Lithium-Ion Fires Meet Their Match With Lith-Ex Extinguishers

Lithium-ion batteries are the silent powerhouses driving modern life, keeping our smartphones buzzing, our power tools whirring, and our e-bikes and electric vehicles rolling. But behind their energy-packed convenience lies a genuine danger: the risk of unpredictable and dangerous fires.

You can forget cosy marshmallow roasts when it comes to lithium-ion battery fires. These fires are a whole different beast. They are big, they are bad, and they are tough to extinguish.

Standard extinguishing methods like water or foam might handle regular fires, but they’re no match for lithium-ion blazes. In fact, using them can sometimes backfire, making the flames reignite and spread even faster.

To tackle the challenges of lithium-ion battery fires, SafeQuip has teamed up with AVD Lith-Ex to bring you the new Lith-Ex Fire Extinguisher Range.

*9L, 6L, 2L and 1L are KITEMARK™ approved

The range has been extensively tested to ensure safety and effectiveness, earning both SANS 1910-2022 approval and NTA 8133:2021 (KIWA/POOO55865) certification.

The Nature of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

If damaged or overloaded, lithium-ion batteries may experience thermal runaway. This occurs when the heat from one battery cell sets off a chain reaction, resulting in an intense, fast-spreading fire that is virtually hard to contain. Worse, these flames may reignite even after being extinguished with ordinary extinguishers.

SafeQuip’s Lith-Ex extinguishers use cutting-edge Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) technology to combat lithium-ion battery fires’ unpredictable and volatile characteristics.

How Does AVD Work?

AVD is a cutting-edge extinguishing agent that utilises naturally occurring vermiculite mixed with water. Here’s how it works:

Cooling

When AVD is applied, it releases a fine mist that quickly cools the source of the fire, helping to stop the flames from spreading.

Barrier Formation

As the mist evaporates, tiny vermiculite particles form a protective barrier over the fire. This prevents further propagation of the flame, eliminates the combustible material to avoid re-ignition, and also removes oxygen so that the fire cannot start up again.

Different Sizes To Suit Different Needs

SafeQuip’s Lith-Ex fire extinguishers are available in different sizes. The 1L, 2L,6L & 9L variants all have KITEMARK™ certification, ensuring the products’ quality and reliability.

Going Beyond Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

As a leader in the fire safety equipment industry, SafeQuip offers many solutions, from fire cabinets, hose reels, and lay flat hoses and couplings to Victaulic sprinklers and Davey pumps. We also provide vehicle brackets, branch pipes and nozzles, and other essential fire safety items, such as first aid kits, caution signage and safety signs.

Having the right fire safety equipment readily available can be the crucial factor that prevents a minor incident from turning into a major catastrophe.

SafeQuip’s Lith-Ex fire extinguishers and our broad selection of fire safety products ensure you’re well-prepared for any potential hazards.

If fire safety is a priority for you (and it really should be), take a closer look at what SafeQuip offers.

For more information, view our safety fire equipments and join the conversations on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Source: SafeQuip

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