How To Protect Your Home & Workplace From Lithium-ion Battery Fires

Almost 98% of the UK adult population now own a smartphone. 

But while they’ve brought us greater connectivity online, they are also responsible for devastating damage to homes and businesses. That’s because, each year, the batteries in thousands of mobile phones ignite — a dangerous issue taking many by surprise.

Fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries in phones are now such a common occurrence that, according to Eunomia Research and Consulting, they accounted for £158m of damage in the UK in 2021 alone.

So how do you protect your home or workplace from a lithium-ion battery fire if they’re so commonplace? This month at Fire Safety Equipment, we’ve got a quick guide to the dangers they pose and how you can prevent and extinguish them.

The Dangers of Lithium-ion Battery Fires

We all know that fires can spread quickly once they start, not only posing a threat to your home, workplace and the property within, but also putting lives at risk. 

On top of this, you could be left in financial ruin as a result of lithium-ion battery fires. According to Zurich Insurance Group, there were 167 fires caused by this specific battery type in 2021 from just e-scooters alone. Here are a few examples of the cost of such fires from Zurich’s analysis of claims:

• The average bill for households after a lithium-ion battery fire can be as much as £15,000
• £65,000 was the damage claim for a cordless vacuum fire that burst into flames
• A child’s electric bike that devastated one homeowner’s garage cost £36,000
• A remote-control aircraft caused a fire that cost £9,000

Common Causes of Lithium-ion Battery Fires

We’ve already highlighted that smartphones are one of the most common items to contain lithium-ion batteries, but there are a whole host of other items that can be considered a common cause of lithium-ion battery fires, including:

• Electric toothbrushes
• Electric cars
• Power tools
• Children’s toys
• e-scooters and e-bikes
• Forklift trucks and factory equipment
• Digital cameras
• Portable power banks
• Wireless alarm systems
• Medical equipment

These are just a few examples of common items you’ll find at home or in the workplace featuring lithium-ion batteries. Damage to the battery, too much heat or overcharging are all reasons that these batteries can burst into flames. Hopefully, this article will raise awareness of this unique risk so that you can better prepare for such an eventuality.

How Do You Prevent a Lithium-Ion Battery Fire?

With all of the above in mind, it’s worth looking at how you can protect against the risk of a lithium-ion fire. Having the right equipment in place to tackle this type of fire is essential, and at Fire Safety Equipment, we stock a range of extinguishers to help you protect your premises and staff or your home and family.

Our compact 500ml lithium battery fire extinguisher is available from just £30. This means you can have a state-of-the-art extinguisher on hand to put your mind at ease when it comes to smartphone fires and any other lithium-ion battery-powered items you might have. Don’t put your safety or your property at risk – get the right extinguisher to help stop these disastrous fires before they can cause extensive destruction.

How Do You Extinguish a Lithium Battery Fire?

Lith-ex extinguishers are revolutionary pieces of equipment that use aqueous vermiculite dispersion (AVD). This works in two ways: first, the water content works to lower the temperature at the source of the fire, and then the vermiculite platelets can cover the battery as the source of the fuel, cutting off the oxygen supply at the same time as creating a thermal barrier that drastically reduces the risk of re-ignition.

The general advice is to aim the nozzle of the extinguisher at the fuel source – the battery – and empty the unit to ensure the fire is fully extinguished and that the area can be cooled by the protective barrier it creates.

The Benefits of a Lith-Ex Fire Extinguisher

There are many benefits to having a lith-ex fire extinguisher if you have any items that are powered by lithium-ion batteries, but here are just a few reasons to invest:

• They use a specialist agent specifically designed for lithium-ion batteries
• They’re safe for the environment, using natural vermiculite
• They come as portable or fixed units, so are ideal in any scenario
• They’re lightweight and easy to transport

It’s always better to have the right extinguisher to tackle the specific fire you’re faced with. That’s why a simple water fire extinguisher or even a powder unit won’t suffice for lithium-ion battery fires. With a lith-ex extinguisher, you get peace of mind knowing the right equipment is on hand in the event of an emergency.

Act now and protect your family, workers, assets and property by getting the exact fire extinguisher for your needs to stop a fire. Browse our range of lith-ex products right here at Fire Safety Equipment and place your order today to get fast, free delivery across the UK.