Following on from the popular webinar, ‘Is our reliance on Lithium-ion batteries safe or sustainable’ IFSEC Insider ran in early October, we’ve compiled a list of popular questions asked during the session, answered by presenter, Matt Humby from Firechief.
Matt Humby, Senior Technical Sales Consultant, Firechief Global
The question of the safety of charging electric vehicles (EVs) in underground car parks proved to be of particular concern. Some commercial property owners asked why their Fire Risk Assessments haven’t flagged this as a significant risk, while others have voiced the opinion that the UK should follow the practice of some European countries and ban EVs from charging in sub-basement car parks.
Although it is true that there have been several fires reported, there is not yet enough data to evidence how much of a problem this may become. However, good practice would be to avoid installing underground car park charging points if possible and site them in the open instead – but not close to any escape routes, or areas which could impede safe evacuation. It is recommended that EV charging points at workplaces should not be sited near assembly points or flammable storage tanks, etc.
This in turn brings up the bigger question of the safety of installing high voltage charge points in close proximity to buildings and other infrastructure. This is becoming an increasing concern for property insurers, and it is important that organisations give careful consideration as to where charging points are located. According to insurance broker and risk advisors, Marsh, failure to do so could result in requests from insurers for charge points to be relocated, incurring significant expense and ultimately insurers could even limit or refuse cover where clients decline to relocate charge points.
It is clear that proper standards are needed around the siting of charge points in general but in the meantime, Marsh has provided the following guidelines:
The storage of electric bikes at places of work and residential buildings is also worth mentioning here. According to RISC, whenever possible, electrically assisted bicycles should be stored and charged outside the premises, ideally in a secure detached single storey structure.
Lithium-Ion batteries should be recycled at the end of their working life rather than being sent to landfill, in order to protect the environment. Waste batteries should be stored safely outside a premises and protected from the effects of the weather while awaiting disposal by a specialist contractor or the supplier, in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2006/66/EC (ref. 17). The terminals of waste batteries should be protected to prevent shorting between batteries occurring (FIA RISC Authority report ‘Recommendations for fire safety when charging electric vehicles’).
However, lithium-ion batteries which have been damaged, should not be disposed of in either general waste or in recycling containers. Damaged batteries should be removed from a building and placed in a container of sand or similar inert material such as vermiculite, located well away from buildings and combustible materials.
Where lithium-ion batteries need to be transported, they should be packaged to ensure that they cannot be punctured, dented, or crushed as a result of any foreseeable accident. Containment products such as the Firechief Lithium Battery Fire Resistant Container have been specially designed for this purpose.
There is a real and urgent need for local authorities and refuse organisations to run education campaigns to help the public understand that discarding batteries in their general waste is a dangerous fire hazard. If batteries, or electricals containing batteries such as mobile phones, laptops, and e- cigarettes, end up inside bins or recycling lorries with other materials, they are then crushed in the waste and recycling process. This increases the chance that the battery could be punctured and self-combust – a process which is called Thermal Runaway – becoming a real risk that it will set fire to surrounding dry and flammable waste and recycling.
Clearly these fires have the potential to endanger both the public and waste truck operators by causing fires on streets, and waste centres across the UK, while costing local councils millions of pounds. One refuse handing organisation has reported losing three Refuse Collection Vehicles in last 12 months alone due to fires started by lithium-ion batteries in discarded devices.
According to the Environmental Services Association (ESA), 48% of all waste fires in the UK each year are caused by Lithium-ion batteries, costing £158 million annually to waste operators, fire services and the environment. This fire risk is increasing all the time, so it is especially important for education on this type of fire to be given.
Research also found that as many as 45% of householders are unaware of the fire risk if they don’t safely dispose of batteries, with a quarter of householders unsafely throwing them away. In addition, 40% of householders are unaware of any information regarding how they should safely recycle their batteries (Material Focus).
Insurance companies such as Zurich and Aviva have become much more aware of Lithium-Ion battery fire risks and report a significant uplift in related claims over the last three years.
Preventative measures:
Containment measures:
The question of standards is frequently raised, however, there is no separate class of fire as yet. Also, there are no recognised test standards for lithium-ion battery fires in the UK (BS certificate) or in Europe (EN certificate) or in North America (UL certificate). The standards now need to catch up!
The Lithex extinguisher is environmentally friendly, however the waste from a Lithium-ion battery fire would require a business that specialises in that sector.
There currently is no regulation to do this, however it could be good practice to add one in. We have documents that may help so feel free to contact the Firechief team directly at [email protected]. It is also best practice to inform your insurance company about this.
Very little advice, unfortunately. I have been saying for a while all car parks should have a sprinkler system in place, as it will slow the fire. It may not completely stop it but will reduce heat, and as per the recent Luton airport fire mean that the structure would become less damaged due to the cooling of such system. With regards to EV fires – again it may not stop a fire but would bring the temperature down.
Any medium that can cool will help to bring the temperature down, but see below for how Lithex extinguishers work:
Once thermal runaway has begun in an individual cell you are not stopping thermal runway you are trying to reduce the impact of that cell on the others around it by knocking down the flames reducing the radiant and direct heat transfer, by cooling all the cells and by creating an insulating barrier film, slowing this process down, which in turn reduces heat and gives you time, this is how the Lithex extinguishers work.
Depending on the type, if they are old or damaged, they are best stored in a container outside or away from flammable liquids or heat. You could also take the batteries out if possible and keep these away from the building.
With new devices the risk is very low, however reporting any damage first is key. Don’t leave on charge while no one is around, and you could also look at storage boxes or containers made of strong metal or fire rated ones.
Additional resources:
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Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
Excellent presentation and question follow-up. A topic that is gaining more traction, mostly fed from clickbait sources.
Am doing research and assessments with regard to Traction Li-ion battery-equipped FLTs etc. At the moment it’s scaled up references to the popular perception of Li-ion batteries. It’s a subject that will run and run.