Trying to extinguish a lithium-ion fire can be dangerous if you are not trained to do so. In fact, it’s always advised that you do not attempt this unless it’s absolutely necessary, for example, where the fire is blocking the only safe exit from a building.

However, with lithium-ion devices becoming increasingly popular, it’s worth discussing how you would extinguish this fire type if put into that scenario. From the phones in our pockets to the cars we drive out on the road, we’re now never too far from lithium-ion batteries, which is why you need the best equipment possible.

At Fire Safety Equipment, we stock a range of lith-ex equipment to help you safeguard the people in your building. 

How do lith-ex fire extinguishers work?

Lith-ex fire extinguishers are specially designed to deal with this one, very specific type of fire. They use a combination of cooling and encapsulation to put out the fire thanks to Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD).

The cooling effect of the water in this specialised agent brings down the temperature of the battery, preventing thermal runaway. Meanwhile, the vermiculite platelets also act to cut off oxygen from the battery. This also creates a non-conductive seal that prevents any further electrical hazards.

Why lithium fires are different to others

Lithium-ion battery fires have their own fire extinguishers, which should tell you that these are no ordinary fires. Aside from the fact that the batteries are always part of a device that is mobile in some way (scooters, cars, phones, laptops), presenting a challenge in and of itself, several things make a lithium-ion fire different to other fires:

• Thermal runaway – We’ve mentioned this already, but thermal runaway is one of the biggest issues for lithium-ion battery fires. Where the battery cells are damaged or have defects, the cells overheat, producing a chain reaction, cell-to-cell, of rapid temperature increases that can be potentially explosive.

• Toxic fumes – If a lithium-ion battery ignites, it can release harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen fluoride. Some of the gases released can be toxic as well as flammable, posing a risk to anyone around the device as it burns.

• Reignition – While not a totally unique characteristic, the potential for lithium fires to reignite is much higher. This is down to the internal chemical reactions taking place and the high temperatures involved. Even if the flames have been subdued temporarily, the internal issues may continue to smoulder and, without warning, can suddenly reignite.

What makes a lithium fire difficult to extinguish?

The combination of the above factors – thermal runaway, flammable gases and reignition – makes a lithium fire difficult to extinguish. There are so many chemical reactions and high temperatures involved, which makes the situation volatile and renders a lot of the usual tactics fairly ineffective.

That’s why it’s always recommended that you leave the job of extinguishing a lithium-ion battery fire to the experts at the local fire brigade. If, however, as we mentioned in the opening of this piece, your only safe evacuation route is blocked by such a fire, then it’s good to have the right type of fire extinguisher to put it out.

You can find high-quality equipment for lithium fires in our online store, ensuring you have everything you need without having to shop around. From lith-ex fire extinguishers to suppression kits and blankets, we can provide fast, free delivery across the UK — it’s why so many customers have already left us glowing, five-star reviews.

Shop for lithium-ion battery extinguishers and our best sellers today and protect both people and assets in your business.