Lithium-ion battery fires present different challenges from conventional vehicle fires. Damaged battery cells may enter thermal runaway, generating significant amounts of heat and allowing the reaction to spread from one cell to another. Even after visible flames have been suppressed, the battery may remain at a high temperature, creating a risk of re-ignition.
A fire blanket designed for electric vehicles is used to quickly isolate a burning vehicle and limit the impact of the fire on the surrounding environment. Once the vehicle is covered, oxygen supply to external combustion is reduced, helping to suppress flames and limit their spread to nearby vehicles, buildings, or other objects.
The blanket also helps control the incident area and reduce the effects of intense thermal radiation on the surrounding environment.
It is important to understand that the thermal runaway process in a lithium-ion battery does not necessarily require oxygen from the surrounding environment to continue. For this reason, a fire blanket is not a solution that can stop the chemical reaction occurring inside the battery on its own. Its purpose is to isolate the vehicle, suppress external combustion, and help control the spread of fire until firefighters take over the incident and implement further fire management measures.
This solution is particularly relevant in locations where vehicles are parked close together or where the spread of fire could have serious consequences, including underground and multi-storey car parks, electric vehicle charging areas, vehicle repair workshops, car dealerships, logistics centres, ferries, warehouses, and other enclosed or heavily used areas.
A fire blanket can be used not only to respond to an active fire but also as part of advance preparation for situations where the primary objective is to isolate a burning vehicle as quickly as possible and prevent a single incident from spreading to surrounding vehicles, structures, or other assets.
It is a professional fire safety solution that must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the organisation’s established safety procedures, and an assessment of the risks associated with the specific incident.
Does the blanket extinguish a battery fire?
No – it contains the fire and limits spread but does not stop the battery reaction.
|| How many people are needed to deploy it?
Being confirmed with the manufacturer.
