Lithium Batteries

DO YOU KNOW THE DANGERS?

Lithium Batteries are becoming more and more present in our day-to-day living, including being on your vessel and unfortunately adds another layer of danger and cause of serious incident onboard.  In fact, most boat investigators

As reported in the media, the issue with lithium battery fires in general is that they are difficult to extinguish. In addition with vessel fires, you also have combustible materials onboard which provide further fuel sources once a lithium battery fire takes hold. Often, it’s not until the boat loses buoyancy, floods, and sinks that these boat fires will go out.

Not only will owners lose their vessels with these fires, if it is in a marina when fire breaks out there is also a high likelihood of causing damage to other boats and surrounding marina facilities.

Products that use lithium batteries include cell phones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes, tools, solar power backup storage, camera’s and even onboard systems. 

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are energy-dense and contain material that is highly flammable. The risks and hazards associated with LiBs include fire and explosion, radiation, heat, chemical and electrical.

How do I know if my device has a lithium-ion battery?

_{Image Credit: Nautilis Marine Boat Insurance}

If the battery is rechargeable and has “Li” or “Lithium” printed on it, you can safely assume that it is a lithium-ion battery. Non-rechargeable or disposable lithium batteries, or lithium metal batteries should also be treated with caution as they can expel molten flammable metal and emit toxic gasses during a fire.

How do Lithium-ion batteries catch fire?

There are several situations that can lead to lithium-ion batteries catching fire, including:

• overcharging or use of non-compliant charging equipment
• overheating or exposure to heat or extreme temperatures
• physical abuse (e.g., dropping, crushing, piercing, and/or vibrations)
• short-circuiting, battery cell malfunctions or system faults
• defects or contamination introduced during manufacture.

When LiBs fail, they can undergo thermal runaway. This involves violent bursting of one or multiple battery cells, hissing and release of toxic, flammable and explosive gases, and an intense, self-sustaining fire.

Non-rechargeable or disposable lithium batteries, or lithium metal batteries should also be treated with caution as they can expel molten flammable metal and emit toxic gases during a fire. Small fires involving single use, disposable lithium batteries should be treated as a LiB fire.

How to extinguish a Lithium Battery fire?

You should be aware of your fire procedure onboard and follow this closely.  Each vessel is different. Each crew member is different, bringing different items onboard, therefore it is imperative that crew have the knowledge and understanding to avoid a fire, and in worst case, follow procedures accordingly if needed.

Once the vessel’s engulfed, it’s not just the battery that’s fuelling the fire anymore, it is everything else onboard burning, including other flammables.

F-500 Fire Extinguishers have been approved to AS 1841 and have demonstrated effectiveness on lithium-ion batteries. The 4ltr extinguisher has a red body and does not come with a colour band. The 9ltr version is silver to differentiate it from the rest.

Crew should not expose themselves to potentially life-threatening hazards, including toxic gases, based on a false sense of hope that they can effectively fight a battery fire. 

Do I need to worry?

Since 2017, the ACCC has received 231 product safety reports linked to lithium-ion batteries and has been notified of 23 supplier-initiated product recalls, with 20 recalls due to fire risk from overheating or short-circuiting.

An ACCC national voluntary survey of more than 4000 Australians found 54 per cent of respondents used aftermarket chargers. Many respondents said they leave devices unattended while charging.

WOW! That is a staggering number of people without knowledge on how dangerous they are leaving their devices unattended, without quality chargers and if we combine this with an actual fire onboard, not knowing the procedure could lead to lost lives and business’.

Legal Guidelines in Australia for installation of lithium batteries

There are currently guidelines in Australia and New Zealand for the installation of lithium batteries on your vessel. These are called AS NZ 3004 Standards. Your marine electrician who is installing your new lithium batteries and should be familiar with the requirements of this standard.

Shorlink’s Recommendation

First and foremost is to be very aware of what and where the lithium batteries are onboard, including the crew’s! And following these recommendations:

• Monitor charging times of lithium-ion products and disconnect products from chargers once they are fully charged. Consider setting timers as a reminder to unplug products.
• Keep lithium-ion batteries out of garbage or recycling bins.
• Charge lithium-ion batteries and products away from combustible materials such as beds, sofas or carpet.
• Store batteries and lithium-ion products in cool, dry places and out of direct sunlight, including while charging.
• Do not use batteries, products or chargers that are overheating or showing signs of failure such as swelling, leaking or venting gas.
• Check the charger you are using is suitable for the product being charged and in good condition and not damaged.
• Allow time for batteries to cool after use and before charging.
• In the event of a fire, consumers should contact 000 immediately. For more information on what to do in case of fire or explosion contact your state or territory fire department.

Tip

Check what you have onboard today, and ensure all persons onboard are adhering to the above guidelines to avoid a fire.

You may wish to engage a marine electrician to come onboard and complete a check of all electricals including the lithium batteries are not showing signs of wear and tear.