CROSS Publish Lithium-ion Batteries Fire Safety Concerns Paper

A PAPER highlighting the fire and explosion hazards associated with the use of lithium-ion batteries in the built environment has been published by CROSS, the organisation for confidential reporting of safety issues and near misses.

CROSS is warning lithium-ion batteries pose significant fire hazards in the built environment that all stakeholders need to be aware of and prepared for.

The published paper draws on publicly available guidance and research, as well as confidential reporting from the UK about battery-powered devices and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in devices and applications, such as smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

Thermal Runaway

The fire safety concerns of lithium-ion batteries are due to a phenomenon called thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway is a self-sustaining reaction can lead to large scale fires or explosions. It is triggered by factors like overcharging, short circuiting, and overheating.

Such incidents are challenging to control as they produce flammable and toxic vapours. Even when fires are dealt with, they can reignite due to residual heat, and react violently with common extinguishing agents.

CROSS says that by understanding the risks and implementing safety measures, the likelihood and impact of such fires and explosions can be reduced, improving both the safety of people and the environment.

It adds that it is critically important that those with responsibilities for designing, constructing and managing aspects of the built environment, keep their knowledge of this evolving technology up to date.

Read the full Topic Paper on the CROSS website.

Who Should Read the Topic Paper?

This Paper should be read by owners and occupiers of facilities where lithium-ion battery technology may be prevalent or planned.

It is also relevant for local authorities, building control bodies, developers, building surveyors, architects, structural engineers, fire engineers, facilities managers, maintenance organisations, and fire and rescue services.

CROSS, which stands for Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures, is the safety reporting scheme supported by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).

The scheme allows professionals to report precursor events, near-misses and safety issues confidentially.

CROSS welcomes reports about structural safety and fire safety. These may relate to concerns at any stage of a structure’s life – from design, through construction and occupation, until its end of life.

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