As the World continues to move towards more and more battered powered consumer goods, from electric vehicles to scooters and hoverboards for fun, it is important to be aware of the dangers posed by batteries in the event of a fire.
Most people are aware that batteries catching fire can cause an explosion risk, but not everyone is aware of the ferocity and rapid spread caused by a battery fire and the significant danger to life this can pose for anyone nearby.
For example an electric scooter, which is likely to be powered by a small ion lithium battery, you can see in the video on this page how intense the fire becomes and dangerous that would be if it were within a building or someone was stood close by.
Battery technology is safe but there are some steps you can take to minimise the risk of fire.
- Always buy your battery powered product from a reputable outlet. Cheaper items often have batteries made to a lower, non-CE standard which either have thin outer casings that can be punctured easily, or they contain shards of small metal particles which heat up causing the electrolyte to boil and a fire to start.
- Never leave an item charging unattended or overnight which might allow heat to build up
- It’s not just domestic users, businesses need to be aware too that with employees potentially using electric scooters and bikes, not to leave items charging near combustible materials or in close proximity to people
One final thing, should a fire start it is important to use the correct type of extinguisher which in this instance would be a Class ABC Dry Powder Extinguisher. Fire and Safety Solutions are able to supply a range of Dry Powder extinguishers in different sizes and finishes. Contact us for further information and pricing.
