Short answer: AS/NZS 5139:2019 is the Australian and New Zealand standard for installing battery systems that work with inverters, such as home solar batteries. It mainly controls where and how a battery may be installed: location restrictions, clearances, barriers to habitable rooms, signage and isolation. It is an installation standard, not a product test standard; battery products are assessed separately.
What it covers
- Location rules for battery systems, including places where they must not be installed, such as escape routes and certain living areas.
- Separation and barrier requirements between a battery and habitable rooms.
- Ventilation, clearances, labelling and isolation requirements.
- A risk-based approach that depends on the battery chemistry and its hazards.
Why it matters for barrier materials
Where a battery is installed close to a habitable room, the wall or barrier between them must meet the standard’s requirements. Products that pass stricter product-level fire tests can give installers more options. This makes Australian home-battery makers and installers a potential audience for barrier and fire-protection materials.
Status
AS/NZS 5139 has been under review. Before relying on any detail on this page, check the current edition and any amendments on the Standards Australia store.
Sources
- Standards Australia store, AS/NZS 5139:2019: store.standards.org.au (search "5139")
- Clean Energy Council, battery installation guidance: cleanenergycouncil.org.au