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 vehicles, electric scooters and bikes, and 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. 

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. 

Our range of lithium-ion fire extinguishers are specially designed to tackle lithium-ion battery fires. The specialised extinguishing agent inside is formulated to interrupt the chemical reactions that occur within lithium-ion batteries. This helps to cool down the battery, reducing the risk of re-ignition. The extinguisher medium creates a layer over the battery, helping you prevent oxygen from reaching the source of the fire, and reducing the chance of flair-ups. 

Lithium-ion fire extinguishers typically use an AVD, or Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion, solution to tackle fires. The water content in this medium helps to rapidly cool the source of the fire while the vermiculite covers the fuel source and creates a thermal barrier. This helps to ensure that the fire isn’t able to spread further. AVD is environmentally friendly and is even more effective at extinguishing Class A fires than water. 

The extinguisher medium within our lithium-ion fire extinguishers is also non-conductive, making it perfect for use on electrical equipment without the risk of a dangerous shock.  

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 electric cars, 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: Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly prominent as people try to move away from the use of fossil fuels. However, these vehicles rely heavily on lithium-ion batteries which means that the dangers present in the event of thermal runaway are very serious. The more common electric vehicles become, or even electric components in traditional vehicles, the more important lithium-ion fire extinguishers will become. 

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.