Services
Honor Grid Solutions provides four core services covering the compliance lifecycle of a California BESS project, from pre-application through commissioning. Every engagement is scoped in writing, delivered against a defined timeline, and documented with the audit trail you need for AHJ submittal and internal records.
NFPA 855 Hazard Mitigation Analysis
A documented, defensible HMA is the technical heart of a compliant large-scale BESS installation. We produce HMAs that follow NFPA 855 methodology — exposure analysis, separation distance verification, UL 9540A data integration, deflagration and containment strategy, egress protection, and remediation options when the prescriptive pathway doesn't fit.
What you get
Written HMA structured to the AHJ's submittal expectations. UL 9540A test data reconciliation against your installed configuration. Findings-and-options memo documenting every deficiency with three remediation pathways where applicable. Reliance limitation statement protecting both HGS and the developer. Revision support for one round of AHJ feedback.
Scope boundary
We document, analyze, and recommend. Design decisions and engineering of record responsibilities remain with the developer's licensed engineer. This is consulting scope, not engineering scope.
SB 283 Pre-Application Consultation Support
SB 283 requires BESS projects of 10 MWh or greater to complete a fire authority consultation before permit application. The meeting is the input. The documentation of that meeting and how it's addressed in the permit package is the output. We run both sides of that transaction for you.
What you get
Pre-application submittal package preparation, including project narrative, preliminary site plan, ESS specifications, proposed installation standard, and preliminary fire suppression and detection approach. Pre-consultation coordination with the fire authority. Meeting attendance as your technical support. Written meeting summary and findings log. Integration of fire authority input into the formal permit application.
Who this is for
BESS developers facing their first SB 283 consultation, or developers who want the administrative load removed from their internal permitting team.
BESS Commissioning Oversight
Commissioning is where designed compliance meets installed reality. Our oversight service ensures that the fire safety systems, monitoring, disconnect functionality, and emergency response provisions installed at the site match what was approved in the HMA and the permit package.
What you get
Commissioning witness at agreed-upon milestones. Checklist-driven verification against HMA commitments. Discrepancy reporting with photographic documentation. Final commissioning memo usable as AHJ closeout attachment. Post-commissioning emergency response plan review.
AHJ Liaison & Owner's Advocate.
On large projects or in unfamiliar jurisdictions, a dedicated intermediary between the developer and the fire authority reduces timeline risk and protects working relationships. We serve as that intermediary, representing the owner's interests while maintaining a credible, technically grounded relationship with the AHJ.
What you get
Single point of contact for all AHJ communications on the project. Weekly status tracking and documentation. Variance and appeal support when compliance pathways require flexibility. Escalation management when timelines are at risk.
How we price
We scope each engagement individually. Most engagements fall into three categories.
Fixed-fee deliverable
For defined scopes like a standalone HMA or a pre-application package, priced on the complexity of the installation and the AHJ involved.
Milestone-based project fee
For full-lifecycle engagements spanning pre-application through commissioning.
We provide a written scope of work and fee estimate within three business days of an initial consultation. We do not require engagement letters or payment until scope is agreed in writing.
Time-and-materials retainer
For ongoing support once an engagement is underway: AHJ liaison through plan review, or commissioning oversight on an active project. Billed hourly, for established scopes where the work is continuous rather than fixed.
How we approach a project.
Verify against primary source.
Every statutory and regulatory reference is checked against the actual code text — never cited from memory.
Define the deliverable.
Each engagement produces a specific, named work product with clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're getting.
Stay in lane.
We document, analyze, and recommend. Design decisions and professional stamps remain with your licensed engineer of record.
Document for audit.
Every recommendation is traceable, so the project record holds up under AHJ scrutiny.
Ready to scope a project? Book a 30-minute consultation. No commitment.