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TT Club highlights gas risk of Li-batt fires

[ September 7, 2023   //   ]

Insurer TT Club has launched a campaign to highlight the danger of toxic gas emissions from lithium-ion battery fires.  It says that while the risk of fires involving the batteries on board ships, have been well-documented there is less awareness of the highly toxic combustion products that are released. TT Club says that toxic vapour can be emitted within seconds of a fire starting due to thermal runaway.

Drivers, stevedores, ships’ crews and first responders attempting to control the blazes encounter what might appear to be smoke but is in fact a mix of toxic gases. They also behave differently to smoke, their density often leading them to pool at floor level.

Normal procedure in fires is to stay low to avoid smoke inhalation, but with lithium battery fires this could be a problem.

TT advocates providing operatives with full-face self-contained breathing apparatus, and chemical-resistant boots among other protective equipment, as well as drench showers for post-response decontamination. The full report is available at: Lithium batteries whitepaper (ttclub.com)

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