habitable room, you need proper fire barriers. The idea is to protect any living space if a fire or thermal event occurs.
Approved Fireproof Materials
When a fire barrier is required, acceptable non-combustible materials include:
- Brick or masonry
- Concrete
- Compressed cement sheeting (fire-rated)
- Ceramic tile
- Treated steel or tested colour-bond sheeting meeting fire safety standards
Windows, Glass & Barrier Zones
Glass and normal windows are generally not fire-rated. If there’s a window opening into a habitable room within the clearance zone of your battery, you must resist placing the battery there unless proper barriers are provided.
Clearances & Sheeting Dimensions
Where fire barriers are required:
- Extend 600 mm on each side of the battery.
- Extend at least 900 mm above the top of the battery.
For example, if the battery stack is 600 mm wide, you need ~1.8 m wide barrier and 900 mm above the top. The barrier must be continuous — any join less than 5 mm should be sealed with fire-rated silicone or a metal strip.
Clearances from Other Items & Structures
Beyond fire barriers, batteries must keep clearances from various items — appliances, hot water systems, gas cylinders, and vehicles. These rules apply everywhere: in garages, patios, and outside walls.
Appliances & Ignition Sources
For example:
- Air-conditioning compressors: keep ~600 mm away.
- Hot water systems: same ~600 mm clearance.
- Gas cylinders / LPG tanks: ~1.5 m away, because of heavier-than-air gas discharge zones.
Vehicle & Mechanical Protection
If the battery is in a location where vehicles move (garage, carport), you must add mechanical protection (bollards or barriers) to prevent vehicle collisions.
Passageways, Exits & Window/Openings
The standard restricts battery placement near exits, windows that open into habitable rooms, ceiling spaces, wall cavities, under stairs, or inside habitable rooms.
Detailed Location Guidelines Based on Room Type
Let’s look at common scenarios and how the rules apply — especially relevant for homes in South-East Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast).
Scenario 1: Non-Habitable Room with No Habitable Rooms Above or Behind
Example: A free-standing garage where no bedroom is above or behind the wall.
- This scenario is the easiest for compliance.
- No extra fire-barrier may be needed, provided battery is installed per manufacturer’s ventilation & clearance specs.
Scenario 2: Habitable Room Directly Above the Battery
Example: Ground-floor garage and a bedroom above.
- If there is ≥ 900 mm clearance between the top of the battery and the ceiling, you may not need a fire-sheet above (but confirm).
- If less than 900 mm, then the fire-sheet wall behind the battery and the ceiling area above must be fire-rated.
Scenario 3: Habitable Room Behind the Battery
Example: Battery on external wall, living room on the other side, but non-habitable space above.
- Because the habitable room is directly behind, you must fire-sheet the wall behind the battery, extending 600 mm on both sides + 900 mm above.
- A window or vent into that habitable room within the clearance zone may invalidate the spot unless the barrier is certified.
Scenario 4: Habitable Room Behind, No Habitable Room Above
Single-storey house or non-habitable attic space above.
- If ≥ 900 mm space above battery, only the wall behind needs fire-sheeting.
- If less than 900 mm space, then both walls + area above must be a fire barrier.
Corner Installations
If the battery is against a corner (wall junction):
- If flush against a corner: wrap fire-sheeting around the corner wall to maintain a 600 mm clearance zone.
- If > 300 mm away from the corner, you might only need fire-sheeting up to the corner edge.
Doorways, Exits & Mechanical Protection
Additional rules that often affect Queensland homes:
Doorway & Exit Clearances
- Batteries must not be within 600 mm horizontally of a doorway/exit opening ≤ 900 mm.
- For larger exits (e.g., garage roller door > 900 mm wide), the battery must allow a clear 1000 mm path from the nearest side of the battery.
Carports & Patios
- Carport/Veranda installations‐ fine when away from windows or habitable rooms.
- But if a door or path is obstructed — or vehicles could strike the battery — mechanical protection (bollard/barrier) is required.
Choosing the Right Battery & Installer
Choosing a battery system and installer who understands all of these rules matters just as much as the brand of battery.
Key criteria:
- Ensure the installer uses models certified under AS/NZS 5139:2019. GSES+1
- Confirm the install location meets clearance and fire-barrier rules.
- Ensure mechanical protection if vehicles are nearby.
- Confirm ventilation and monitoring systems are suitable for your climate (Brisbane/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast summer heat).
- Choose batteries with proven safety (e.g., lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry), trusted brand support, and warranty.
Conclusion
Installing a home battery is a fantastic way to take control of your energy use and reduce bills — especially in Sunshine Coast / Gold Coast / Brisbane areas. But safety and compliance can’t be overlooked. Standards like AS/NZS 5139:2019 exist for a reason. They ensure your battery is installed in a location that keeps your home safe.
Finding the right spot isn’t always easy — particularly for older homes or unique designs. That’s why working with an experienced installer matters. At SolarThoughts®, we guide homeowners through the rules, find compliant locations, and ensure your battery system is safe, efficient, and reliable.
If you’re in South-East Queensland and considering a battery installation, reach out to our team. We’ll help you choose the right spot, meet clearance and fire-barrier requirements, and ensure your system is installed correctly for the long term. Visit solarthoughts.com.au or give us a call.
Our Popular Services
New Solar Panel Installation | Upgrade Solar Panel System | Battery Storage Installation | Ev Charger Installation | Inverter Installation in Brisbane
