Lithium Battery Fire Safety

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

As portable electronics become a larger part of our lives, lithium battery safety concerns, especially in terms of fire safety, must be considered.

You may know lithium as atomic element number 3 on the periodic table from chemistry class, but among its many real-world uses, lithium is used in batteries, including lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries. The difference between these two types of lithium-containing batteries is that lithium batteries are primary cells that cannot be charged, while lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, secondary cells. Both lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries are capable of storing portable energy, which allows them to be used for a multitude of electronic devices. As portable electronics become a larger part of our lives, lithium battery safety concerns, especially in terms of fire safety, must be considered.

Why Are Lithium Batteries Such a Concern?

It is true that all batteries present risks to safety, however, we use them frequently in our day-to-day lives. Only when they short-circuit or overheat do they become a significant safety concern. During the summer, the chances of batteries overheating in objects like cell phones and other portable electronics increase. In lithium-ion batteries in particular, their lithium-ion cells can reach a maximum temperature as a result of damage, overcharging, or overheating, which causes the battery to begin releasing heat. In recent years, stories detailing cell phones and hoverboards catching fire in the heat could frequently be found in the news. According to the United States Postal Service, lithium batteries are categorized as Class 9, which involves miscellaneous hazardous materials that only present dangers during transportation.

Preventing Lithium Battery Fires This Summer

Because lithium and lithium-ion batteries are utilized in many everyday electronics, including cell phones, laptops, and even electric toothbrushes, fire safety involving these types of batteries is critical. With temperatures heating up this summer, electronics can easily overheat. Therefore, be sure to avoid leaving electronics in a hot car for extended periods of time. Additionally, an unwanted fire can be prevented by making sure not to charge electronics in the heat. When charging your electronics, having a reputable and reliable charger can decrease the risk of a fire. Lastly, it may be beneficial to protect your phone and its lithium battery with a high-quality, strong phone case in order to prevent damage to the battery that might ignite fire. 

Have You Experienced Fire Damage? Call SERVPRO 

Electronics that use lithium and lithium-ion batteries can be used safely and fires resulting from either are rare. However, the unexpected can happen, which is why it is advantageous to be prepared for anything and we here at SERVPRO of Hunt Valley and Harford County are ready to help. In the event that your home or business experiences fire damage resulting from a battery or any other source, you can call us at (410) 229-0012 for an immediate response. We offer Fire Damage Restoration Services and Commercial Fire Damage Restoration Services that fit any scenario so that normalcy can be restored as soon as possible. Be sure to also check out our Caring for Your Belongings page specific to fire damage, as we provide various services, such as electronic cleanup for television sets, computers, and more that may be affected by lithium battery malfunctions.