Lithium-ion batteries are present in a wide range of technologies. Thanks to their high energy density and efficiency, they’re used in many applications worldwide. Not only are they found in smartphones, tablets, and laptops, but they’re also commonly used in electric scooters and e-bikes, as well as vapes. Unfortunately, the unique chemistry of lithium-ion batteries presents potential risks in many of our day-to-day lives. 

Fires resulting from lithium-ion fires can be extremely dangerous due to their high temperature. The temperature of lithium-ion battery fires means that most fire extinguishers are not sufficient to extinguish them completely. Instead, specialised lithium-ion fire extinguishers are available to help slow the spread to facilitate safe evacuation until the fire service can arrive. 

The FireShield LFX fire extinguisher range uses a water-based agent to fight lithium-ion battery fires.

The water-based agent has outstanding heat-absorbing properties. This works by breaking down the chain reaction in thermal runaway, preventing adjascent cells from potentially over-heating. The FireShield LFX unit works by effectively cools the already alight battery cells, alongside cooling those that are in the vicinity that could also be at risk of exploding.

In addition to cooling the fire, the battery units alight, and the nearby units that are at risk of catching fire, this extinguisher protects from secondary A-class fires. This means you can quickly tackle any ‘peripheral’ fires that may have been caused by the burning batteries.

Lithium-ion battery fires can escalate quickly due to the nature of the chemistry involved. Once ignited, these fires can spread rapidly, making them challenging to contain and extinguish. They can also reach extremely high temperatures, sometimes exceeding 1000°C. This makes them not only very dangerous, but they are typically beyond the capabilities of a lot of traditional fire extinguishers. 

Traditional fire extinguishers, while effective for many types of fires, aren’t suitable for lithium-ion battery fires. For one thing, they simply aren’t equipped to tackle the kinds of temperatures that lithium-ion battery fires reach. Not only that but extinguisher mediums like water and foam can make the situation worse by causing the battery to react violently, releasing toxic gases and intensifying the fire. 

The sheer quantity of lithium-ion batteries in circulation means that the correct fire extinguishers are more important than ever. Fortunately, the versatility of Lithium-Ion Fire Extinguishers makes them suitable for a wide range of industries and settings: 

Residential: Every day electronic devices like tablets, smartphones, and laptops all use lithium-ion batteries. A lithium-ion fire extinguisher is one of the best ways to protect your home. Should the cell battery in these devices become damaged in any way, they are far more prone to causing a fire. 

Commercial and Industrial: Many businesses have numerous lithium battery fire risks in the form of vapes and electric scooters to name a few. In order to protect staff, buildings, assets and vehicles from these fire risks, a thorough lithium-ion fire protection process needs to be in place and staff should be properly trained in what to do in the event of a lithium-ion battery fire.  

Transportation: There are numerous new forms of alternative electrically-powered forms of transport that all use lithium-ion batteries, that when are charged, become a potential fire risk. These include e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards to name just a few.

The most common cause of uncontrollable lithium-ion battery fires is thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is the process where a lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state. During thermal runaway, the lithium-ion batteries heat up too quickly and reach extremely high temperatures. Thermal runaway can be caused by overcharging the battery, damage to the battery, or exposure to high temperatures. 

Thermal runaway can cause everything from smoke and fire to the violent ejection of gas and shrapnel. Not only that but, in environments where there are multiple lithium-ion batteries present, thermal runaway can set off a chain reaction, causing a fire to rapidly escalate and get out of control.