As technology advances, more and more devices are being powered by lithium batteries. From smartphones to electric cars, these batteries are now everywhere. While they offer convenience and longer battery life, there is a potential danger that comes with them – lithium battery fires. In this article, we'll explore what lithium battery fires are, why they are dangerous, and what businesses can do to prepare for them.

 

What are Lithium Battery Fires?

Lithium battery fires are caused by a chemical reaction that occurs within the battery. This reaction can cause the battery to catch fire or even explode. One of the most common causes of lithium battery fires is manufacturing defects. In 2016, Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 was recalled due to numerous reports of battery fires caused by a manufacturing defect.

lithium battery

Why are Lithium Battery Fires Dangerous?

Lithium battery fires are dangerous because they can spread quickly and are difficult to extinguish. When a lithium battery catches fire, it can release toxic gases and produce intense heat, making it nearly impossible to put out without the correct type of extinguisher. Additionally, the batteries can reignite even after appearing to be extinguished, making them a continuous threat.

How to Prepare Your Business for a Lithium Battery Fire

Preventing lithium battery fires is the first step in preparing for them. To reduce the risk of fires, it's important to make sure employees are storing their laptops, phones, and any device with a lithium battery in a cool, dry place as well as making sure they’re not overcharging or mishandling their devices. If a fire does occur, it's essential to have a plan in place. Make sure employees know what to do in the event of a lithium battery fire and ensure your business has invested in fire extinguishers for lithium battery fires.

lithium battery

Fire Extinguishers for Lithium Battery Fires

When it comes to the safety of your employees, customers and any building visitors, it’s important to never cut corners and be well-prepared for every situation. Whilst you want to try and prevent a lithium battery fire, sometimes, the unexpected can happen. To be prepared in case of an emergency, you’ll want to invest in a range of fire extinguishers to combat any type of fire should it occur. Here at The Safety Centre, we’re complete experts in fire safety and we’re committed to providing our customers with the best quality products. We have a massive variety of fire extinguishers ideal for combatting fires, including our range of extinguishers for lithium battery fires.

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for Lithium Battery Fires

When it comes to choosing the right type of fire extinguisher for a lithium battery fire, we’ve got you covered. We only stock the most reputable brands here at The Safety Centre and we have carefully picked out the fire extinguishers we believe are some of the very best available on the market. These include extinguishers from Gloria and Firechief, two of the world’s leading fire safety equipment manufacturers. Just take a look at one of the Gloria extinguishers in action on a lithium battery fire in this video:

Gloria manufactures water fire extinguishers with a cool-down-effect suitable for lithium-ion battery fires. Their extinguishers have innovative features such as:

  • Laser-welded cylinder with durable inner coating
  • Rotatable and suppressible extinguishing pistol
  • Extinguishing agent concentrate fluorine-free, without environmentally harmful PFOS or PFOA
  • Special suitability for lithium-ion batteries up to 642Wh* (WKL6PRO) or 1285Wh* (WKL 9 PRO), at pouches up to 700Wh (WKL 9 PRO)
  • Perfect handling
  • & plenty more.

If you’re interested in keeping your building occupants safe and secure, our fire extinguishers for lithium battery fires are ideal for the job. You’ll also want to invest in some of our Lith-ex fire extinguisher ID signs. We have a photoluminescent and white one available, detailing the type of fire extinguisher and the precautions to help your employees find the extinguisher if a lithium fire is ignited.

FAQs

What are the main causes of lithium battery fires?

The main causes of lithium battery fires are short circuits, manufacturing defects, overheating, overpressure, low-quality components, overcharging or discharging, and physical damage to the battery.

How can I prevent lithium battery fires in my workplace?

To prevent lithium battery fires, educate your employees on how to store batteries in a cool, dry place, and avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures or physical damage.

What are the most effective types of fire extinguishers for lithium battery fires?

Our range of fire extinguishers for lithium battery fires is ideal.

How do I know if I'm choosing the right fire extinguisher for a lithium battery fire?

If you’re choosing from our range, there’s no need to be worried about whether or not you’re choosing the right extinguisher – they’ve all been designed specifically for lithium battery fires and are extremely reputable and trusted. Gloria and Firechief have been combatting all sorts of fires for decades, they’re two brands with lots of experience, knowledge, and expertise in fire safety.

How often should I train employees on lithium battery fire safety?

Training for lithium battery fire safety and fire safety in general should be provided initially and then once per year. It’s also recommended for employees with more responsibility such as dedicated fire wardens or managers to receive training twice per year.

 

Lithium battery fires can be extremely dangerous if left to spread, make sure you’re prepared by investing in fire extinguishers to keep everyone in your building safe and secure. Businesses should be prepared for a lithium battery fire to reduce the potential for injury, property damage, and business interruption.

Browse our products now or alternatively, contact us if you have any questions by using our contact form or chatting with us on the Livechat feature. The Safety Centre team are always happy to help.