Managing Director @ CorpAcuity Ltd | CMIOSH, MCIEH, Fractional Health and Safety Director, Risk Management Consultant
Electric vehicles (EVs) pose a unique challenge in the event of a fire. Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in EVs, are highly flammable and can cause a fire that is difficult to extinguish. In fact, lithium-ion battery fires are almost impossible to put out. The fire can be complex and often heralded by a highly toxic vapour cloud accompanied by a hissing noise and highly directional jets, followed, possibly, by an explosion. Firefighters generally use immense quantities of water to cool the battery pack (although this won’t prevent fire erupting again), a fire blanket to suppress the flames and breathing equipment for the fire fighters to protect them from the toxic vapour cloud. Either that or simply let the blaze burn itself out. Attempting to suffocate the fire with inert gases is ineffective because, being a chemical blaze, it does not require oxygen. After containment, the burnt-out EV must be removed and deposited in a compound away from buildings and other vehicles. More radical steps include immersing the car in water, although not sea water because chlorine gas can be released. EV fires are rare and occur at a rate of about one per 20 million miles driven, compared with one fire per 19 million miles driven for gasoline vehicles. However, as more electric cars take to roads, attention is turning to their safety, in particular fire safety. This affects insurance costs.
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"The Terminal Car Park 2 [at Luton Airport, London] suffered a 'significant structural collapse', Bedfordshire Fire Service says." It can be added that four firefighters and a member of airport staff were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. It is clear that the design assumption of only one or two fire burning has to be revisited. Cars are larger and have more fuel load than before, and the parking spaces have become smaller. This enhances the probability of fire spread between vehicles Similarly to the Sola Airport fire in Norway, there was a collapse. Was this car park also designed for 15 minute structural fire resistance? See comments for resources and reports on car park fire safety. #sustainability #fireprotection #firefighting Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service #sustainableconstruction #firesafety #ev #emergencyresponse Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) NFPA
Peter Minto
10mo
I agree with most of your comments regarding electric vehicles Andrew. I worked with Lotus on advising them how to keep their workforce at their R &D base safe when working, building and testing these packs. There is a gradual public realisation of what the hazards are with such energy sources. However, I think the film from the Luton airport car fire truly indicates the problems of storing a large accumulation of petrol tanks close together (especially around a nice supply of rubber tyres). Take the Mont Blanc tunnel disaster as an extreme example of this. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Blanc_Tunnel_fire
Mark Ardron
10mo
It was started by a Diesel car?
SHEQ & Sustainability Director
10moGet your point, but why post this fire in relation to EVs when the fire was a diesel Range Rover. 🤷🏻