County officials say 2024 code adds EV, energy‑storage and safety rules including surge protection and new detector requirements
October 02, 2026 | Johnson County, Kansas
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The 2024 code package under review includes expanded provisions for energy storage (including lithium‑ion systems), EV charging and surge‑protection measures, staff said Oct. 1.
Anush Vardapur described new residential and fire‑safety provisions: in some garage configurations staff will propose heat detectors that tie into a house’s smoke detection system, and the codes provide guidance on allowable kilowatt limits, listed products and extra fire protection for stored batteries or garage installations.
"We change it to heat detectors... they can perform, and they have to be tied to the existing, or new, smoke detection system in the house," Vardapur said when describing a locally proposed amendment based on fire services input. Staff also said the international fire code portions address separation and sizing for energy‑storage systems and that EV‑related language has expanded from a paragraph into roughly 1.5 pages to reflect growing industry detail.
Staff recommended including technical guides in the Oct. 22 packet to help contractors and inspectors understand listed products, kilowatt limits and any local amendments.
Anush Vardapur described new residential and fire‑safety provisions: in some garage configurations staff will propose heat detectors that tie into a house’s smoke detection system, and the codes provide guidance on allowable kilowatt limits, listed products and extra fire protection for stored batteries or garage installations.
"We change it to heat detectors... they can perform, and they have to be tied to the existing, or new, smoke detection system in the house," Vardapur said when describing a locally proposed amendment based on fire services input. Staff also said the international fire code portions address separation and sizing for energy‑storage systems and that EV‑related language has expanded from a paragraph into roughly 1.5 pages to reflect growing industry detail.
Staff recommended including technical guides in the Oct. 22 packet to help contractors and inspectors understand listed products, kilowatt limits and any local amendments.
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