Raising awareness on lithium-ion battery fires

November 1, 2024

As anticipation builds for the upcoming Anticipate London event, Matt Humby, Senior Technical Consultant at Firechief Global, is preparing to share critical insights into the fire risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. Speaking ahead of his session at the event, scheduled for 2-4 December 2024, Humby underscored the pressing need to address the increasing number of incidents involving these batteries and the gaps in both regulation and insurance acknowledgement.

The scale of the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries has become alarmingly evident, with several high-profile fires bringing the issue into sharp focus. One particularly tragic incident, which remains vivid in Humby’s mind, took place in South Korea earlier this year. “Sadly, we have seen a number of lithium-ion battery fires this year, but the one that stands out for me is a fire in South Korea where a number of batteries exploded in a factory killing 23 people,” Humby noted. “It highlights the need that we need to take this very seriously and we must have safety procedures in place to mitigate against the risk.”

The insurance industry has been slower to classify lithium-ion batteries as a definitive fire risk. While significant strides are now being made, Humby explains that the journey to full acceptance and proactive prevention is ongoing. “We are now engaging with insurance companies, and they are now agreeing that this is not an ‘emerging’ fire risk but a fire risk, and have started to implement safety documents, which is great,” he said. Firechief Global remains committed to aiding in this transition, supporting both insurers and stakeholders in understanding and mitigating the dangers of lithium-ion battery fires.

In terms of legislative progress, there remains much to be done, although promising steps are emerging. “Yes, we are still waiting for change, but things are starting to happen,” said Humby. He expressed optimism for the Electrical Safety Bill, which Firechief Global supports and hopes will come into force in 2025, saying, “I’m hoping that in 2025 we will see improvements, but until then, we will continue to push for education around the topics.”

As he looks forward to Anticipate London, Humby shared his enthusiasm for engaging with both existing and new connections. With a larger stand this year showcasing new products specifically designed to address lithium-ion battery safety, Humby is eager to share Firechief’s advancements. “It’s going to be brilliant! Engaging with new contacts, current customers. We’re going to have a bigger stand with new products around lithium-ion battery safety – and I’m speaking! I can’t wait!”

Through these discussions and industry engagements, Humby and Firechief Global are set on leading the charge in not only increasing awareness of lithium-ion battery risks but also in driving tangible change across insurance, safety, and legislative spheres.

To read the full article, see our last issue here.