How lithium-ion batteries impact fire detection and safety.

Lithium-ion batteries are often found in smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, scooters, and power tools. They have become a very valuable addition to the modern workplace, and although generally safe, they are not without their risks.

Lithium-ion battery fires are commonly caused by a chain reaction known as ’thermal runaway’, which occurs when a lithium-ion battery cell produces more heat than is being dispersed. When a Lithium-ion battery fails, it creates its own oxygen, causing temperatures as high as 600 C in seconds. It releases its own highly toxic, explosive gases, making these fires exceptionally difficult to control. For business owners and facilities managers, this modern risk leaves absolutely zero room for system failures.

In this blog, we will explore the fire safety maintenance precautions that must be taken to protect against the risk of a lithium-ion battery fire.

Fire Alarms: Catching the early warning signs

Lithium-ion battery fires start with the battery ‘off-gassing ’; this means that the battery releases a dense cocktail of dangerous gases and vapour. This early sign of lithium-ion battery failure is vital.

Standard detectors can struggle to recognise these specific chemical vapours quickly enough. If a detector is dirty, outdated, or poorly positioned, it could fail to detect the off-gas entirely. Regular fire alarm maintenance ensures your sensors are clean, correctly calibrated, and capable of alerting your team before thermal runaway fully takes hold.

Smoke Ventilation (AOVs)

Because battery off-gassing and subsequent combustion produce heavy, suffocating clouds of carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride, toxic gas build-up is a severe threat. This gas can quickly incapacitate occupants long before the heat reaches them.

Automatic Opening Vent (AOV) systems are essential for exhausting these lethal vapours out of the building. Routine inspection of these vents guarantees that dampers and actuators open instantly when triggered, preserving breathable air and maintaining visibility along your escape routes.

Emergency Lighting

The chemical smoke from a lithium-ion battery fire can drastically reduce visibility, and the building’s main power can easily trip during an electrical fire

Certified Emergency Lighting Maintenance ensures that your backup illumination and exit signs shine brightly through the haze. This gives your staff a visible, clear pathway to safety, preventing bottlenecks and injuries during an evacuation.

Fire Extinguishers

Standard dry powder or CO2 extinguishers are ineffective in a lithium-ion battery fire, as they cannot cool the battery or stop reignition. Therefore, to tackle a lithium-ion battery fire, you need an extinguisher rated for Li-ion or those using AVD (Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion) or specialised water additives.

A range of extinguishers available from Commfire:

• AVD Extinguishers: These discharge a fine mist of vermiculite suspended in water. The particles form a heat-proof thermal barrier over the battery, cooling the cells and cutting off oxygen to prevent reignition.

• LFX / Water-Additive Extinguishers: These discharge a specialised water-based foam that aggressively absorbs heat, halting the chain reaction of ‘thermal runaway’.

• Standard Water Extinguishers: Can be used on small, individual devices (e.g., a phone or laptop) that are no longer charging. The water provides the necessary cooling effect to stop thermal runaway in its very early stages.

Lithium-ion battery fires present unique challenges, but a well-maintained fire protection system can make all the difference. Regular maintenance of your fire alarms, emergency lighting, smoke ventilation systems and fire extinguishers helps ensure they perform as intended when every second counts. Ensuring your fire protection systems are fit for purpose is essential in protecting your people, your premises, and your business from evolving fire risks.