TEST, SAFETY, SYSTEMS
FIRES FIGHTING
Jake Holmes asks one fi re safety expert for advice on how to prevent and contain lithium-ion battery fi res
W
here batteries are concerned, increasingly sophisticated and high-functioning
technology calls for ever greater safety considerations, as the potential downsides of failure are now far greater due to their increased power and capabilities. Increasing safety is not just important
for personnel safety but can also prevent further damage to factories and other assets in the immediate vicinity. With the uptake in battery technology, the importance of understanding lithium battery fi res is growing,
alongside mounting emphasis on how to prevent these fi res altogether. Matt Humby, senior technical
consultant at Firechief Global, believes education around the topic will help reduce the risk of fi res and off ers knowledge on best practices on how to best prevent and subsequently deal with a lithium battery fi re. During his speech at Battery Tech
Expo at Silverstone, Humby displayed a video demonstrating the dangers of disposing of batteries in normal bins which showed a fi re igniting in a disposal lorry, saying gravely, “We are trying to get the message across about
the risks of lithium-ion fi res.”
UNDERSTANDING THE FLAME Firstly, understanding the risks and potential causes of Lithium-ion fi res is crucial to fi ghting them. With this in mind, Firechief has laid out an eight-step plan. Step one is to educate people and businesses about the risks of lithium-ion fi res, ensuring they know best procedures to follow. Following this, assessments must be made to evaluate the risk in the environment and organisation. Ian Poole, sales director at Firechief
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