Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries:
A Fire Potential in Waiting
by Jonathan Ingram, Director of Product Marketing at Kidde Fire Systems
T
he proliferation of battery
technologies in modern
industry is presenting fire
professionals with new sets
of challenges. Confusion exists as to
the correct approach for protecting in-
dustrial batteries from fire, including
battery manufacturing, battery storage
and battery-powered applications.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells are dis-
tinctly different from lithium (pri-
mary) cells and are used in large
numbers in power-grid stabiliza-
tion systems, containerized battery
systems and other large-scale ap-
plications. These types of systems
have thousands to tens of thousands
of these Li-ion cells integrated into
a single space. The uses of Li-ion
cells in these applications need to be
reviewed for potential fire hazards,
and fire protection strategies must be
applied and implemented to reduce
the risk.
Potential fire protection strategies
include using gaseous fire-suppres-
sion agents, such as FM-200, 3M
Novec 1230 fire protection fluid and/
or Argonite to protect large arrays of
Li-ion cells.
What You Should Know About
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Li-Ion batteries do not contain Lith-
ium in its metallic form. Therefore,
these batteries do not pose a Class D
fire risk as compared with batteries
that do contain metallic lithium.
Electrolytes used in Li-ion batteries
are complex formulations composed
of lithium salts such as LiPF6, LiBF4
or LiClO4 in an organic solvent such
as ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl
carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate
(DEC) or ethyl acetate (EA). A liquid
electrolyte allows movement of lithium
ions between the cathode and the
anode when a battery passes an electric
current through an external circuit
If overheated or overcharged, Li-ion
batteries can suffer internal mechanical
damage leading to electrical short-
ing and internal heating. Overheating
and overcharging can also result in a
thermal runaway event that can cause
cell rupture and leakage of combustible
electrolytes.
Electrolytes are Class B materials
(flammable liquid), and the design
concentration should be determined
by test for the particular composition
present.
Possible Gaseous Fire Extin-
guishing Solutions and Ap-
proaches
Rupture of Li-ion cells may result
in the ejection of electrolyte, a Class
B flammable or combustible liquid.
Gaseous agents will extinguish flames
produced by burning leaked electro-
lyte, but they have little or no capabil-
ity to mitigate/prevent a thermal run-
away occurring in Li-ion cells. These
reactions are internal to the cell, and
although the charging array will likely
Percentage by volume of agent needed to suppress a fire involving the most common types of materials found in Li-Ion batteries.
Materials Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid (FK-5-1-12)
Ethyl Acetate
Diethyl Carbonate
Dimethyl Carbonate
Ethyl Methyl Carbonate
Propylene Carbonate
% / V = percentage by volume
have preventative measures incorpo-
rated into their design, the reaction
may still occur.
Despite the potential for Class B mate-
rial discharge, two possible approaches
remain to address the use of a gaseous
fire-suppression agent for hazards
involving Li-ion batteries.
1) On the basis of a risk assessment,
hazard survey and customer/end-user
strategy, the approach can be to protect
the space solely according to the Class
A materials present and/or the Class
C energy source(s). This approach
does not specifically protect against
the Class B (electrolytic) material
contained in the battery; this mate-
rial would only be introduced into the
hazard following a catastrophic failure
of the battery cell itself.
2) On the basis of a risk assessment,
hazard survey and customer/end-user
strategy, the approach can be to protect
the space according to the Class A
materials present, the Class C energy
source(s) and the Class B (electro-
lytic) material. This approach provides
protection in the event that an ejection
of the electrolyte material occurs—a
material that could ignite when an
ignition source is present.
FM-200 (HFC-227ea)
6.2% / V
6.4% / V
6.3% / V
6.6% / V
6.7% / V
Through cup-burner and other test-
ing completed in accordance with
the requirements and guidelines of
NFPA 2001 (2012 Edition), Kidde Fire
Systems has determined the minimum
agent design concentration neces-
sary to suppress a fire involving some
of the most commonly used Class
B compounds found in electrolytes.
The table below lists the appropriate
percentage by volume of agent needed
to suppress a fire involving the most
common types of materials found in
Li-Ion batteries.
Awareness of the growing use of Li-
ion batteries in industrial and other
large-scale applications requires an
increasing awareness of the potential
fire hazards posed by such batteries
and the most effective fire protection
systems to mitigate the risk.
About the Author: Jonathan Ingram
is Director of Product Marketing
for Kidde Fire Systems, part of UTC
Climate, Controls & Security.
________________________________________________________
This article was originally published
on www.datacenterjournal.com on
December 26, 2012
Argonite (IG-55)
8.9% / V 52.9% / V
8.5% / V 52.9% / V
8.8% / V 52.9% / V
Data unavailable 52.9% / V
Data unavailable 52.9% / V