Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that are found in everyday portable electrical items such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, e-bikes and vapes. Although they are safe during everyday use, they pose serious risks if they are overcharged, damaged, exposed to very high or low temperatures, or suffer water damage.
In the last four years, 13 people have died in lithium-ion fires across the nation, demonstrating the consequences that these fires have.
Lithium Battery Fires
Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) are found in a range of devices in workplaces and public settings, and although they mostly do not cause issues, when they do, they can be critical.
If a battery becomes damaged, a chemical reaction causes thermal runaway, causing accelerated overheating which affects the surrounding cells, leading them to ignite. Additionally, they can release dangerous gases and substances which cause vapor clouds, causing the battery to break down further, resulting in rapid fire spread. Damaged batteries may also release flammable electrolytes which increases the risk of fire.
Additionally, if batteries are exposed to higher temperatures, it can speed up battery aging and therefore increase the rate of battery decay, leading to higher potentials for fire.
Lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters are especially hard to control as they can spread in minutes, breaking out due to incompatible chargers, modifications or counterfeit products purchased online. Research shows that there was a fire every two days in London in 2023 caused by e-bikes and e-scooters.1
In the Workplace
Public spaces and workplaces often contain many devices that contain lithium-ion batteries, making them a hub of potential fire risks. The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 specifies the rules for fire safety in the UK, and depending on a business’s industry and processes, additional legislation may also apply.
Batteries are also used in larger electrical items such as forklifts and the batteries pose many issues for industrial and commercial workplaces because of on site fire risks.
Battery Disposal
It’s not just everyday use that can cause fires. Safe disposal is one of the main reasons for fires starting – as they are often disposed of incorrectly.
Lithium batteries should be recycled via dedicated recycling facilities, to be disposed of in a safe and specialist way. However, people often don’t understand this, and instead dispose of them in their normal general waste.
This causes many issues. Lithium-ion batteries can get crushed and damaged in bin lorries and lead to fires in waste centres that are hard to tackle and can lead to explosions, and as they can create their own oxygen, fires will continue to reignite which prolong the effects. There were over 1,000 battery fires in waste sites and bin lorries across the UK in the last year.2
Not only can these fires be hard to treat and extinguish, but they also pose a risk to human health – as they release toxic air pollution that affects local communities.
Tackling The Issue
There are many options available to tackle the issue and ensure that lithium-ion batteries are maintained, inspected for defects, and kept safe. Fire safety assessments should be carried out regularly, and rules for disposal should be followed company-wide, ensuring that they are not put in regular disposal or recycling bins, and are instead disposed of separately. As with all properties, fire alarm and effective smoke alarm systems are essential, with additional safeguarding options such as charging areas being supervised and training being provided on the safe use and disposal of old or damaged batteries.
Additionally, lithium battery fire extinguishers can be put into place to protect damage and spread of fires should they occur.
CheckFire Commander Lithium Battery Extinguishers
CheckFire is a fire protection manufacturer and supplier, and although they have grown since their launch in 1975, they stay true to their family values, priding themselves on their passion in the industry. As a trade-only supplier, they provide high-quality products, in addition to comprehensive support from their knowledgeable team.
CheckFire have recently launched a range of Commander battery extinguishers to help deal with the danger of lithium-ion fires. Each fire extinguisher is designed to tackle lithium-ion battery fires across a range of environments and applications. The LFX fluorine-free range protects from secondary A-class fires, generated by gases causing batteries to explode.
Available in 3, 6 and 9 litres, the fire extinguishers benefit from easy operation and a durable, lined steel cylinder, making them ideal for a variety of environments, public places and workplaces.
View the full Lithium Battery Extinguisher range.
Outlook
Although Lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers are not mandatory in public or workplace settings, it is advised that they are put in for safety reasons. With ever increasing digital items being used, the rate of fires is increasing, so it’s important to have reliable solutions on hand if and when they are required.
2 NFCC
