The use of lithium batteries is associated with several risks. To guarantee safety, there are solutions including fire blankets and safety cabinets specially designed for lithium batteries.
Employees are increasingly commuting to work using electric scooters, bikes or cars. These vehicles run on the basis of lithium batteries. This type of battery has been used for many years in various sectors, in items such as scanners, torches, fork-lift trucks, etc.
Lithium (non-chargeable) or lithium-ion (chargeable) batteries comprise electrodes made of lithium and carbon. Despite these batteries now being an integral part of our world, you must be prepared for the risks that they pose.
Which risks are associated with the use of lithium batteries?
When using these batteries, there are a few issues that must be taken into account:
- Explosion hazard: even if the batteries are not plugged into a socket
- Spontaneous combustion: possibly due to overuse or mechanical damage; the resulting fire may also release toxic gases which, in turn, can contaminate the water used to extinguish the fire and create a hazard for bystanders
- Impossible/difficult to extinguish: conventional extinguishing systems (e.g. water) do not work with lithium batteries. Trying to extinguish a lithium battery could even lead to an explosion or the creation of highly explosive gases.
The greatest risk from lithium-ion batteries is the ‘thermal runaway’ that is created when the temperature of the battery cell increases exponentially. This type of thermal runaway is a chain reaction, created when the flame from one cell ignites the other cells. It is very difficult to stop this chain reaction: the batteries must be cooled to under 70°C.
How can you safely deal with lithium batteries?
There are a few points that must be considered when working with lithium batteries:
- Use the correct charger for your battery
- Make sure that the battery is undamaged (if it is damaged, have it checked)
- Charge the battery regularly so that it does not stay uncharged for a long period
- Hang a smoke detector in the space where the battery is charged
- Do not store the battery in very cold conditions, full sun or damp spaces
- Charge the batteries in a stable, spacious and non-flammable area
But what if the batteries catch fire anyway?
Vitex fire blankets
Fire can spread rapidly. When a lithium fire starts, it is important to control or extinguish it as quickly as possible. You can do this using fire blankets that are specially designed for putting out battery fires where extinguishers cannot be used. The blankets have a peak temperature of 1300°C and are made of non-flammable materials, usually fibreglass. We refer to this as a fire covering.
It is important to remember that these fire blankets are not meant to extinguish the fire. That is to say, when you remove the blanket, the fire will still be present. The fire blanket, however, ensures that the fire can be brought under control.
Placing a fire blanket over the burning car (without batteries) will extinguish the fire within a few minutes. The use of fire blankets for vehicle fires is a day-to-day event for fire brigades. Two fire-fighters pull the fire blanket over the burning vehicle. But this is different when an electric car is involved. This type of battery may carry on burning for hours after the outbreak of the fire. In this situation, the blanket only serves as a fire barrier, to protect the environment from fire, heat and smoke. Even in the event of exploding battery cells, the fire blanket will protect the surrounding area from any debris that might be blown out.
In summary, a fire blanket is designed to contain the fire. As well as the flames, it also contains the heat and smoke and closes off the oxygen supply so that the surrounding area can be secured safely within a few minutes.
There is a broad range of battery blankets. There are also special blankets designed for cars and scooters or bicycles. The blankets for bicycles and scooters can also be used preventively. You can place them over your bicycle or scooter when they are not in use.
Also read: Vlitex: fire containment blankets for extinguishing batteries
Safety cabinets for lithium batteries
Another method for preventing lithium fires from spreading is the use of safety cabinets. These are fire-resistant storage units which are specially designed to safely charge and store lithium-ion batteries.
The two smoke-detectors in the units ensure any smoke is detected quickly. When any smoke is detected, a signal is given to the controller, who will then carry out the following steps:
- Turn off the electricity
- Disconnect any active ventilation system
- Activate the aerosol extinguishing system
- Raise a visual and audio alarm
- Send reports via SMS and the MyLoxxer platform
This will contain the fire until the fire brigade can attend.
The safety cabinets are fitted with self-closing doors with a lock. There are also shelves with charging strips so that the lithium-ion batteries can be safely charged for their next use.
Also read: Loxxer – fireproof charging and storage cabinets for li-on batteries
Find out about lithium safety cabinets here
