Lithium Battery Fire Extinguishers

Lithium-ion batteries present a more frequent fire hazard each day as the number of consumer and industrial goods powered by these batteries increases. They are used in power tools, computers, personal devices, scooters and bikes, cars, forklift trucks and other factory equipment and much more.

The dangers they pose are prominent as a lithium-ion battery fire may result from physical damage that causes a short circuit, overheating, internal cell failure, short circuits, or manufacturing defects.

Lithium-ion fires are on the rise – not just for organisations that produce or store lithium-ion batteries, but also for e-bikes, e-scooters, mobile phones etc.
In 2021 the UK suffered £158 million of damage, and the London Fire Brigade has seen an “alarming” increase in the number of fires caused by e-scooter and e-bike lithium-ion batteries, surging by almost 150%.

Conventional fire extinguishers cannot effectively extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire. Only a specialist extinguisher such as the Firechief Lith-Ex extinguisher is suitable on this type of fire.

How do Lithium Battery Fire Extinguishers work?

Firechief Lith-Ex extinguishers contain Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD), a revolutionary fire extinguishing agent. The water content of the extinguisher cools the fire source, while the Vermiculite platelets encapsulate the fuel source, creating a thermal barrier to prevent propagation of the fire. The Vermiculite film is not electrically conductive. AVD is nearly twice as effective as water on a Class A fire and is environmentally friendly.

• Hot work compliant
• Easy to store
• Non-toxic
• Environmentally friendly
• 5 year guarantee
• Available in 5 sizes; 0.5, 1, 2, 6, 9 litre (0.5l is the most popular as a home fire extinguisher)

• Kitemark approved (Models FLE2, FLE6 FLE9)
• Can extinguish lithium-ion battery fires, uncontrollable by other extinguisher types
• Quickly cools and prevents excessive heat, forming a thermal barrier to stop fire propagation