CROSS-STANDARD public interest · Battery energy storage (BESS)

China-to-El Salvador BESS Compliance Gap Matrix

AI-compiled from official public sources — cross-checked by multiple AI models, not human-verified. Informational only; see disclaimer. Public-interest, source-linked comparison of common China battery energy storage system documentation against El Salvador OSARTEC/OSN product conformity requirements, SIGET grid-connection and energy-sector authorisations, IEC 62619 and IEC 62933 international standards expected in project specifications, local fire-safety installation requirements (Cuerpo de Bomberos / building authority), UN 38.3 transport requirements at port Acajutla, and El Salvador's 60 Hz / 120–240 V grid context — versus China GB/T 36558-2023, GB/T 34120-2023, and NB/T 42090-2016 baselines. Covers El Salvador's participation in the SIEPAC Central American regional grid interconnection and its emerging BESS regulatory landscape.

Dataset 2026-06-11 Last verified 2026-06-14 4 rows

GAP MATRIX

Compliance Gap Matrix

Gap matrix
Compliance item Common China baseline El Salvador (OSARTEC / SIGET) Gap / action Source + verification date
BESS Fire Safety Installation — Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador and Local Building Authority Requirements China manages BESS fire safety under a combination of mandatory standards and project-level fire-safety review. GB 44240-2024 includes fire-safety provisions for BESS cells and modules. GB/T 36276-2023 and GB/T 36558-2023 (General Technical Requirements for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems in Power Systems) cover system-level safety including fire-related requirements. Project-level fire-safety review in China is governed by local fire authority (消防救援机构) approval procedures under the Fire Protection Law. These Chinese fire-safety standards and domestic approval procedures are not recognised by the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador or municipal building authorities as equivalent to El Salvador's NFPA-based fire-safety requirements. BESS fire-safety evidence prepared under Chinese standards must be supplemented with NFPA 855-aligned design documentation for El Salvador project review.GB 44240-2024 — 电化学储能系统用二次锂电池安全要求 (includes fire-safety provisions for BESS cells/modules; mandatory, effective August 1, 2025)
GB/T 36558-2023 — 电力系统电化学储能系统通用技术条件 (General Technical Requirements for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems in Power Systems)		 Fire safety for BESS installations in El Salvador falls under the jurisdiction of the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador (national fire service) and local municipal building authorities (alcaldías). A construction permit (permiso de construcción) from the relevant alcaldía is required for new installations, and the Cuerpo de Bomberos reviews fire-safety designs and may conduct site inspections for commercial and industrial facilities. El Salvador references NFPA standards in its national fire-safety regulatory framework. NFPA 855 (Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems) is the internationally dominant BESS fire-installation code. Formal adoption of NFPA 855 specifically for stationary BESS in El Salvador's national building or fire-safety regulations had not been confirmed from publicly accessible official sources as of the dataset date — this is a high-priority item requiring direct verification with the Cuerpo de Bomberos and the relevant alcaldía before project design is finalised. Given El Salvador's general use of NFPA codes as technical references, BESS project teams should prepare fire-safety documentation aligned with NFPA 855, including thermal-runaway mitigation, gas detection, suppression system design, emergency shutdown procedures, and separation distances. IEC 62933-5-1:2024 (Safety Considerations for Electrical Energy Storage Systems) may also be referenced in project-owner or utility specifications.NFPA 855 — Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems (internationally dominant BESS fire-installation code; formal adoption in El Salvador regulations unconfirmed as of dataset date — verify directly with Cuerpo de Bomberos and local alcaldía)
NFPA 13 — Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA reference used in El Salvador for fire suppression)
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA reference used in El Salvador for fire alarm systems)
Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador — mandatory fire-safety design review and site inspection for commercial and industrial facilities
Local alcaldía (municipal building authority) — permiso de construcción required for new BESS installations
IEC 62933-5-1:2024 — Electrical Energy Storage Systems — Safety considerations — Hazard identification, risk assessment and risk mitigation (system-level safety standard expected in project specifications)		 Gap: Fire-safety installation approval from the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador and the relevant municipal building authority is a mandatory project gate for commercial and industrial BESS installations in El Salvador. Chinese BESS fire-safety documentation based on GB standards does not satisfy El Salvador's NFPA-based requirements. Exporters and project teams should: (a) confirm directly with the Cuerpo de Bomberos and the relevant alcaldía whether NFPA 855 has been formally adopted as the applicable standard for BESS installations, and determine any El Salvador-specific derogations or additional requirements; (b) prepare BESS fire-safety design documentation aligned with NFPA 855 — including thermal-runaway propagation mitigation, gas detection or ventilation design, suppression system design (e.g. NFPA 13 compliant), emergency shutdown procedures, and separation distances; (c) ensure fire-suppression equipment is certified by a recognised testing laboratory (UL, FM Global, Bureau Veritas, or equivalent) where required; (d) engage a locally registered fire protection engineer for design review and permit application submission before project commissioning.[INFORMATIONAL] Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador fire-safety approval and municipal building authority permits are mandatory installation gates for commercial and industrial BESS in El Salvador. Chinese GB-standard fire-safety documentation does not satisfy El Salvador's NFPA-based requirements. Engage the Cuerpo de Bomberos and a locally registered fire protection engineer at the earliest project stage to confirm the applicable fire code (including whether NFPA 855 is formally adopted for stationary BESS) and design requirements before committing to system layout or equipment specification. Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador2026-06-14 · unverified
SIGET Grid Connection for BESS — 60 Hz System, Distributor Interconnection, and SIEPAC Regional Grid Context China's grid-connection requirements for BESS are governed by GB/T 36558-2023 (General Technical Requirements for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems in Power Systems) and GB/T 34120-2023 (Technical Specification for Electrochemical Energy Storage System Connected to Distribution Network). The PCS (energy storage converter) is assessed under NB/T 42090-2016 (Technical Code for Testing of Energy Storage Converters). Chinese BESS products are validated by grid operators through National Energy Administration (NEA)-authorised procedures. China's grid operates at 50 Hz, 220/380 V (220 V single-phase, 380 V three-phase) — fundamentally different from El Salvador's 60 Hz, 120/240 V or 277/480 V grid. The frequency difference (50 Hz vs 60 Hz) is not a simple re-parameterisation: PCS firmware, protection relay settings, reactive-power control, anti-islanding functions, harmonic filter design, and transformer specifications must all be redesigned or revalidated for 60 Hz operation. Chinese GB/T BESS grid-connection certificates and NEA approvals do not transfer to El Salvador's SIGET framework.GB/T 36558-2023 — 电力系统电化学储能系统通用技术条件 (General Technical Requirements for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems in Power Systems)
GB/T 34120-2023 — 电化学储能系统接入配电网技术规范 (Technical Specification for Electrochemical Energy Storage System Connected to Distribution Network)
NB/T 42090-2016 — 储能变流器检测技术规程 (Technical Code for Testing of Energy Storage Converters)		 SIGET (Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones) is El Salvador's energy and telecommunications regulator, responsible for electricity sector oversight including grid-connection authorisations for generation and storage assets. CNE (Consejo Nacional de Energía) sets national energy policy. All grid-connected BESS installations in El Salvador — including utility-scale, commercial and industrial (C&I), and behind-the-meter projects — require SIGET authorisation and must comply with technical requirements established in the Ley General de Electricidad and associated reglamentos. Grid-connection technical requirements for BESS must be agreed with the relevant distribution utility: principal distributors are CAESS (Compañía de Alumbrado Eléctrico de San Salvador), DELSUR (Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur), EEO (Empresa Eléctrica de Oriente), CLESA, and AES El Salvador. El Salvador's grid operates at 60 Hz and nominal voltages of 120/240 V single-phase (residential) and 120/240 V or 277/480 V three-phase (commercial/industrial) — fundamentally different from China's 50 Hz / 220/380 V grid. BESS power conversion systems (PCS) must be designed, configured, and validated specifically for 60 Hz operation. El Salvador also participates in the SIEPAC (Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica de los Países de América Central) regional interconnection — exporters of utility-scale BESS should verify whether SIEPAC regional grid-code obligations apply to their project.Ley General de Electricidad (El Salvador) — primary legal framework governing electricity sector, grid connection, and SIGET authorisation
SIGET — Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones (grid-connection authorisation authority for generation and storage assets)
CNE — Consejo Nacional de Energía (national energy policy framework)
IEC 62933-2-1:2017+AMD1:2021 — Electrical Energy Storage Systems — Unit Parameters and Testing Methods — General Specification (expected project-specification reference)
IEC 62933-5-2 — Electrical Energy Storage Systems — Safety Requirements — Electrochemical-based systems (expected project-specification reference)
SIEPAC — Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica de los Países de América Central (regional grid interconnection; verify regional grid-code obligations with SIGET for utility-scale projects)		 Critical gap: The 50 Hz-to-60 Hz frequency difference is a fundamental hardware and firmware incompatibility, not a documentation gap. Chinese BESS PCS units rated and validated for 50 Hz must be specifically redesigned or revalidated for 60 Hz operation before supply to El Salvador — this includes: (a) PCS inverter firmware and DSP control parameters reconfigured for 60 Hz; (b) protection relay settings (over/under-frequency, over/under-voltage, anti-islanding) recalibrated to El Salvador grid tolerances; (c) passive filter components (inductors, capacitors) redesigned for 60 Hz if required; (d) transformer turns ratios adjusted for 120/240 V or 277/480 V service voltage; (e) reactive-power and harmonic performance verified at 60 Hz to comply with SIGET distributor interconnection technical requirements. Additionally: (f) engage SIGET and the relevant distribution utility (CAESS, DELSUR, EEO, CLESA, or AES El Salvador) at the earliest project stage to obtain technical interconnection requirements; (g) verify SIEPAC regional grid-code obligations for utility-scale projects; (h) Chinese GB/T standards-based grid-connection evidence is not accepted by SIGET or El Salvador distributors as a substitute for local technical compliance.[INFORMATIONAL] Chinese GB/T BESS grid-connection compliance and NEA approvals do not satisfy SIGET's El Salvador grid-connection requirements. The 50 Hz to 60 Hz frequency difference is a fundamental PCS hardware and firmware redesign requirement — not correctable by reconfiguration alone. BESS PCS must be specifically engineered for 60 Hz operation and validated at El Salvador service voltages (120/240 V or 277/480 V). Engage SIGET and the relevant distributor at the earliest project stage to determine interconnection agreement technical requirements, applicable IEC 62933 evidence, and SCADA/communication protocol specifications. Verify SIEPAC regional grid-code obligations for utility-scale projects. No publicly confirmed SIGET technical specification specifically for BESS grid connection has been verified as of the dataset date — direct SIGET and distributor engagement is essential before equipment specification is finalised. SIGET — Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones (El Salvador)2026-06-14 · unverified
Cell and Module Safety — IEC 62619 and OSARTEC/OSN Conformity as Baseline for El Salvador BESS Project Acceptance China's primary mandatory standard for BESS cells from August 2025 is GB 44240-2024 (Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries Used in Electrical Energy Storage Systems — Safety Requirements), which replaces the prior GB/T 36276 series as the mandatory safety baseline for large-format BESS batteries over 100 kWh. The prior voluntary standard GB/T 36276-2023 (Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electrical Energy Storage) provides the technical framework for cells, modules, and battery clusters used in EES. These Chinese standards are not accepted as equivalents to IEC 62619 in El Salvador project specifications. Exporters must obtain IEC 62619 test evidence from an ILAC-accredited laboratory in addition to any Chinese GB compliance. Chinese GB standards are also 50 Hz-based and do not address 60 Hz application performance.GB 44240-2024 — 电化学储能系统用二次锂电池安全要求 (Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries Used in Electrical Energy Storage Systems — Safety Requirements; mandatory, effective August 1, 2025)
GB/T 36276-2023 — 电力储能用锂离子电池 (Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electrical Energy Storage; voluntary, effective July 1, 2024)		 OSARTEC (Organismo Salvadoreño de Reglamentación Técnica) is the Salvadoran body responsible for technical regulations (reglamentos técnicos) and OSN (Organismo Salvadoreño de Normalización) is the national standards body. OSARTEC adopts or references international standards — primarily IEC and ISO — into Salvadoran technical regulations. As of the dataset date, no confirmed standalone mandatory BESS product safety technical regulation (reglamento técnico) specifically for stationary lithium battery energy storage systems has been identified from publicly accessible OSARTEC sources. Exporters must verify the current OSARTEC regulated-product scope directly before shipment. However, IEC 62619 (Safety Requirements for Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries for Use in Industrial Applications) is the internationally expected safety standard for lithium BESS cells and modules, and El Salvador project owners, EPCs, and SIGET authorisation conditions for utility-scale and C&I storage projects are expected to reference IEC 62619 compliance as a technical prerequisite. IEC 62619 and IEC 62133 are also referenced for battery safety in the solar-plus-storage sector, which is growing in El Salvador driven by utility and distributed generation projects. Exporters should verify the current OSARTEC regulated-product list directly with OSARTEC before shipment.IEC 62619:2022 — Safety Requirements for Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries for Use in Industrial Applications (internationally expected baseline for BESS cell/module safety in El Salvador project specifications)
IEC 62133-2:2017 — Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes — Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary lithium cells and batteries (referenced in battery safety in El Salvador energy storage context)
IEC 62933-5-1:2024 — Electrical Energy Storage Systems — Safety considerations — Hazard identification, risk assessment and risk mitigation (system-level safety standard expected in project specifications)
OSARTEC — Organismo Salvadoreño de Reglamentación Técnica (verify current regulated product list directly; no confirmed mandatory BESS-specific reglamento técnico as of dataset date)
OSN — Organismo Salvadoreño de Normalización (national standards body adopting IEC/ISO standards)		 Critical gap: El Salvador project owners and SIGET authorisation conditions reference IEC 62619 as the expected safety evidence for BESS cells and modules. Chinese GB 44240-2024 and GB/T 36276-2023 are not harmonised with IEC 62619 and are not accepted as substitutes in project technical specifications. Exporters should: (a) verify the current OSARTEC regulated-product list for any mandatory pre-shipment conformity obligation for BESS cells or modules; (b) obtain IEC 62619 type-test certificates from an ILAC-accredited laboratory for cells and modules supplied to El Salvador BESS projects; (c) confirm the applicable IEC 62619 edition referenced in the project specification or SIGET authorisation conditions before committing to a test programme; (d) for solar-plus-storage projects: check whether IEC 62133 or other battery safety standards are specifically required by the project owner or SIGET in addition to IEC 62619.[INFORMATIONAL] No confirmed standalone mandatory BESS product safety reglamento técnico has been identified for El Salvador as of the dataset date; however, IEC 62619 is the internationally expected technical baseline for BESS cell and module safety in El Salvador project specifications and SIGET authorisation conditions. Chinese GB 44240-2024 and GB/T 36276-2023 certification alone is not sufficient for El Salvador project acceptance. Verify OSARTEC current regulated-product scope and confirm IEC 62619 evidence requirements with the project owner, SIGET, and any appointed conformity assessment body before shipment. OSARTEC — Organismo Salvadoreño de Reglamentación Técnica (El Salvador)2026-06-14 · unverified
UN 38.3 Transport Safety Testing — Mandatory for Lithium Battery Imports to El Salvador (Port Acajutla) Chinese BESS cell and module manufacturers are required to comply with UN 38.3 for export shipments under international transport conventions. Chinese manufacturers typically hold UN 38.3 test reports and test summaries from CNAS-accredited testing laboratories such as UL, SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV, or CAICT. The UN 38.3 Test Summary (required since January 1, 2020) must cover the specific cell or battery type being shipped. A Chinese-origin UN 38.3 test summary from an accredited laboratory is acceptable for El Salvador imports — the key gap is ensuring the test summary covers the specific cell model, chemistry, capacity, and configuration of the BESS units being shipped, and that it is maintained current with any cell design changes. Dangerous-goods agents experienced with Central American port operations (Acajutla) should be engaged to confirm current DG documentation requirements.UN 38.3 test reports and test summaries from CNAS-accredited Chinese laboratories (CAICT, UL China, SGS China, Bureau Veritas China, TÜV Rheinland China) — acceptable for international transport if the test summary covers the specific cell/battery type being shipped UN 38.3 (Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods — Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, Section 38.3) specifies eight mandatory transport safety tests (T1 Altitude Simulation, T2 Thermal Test, T3 Vibration, T4 Shock, T5 External Short Circuit, T6 Impact/Crush, T7 Overcharge, T8 Forced Discharge) for lithium metal and lithium-ion cells and batteries of all sizes, including cells, modules, and battery packs used in stationary BESS. Since January 1, 2020, a UN 38.3 Test Summary is mandatory documentation that must accompany lithium battery shipments under international transport regulations (IATA DGR, IMDG Code, ADR). El Salvador is a party to international transport conventions and this requirement applies universally to all lithium battery imports by air, sea, or road — there is no El Salvador-specific exemption. BESS cells and modules exported from China to El Salvador by sea typically arrive at Puerto de Acajutla (principal seaport) or Puerto de La Unión Centroamericana; air freight arrives at Aeropuerto Internacional Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL). Customs clearance in El Salvador is administered by the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA) and is integrated into the Central American Customs Union (CAUCA) framework. Valid UN 38.3 Test Summaries from accredited laboratories are required for all lithium battery shipments.UN 38.3 — Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, Section 38.3 (mandatory transport safety tests T1–T8 for all lithium cells and batteries)
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) — applies to all air freight of lithium batteries including BESS cells and modules (Aeropuerto Internacional Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, SAL)
IMDG Code — applies to all sea freight of lithium batteries including BESS cells and modules (Puerto de Acajutla; Puerto de La Unión Centroamericana)
UN Model Regulations, 7th revised edition (2021) — Test Summary requirement in force since January 1, 2020
CAUCA — Código Aduanero Uniforme Centroamericano (Central American Customs Union framework; El Salvador DGA administers customs clearance)		 The gap is documentation scope and currency, not standard equivalence. UN 38.3 is a universal requirement and Chinese-origin test summaries from accredited laboratories are accepted for El Salvador-bound shipments. Exporters should verify: (a) the UN 38.3 test summary covers the specific cell model (including chemistry, capacity, and format) being exported — a summary for a different cell model or capacity is not transferable; (b) the test summary is from a currently accredited laboratory; (c) any cell design change (electrolyte, separator, electrode, BMS firmware affecting charge/discharge) since the original UN 38.3 testing triggers a reassessment requirement; (d) module-level and battery-pack-level assemblies may require separate UN 38.3 assessment if they constitute a battery as defined under international transport regulations; (e) engage a dangerous-goods shipping agent with experience handling BESS shipments through Central American ports — particularly Puerto de Acajutla — to confirm current DGA and port-authority packaging, marking, labelling, and documentation requirements.[INFORMATIONAL] UN 38.3 transport compliance is universal — a Chinese-origin test summary from an accredited laboratory is accepted for El Salvador shipments provided it covers the specific cell model and is current. The primary risk is scope mismatch (wrong cell model or capacity in the summary) or an outdated summary after a cell design change. Verify test summary coverage and currency before each shipment. Engage a dangerous-goods shipping agent familiar with Central American port operations — particularly Puerto de Acajutla — and El Salvador DGA dangerous-goods regulations to confirm packaging, marking, labelling, and documentation requirements for BESS cell and module shipments. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) — Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods2026-06-14 · unverified

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