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Storage of lithium-ion batteries

Preventing chain reactions: fire protection for lithium-ion batteries

In today's globally competitive environment, no company can afford to lose goods or suffer downtime. Fires and consequential fire damage must therefore be avoided at all costs. Reliable fire protection is essential, especially where there is an increased risk. Lithium-ion batteries place special demands on technical fire protection during storage, as they pose the risk of spontaneous combustion, which can have fatal economic and environmental consequences.

In the event of a thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries, the fire process cannot be interrupted by extinguishing, pollutants are released, spreading to neighboring stored goods in the unprotected area.  This  leads to a chain reaction and thus inevitably to a rapid spread of fire in the warehouse.

With a pioneering spirit and many years of expertise, we have met these challenges and developed individual fire protection solutions for the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries.

Sparks of fire between stored lithium-ion batteries

RISK ANALYSIS

Lithium-ion batteries – a fire hazard?!

Lithium-ion batteries harbor the risk of spontaneous combustion. The fire process triggered by the thermal runaway cannot be interrupted by extinguishing and harmful substances are released. There is also a risk of a chain reaction, as the energy released during the thermal runaway causes the fire to quickly jump over neighboring batteries and materials and spread. The fire itself and the pollutants released contaminate goods and values, usually destroying them completely.

To determine the risk, the type of storage, storage density, processes, type, number and performance of the battery cells are examined individually.

PROTECTION GOALS

Fire protection requirements

In addition to the risk analysis, defining the organizations protection goals is an important basis for us to develop an individual fire protection solution:

  • Ensuring operational readiness in terms of ability to deliver and availability of goods
  • Protection of goods and values from damage caused by fire, smoke contamination or extinguishing agents
  • Protection of fixed assets
  • Avoidance of consequential damage, damage to image and financial losses
  • Personal and environmental protection
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BETTER SOLUTIONS IN FIRE PROTECTION

Always individual: fire protection for lithium-ion batteries

There is currently no standard solution for fire protection when storing lithium-ion batteries. The existing risk of spontaneous combustion can hardly be counteracted. In the event of a fire, water-based extinguishing agents often do not achieve a sufficient extinguishing effect.

We develop the right fire protection solution for your organization based on the type and size of the lithium-ion batteries to be stored, the state of charge, the type of storage and, ideally, with the help of specific fire tests. For our customer KETTLER Alu-Rad GmbH, we have developed a special VdS-approved fire protection solution for the storage of up to 50,000 e-bikes in the fully automated high-bay warehouse at the new, state-of-the-art production site in St. Ingbert (Saarland), which is unique on the market to date. Our customized solution for KETTLER Alu-Rad, consisting of our OxyReduct®­ oxygen reduction system for active fire prevention in combination with our TITANUS®­ early fire detection system, protects against the consequences of a thermal runaway and prevents the spread of fire under defined conditions.

BENEFITS

Innovative technology to protect your goods and values

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Goods and values

Reliable protection of your goods and values from damage caused by fire, extinguishing agents or smoke contamination.

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Operational readiness

Protection of your supply chain by ensuring uninterrupted ability to deliver.

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Reputation

Avoidance of fire-related consequential and image damage.

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Scalability

Our fire protection systems can be adapted at any time and “grow” with the storage system.

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Sustainability

Active fire prevention prevents harmful effects on the environment as a result of a fire.

VIDEO

Explained simply: Fire protection for lithium-ion batteries

Dirk Band: Director Sales Division

Our solution protects against the consequences of a thermal runaway

We will be happy to advise you individually.

Dirk Band

Director Sales Division

+49.511.97383-0