Fire departments need data, research, and better training to deal with energy storage system (ESS) hazards. These are the key findings shared by UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) and presented by Sean DeCrane, International Association of Fire Fighters Director of Health and Safety Operational Services at SEAC’s May 2023 General Meeting.
Recommendation: Research and testing on fire suppression and explosion prevention systems for lithium-ion battery ESS should address project sites over an extended period of time.
In addition, you can join a SEAC working group, including the Storage Fire Detection working group and the ESS Standards working group, that’s working to improve fire safety with ESS. Lastly, join SEAC for a virtual workshop on safety and risk considerations when permitting ESS.
Dr Knibbe said large-scale battery storage site fires like the Bouldercombe incident were rare and more were caused by products like electric vehicles and scooters. "We've seen more fires in those kinds of systems, which are a lot smaller and there's a lot more operators," she said.
So far this year, lithium batteries have caused at least 98 fires, according to data from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES). Last year, the batteries caused 108 fires. An investigation is underway after a blaze at one of Queensland's first large-scale battery storage sites on Tuesday night.