E-bikes, e-scooters, power tools and laptops all use lithium-ion batteries. Most are perfectly safe, but a damaged or faulty battery can overheat and catch fire very quickly.

Why Lithium-Ion Fires Are So Dangerous

  • Toxic fumes – a burning battery gives off thick, toxic and flammable smoke and gases. Breathing them can seriously harm you.
  • They can explode – the gases can build up and ignite suddenly, and cells can burst and throw out burning material.
  • They spread and reignite – a fire can jump from cell to cell, and a battery that looks out can flare up again hours later.

Don't try to fight a lithium-ion battery fire yourself. Get everyone out, close the door behind you and call 999. These fires should be left to the Fire and Rescue Service, who have breathing apparatus and protective clothing.

Reduce the Risk

  • Use the charger that came with the device, or a genuine replacement.
  • Don't charge overnight or while nobody's around, and unplug when charged.
  • Charge away from escape routes and away from anything that burns easily.
  • Stop using any battery that's damaged, swollen, hot or smells odd.

Containing the Risk

Where batteries are charged, stored or transported, fire limitation products help keep a battery fire contained while people get clear. We offer a range of Vlitex fire limitation bags, containers and blankets. To see the full range, type Vlitex into the search box at the top of our website.

What About Extinguishers?

Specialist lithium-ion battery extinguishers are designed to cool a battery and slow the fire spreading from cell to cell. They can help with a battery that's just starting to overheat – but they don't make it safe to stay and fight a fire that's taken hold.

Lithium-ion battery fires now have their own fire class, Class L. No extinguisher can be officially rated Class L yet, because there isn't an agreed test method – so check the product information to see what each one has been tested on. See Fire Classes Explained for more.

To see our lithium-ion battery extinguishers, type lithium into the search box at the top of our website.

Worth remembering… your fire risk assessment is what decides the equipment your premises need. This guide is general advice, not a substitute for it.

Not sure what you need? Get in touch with our team – we'll be delighted to help. No pressure. No sales patter.