If at anytime the swollen battery starts to smoke, do not touch the battery, sound the fire alarm, dial 999 and ask for the Fire Service providing the details, follow the fire procedure and inform Security of your actions. HOW TO DISPOSE OF A SWOLLEN LITHIUM-ION BATTERY.
Damaged lithium batteries can cause serious safety concerns, often resulting in incidents involving fires and explosions. One significant danger associated with lithium batteries is the potential for thermal runaway—a self-oxidising chain reaction that occurs within the battery, generating intense heat and gas.
The devastating consequences of rapidly spreading and often challenging-to-extinguish fires involving lithium-ion batteries have been well-documented in recent months. Recent stories have included fires as a result of electric vehicles (EV) on board ships, and in other parts of the supply chain.
Fortunately, Lithium-ion battery failures are relatively rare, but in the event of a malfunction, they can represent a serious fire risk. When charged, Li-ion cells store a large amount of energy & are especially sensitive to high temperatures & damage, such as penetration & crushing.
Puncturing a swollen lithium-ion battery may lead to fire and explosion. Even if your device still works, if the battery is swollen, the battery must be replaced immediately, using the device or leaving it connected to power can be dangerous.
The hydrogen content of the released gases can give rise to vapour cloud explosion risks which have the potential to cause significant damage. TT advocates a range of measures to mitigate the risks. A prudent starting point would be to perform a fire risk assessment, considering the specific hazards presented by lithium-ion batteries.
If the swollen battery is not smoking and is stored safely you should contact the Sustainability Department [email protected] for disposal advice, the cost of disposing of these batteries …