POWER May 2013 - 22

4. Be aware of new fire risks. Industrial use of Li-ion batteries has
grown substantially over the past few years, but knowledge of appropriate
fire protection agents has not kept pace. Courtesy: Kidde Fire Systems
Table 1. Several fire protection agent options. This table
presents the appropriate fire protection agent and the mixture needed
to suppress a fire involving the most common types of materials found
in Li-ion batteries. Source: Kidde Fire Systems
Materials
Ethyl acetate (%)
DiEthyl carbonatem (%)
DiMethyl carbonate (%)
Ethyl methyl carbonate (%)
Propylene carbonate (%)
Novec 1230 Fire
protection fluid
(FK-5-1-12)
6.2
6.4
6.3
6.6
6.7
FM-200
(HFC-227ea)
8.9
8.5
8.8
NA
NA
Notes: All values are percentage by volume. NA = data not available.
ternal heating. Overheating and overcharging can also result in
a thermal runaway event that can lead to cell rupture and leakage
of combustible electrolytes. Electrolytes are Class B materials
(flammable liquid) and the design concentration should be determined
by test for the particular composition present.
sisting of lithium salts, such as LiPF6
, LiBF4, or LiClO4
in an organic
solvent, such as ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC),
diethyl carbonate (DEC), or ethyl acetate (EA). A liquid electrolyte
allows movement of lithium ions between the cathode and the anode
when a battery passes an electric current through an external circuit.
If overheated or overcharged, Li-ion batteries can suffer internal
mechanical damage, leading to electrical shorting and inFire-Extinguishing
Solutions
Rupture of Li-ion cells may result in the ejection of electrolyte,
a Class B flammable or combustible liquid. Gaseous agents will
extinguish flames due to burning leaked electrolyte but have
little or no effect on mitigating or preventing a thermal runaway
occurring within Li-ion cells. These reactions are internal
to the cell, and although the charging array will likely have
preventative measures incorporated into its design, the reaction
may still occur.
Despite the potential for Class B material discharge, there are
two possible approaches to the use of a gaseous fire suppression
agent for hazards involving Li-ion batteries:
■ Based on a risk assessment, hazard survey, and customer/end
user strategy, protect the space based solely on the Class A
materials present and/or the Class C energy source(s). This
approach chooses not to specifically protect against the Class
B (electrolytic material) contained within the battery, which
would only be introduced into the hazard upon a catastrophic
failure of the battery cell itself.
■ Based on a risk assessment, hazard survey, and customer/end
user strategy, protect the space based on the Class A materials
present, the Class C energy source(s), and the Class B (electrolytic
material). This approach provides protection in the event
that ejection of the electrolyte material occurs, which could
ignite if an ignition source is present.
Cup burner and other tests were completed in accordance with
FSE Energy ensures the success of our
woldwide customer base through the
delivery of the highest quality heat and
energy equipment solutions. Product
details at www.fseenergy.com.
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POWER | May 2013
the requirements and guidelines of NFPA 2001 (2012 edition).
Based on the results of these tests, Kidde Fire Systems has determined
the minimum agent design concentration necessary to
suppress a fire involving some of the most commonly used Class
B compounds found in electrolytes (Table 1).
The growing use of Li-ion batteries in industrial and other
large-scale applications requires an increasing awareness of the
potential fire hazards posed by such batteries and the most effective
fire protection systems to mitigate the risk. ■
-Contributed by Jonathan Ingram, director of product marketing-Kidde
Fire Systems, part of UTC Climate,
Controls & Security.
Argonite
(IG-55)
52.9
52.9
52.9
52.9
52.9
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POWER May 2013

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