Regulations concerning the storage of lithium-ion batteries
The growing danger of lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries for electric means of transport, like e-bikes, or tools like leaf blowers are bursting into flames more often while they are charging. These fires are extremely intense and cause a lot of smoke and damage.
Regulations for storing batteries safely
Safe battery storage is subsequently very important, but what does that mean exactly? Lithium-ion batteries are stored safely when they are in a safe that can contain a fire or explosion. Read more in our article on battery fires.
Status of current regulations
Although battery fires are becoming more common, there are still no European rules for storing lithium-ion batteries. Consequently, insurers are setting their own rules in the policies they offer.
Storage in a chemical cabinet: not the safest option
For a few years now, the Dutch Publication Series on Dangerous Substances [Publicatiereeks Gevaarlijke Stoffen or PGS] has been working on the new PGS 37-2 guideline for the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries. In the meantime, so long as the guideline has not been published, the current EN 14470-1 applies. This standard is intended for the storage of highly flammable substances and chemicals, such as paint and solvents, and is now outdated.
Read more about PGS 37 in our extensive blog.
Many suppliers of these EN 14470-1 chemical cupboards maintain that they can contain a battery fire and explosion, but this just isn’t true.
No rules, but safe battery storage nonetheless
Insurers are seeing the cost of claims for the damage caused by lithium-ion battery fires steadily increase and they are considering how to keep electric means of transport and battery-powered tools insurable.
While there is a lack of regulation for the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries, we took the initiative and asked the prestigious institute MPA Dresden to test the Batteryguard cabinet. You can see the result in the video here.
Would you like find out more about how our safe was tested? Our specialists will be happy to tell you.
Regulations and insurance policies
Many insurers have already taken the initiative of including guidelines in their policy conditions for the safe storage of batteries. They insist that their policyholders charge and store batteries in fire-resistant safes.
Various insurers have approved the Batteryguard battery cabinet and we have provided this safe for diverse major projects.
Example of recent lithium-ion battery fire
You see reports about bicycle and other batteries that spontaneously explode more often in the media. As well as the enormous damage to premises, it is also a problem for those living in the vicinity.
Take, for example, the battery fire at a shopping delivery firm in Lelystad earlier this year, when two batteries in a charging cabinet caught fire. The fire brigade was called out twice and residents in the vicinity had to be evacuated. The impact was enormous. The batteries were stored in a EN 14470-1 battery cabinet, but that didn’t stop things going wrong.
Shortcomings of EN 14470-1
An EN 14470-1 cabinet protects its contents from a fire outside it, but the problem with lithium-ion batteries is precisely that they can cause fires inside.
If you store batteries in an EN 14470-1 cabinet and a battery catches fire, the flames burst out of the cabinet on all sides and the doors flip open because of the pressure released by the explosion. The damage is enormous. See here what can happen.
EN 14470-1 cabinets versus Batteryguard safe
| EN 14470-1 chemical cabinet | Batteryguard safe |
|---|---|
| Battery fire breaks out of the cabinet | Battery fire is kept inside the safe |
| Doors burst open | Doors remain shut |
| Cabinet is hot on the outside | Safe is cold on the outside |
| Smoke and toxic gasses are released | Smoke and toxic gasses are carried away by the flue |
Get in touch with us
If you would like to know more about rules and regulations for safely storing and charging lithium-ion batteries, complete the form below and we will get in touch with you.
