How to mitigate the risk of a Lithium-Ion battery fire
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 3 years.
Preventative measures:
- Treat lithium-ion batteries and the devices which contain them, with the respect they deserve. Protect the batteries against being damaged through crushing, puncturing or immersion in water as this increases the risk of fire
- Always use the charger that came with your device. If you need to buy a replacement, choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust.
- Avoid storing, using, or charging lithium-ion batteries at very high or very low temperatures
- Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete, e.g., don’t leave your devices plugged in overnight.
- Battery experts recommend that a good charging range is from 20 percent up to 80 percent and then recharge from 20 percent back to 80 percent. Lithium-ion batteries don’t perform well when they are constantly charged from 1-2% up to 100% and back again
- Ensure that wherever you charge a device, you still have a clear exit from the room or property in case of fire
- Never charge a device such as a mobile phone under items such as pillows. Lithium-ion batteries need to be kept within a good temperature range, with good circulation of air around them. Always charge them on a hard surface.
- When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium-ion batteries together, especially on a plane
Containment measures:
- Stop using the battery and/or charger if the temperature of either (or both) rises more than 10ºC (18ºF) on a regular charge.
- If a Lithium-ion battery overheats, hisses, or bulges, immediately move the device with the battery away from flammable materials and place it on a non-combustible surface. If at all possible, put the battery safely outdoors to burn out.
- Bear in mind that moving a battery which has gone into thermal runaway can cause re-ignition and the combustion process to start again for up to 10 hours after it started. Specialist products such as the Firechief Heavy Duty Lithium-ion Battery Fire blanket help to stop the spread and contain the fire.
The Firechief range includes high-performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers for your home and leisure time. For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.
Other resources
If you would like to find out more about Lithium-ion batteries and why they are a fire risk, explore our other interesting articles below.
The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult any and all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and where felt necessary to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader’s risk.
