Following recent reporting of multiple e-bike fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, AFEX Fire Suppression Systems has published an operators guide for battery fire protection best-practice for heavy equipment.
Because battery fires behave differently from diesel fires, AFEX says it is not as simple as choosing a standard fire suppression system and applying it to a battery-powered machine.
In its blog post, the company recommends a multi-step approach, starting with proper optimization of the machine’s battery management system (BMS). The BMS monitors battery health, temperature and voltage. AFEX says first suppression systems should be actuated on a machine’s BMS, rather than relying on off-gassing detection systems.
AFEX also suggests a traditional fire detection as a backup layer. It says methods such as linear wire detection or spot heat sensors can identify heat from a developing fire event. Lastly, liquid cooling agents — as opposed to air or solid-state cooling — are endorsed by the company.
For the full list of of AFEX’s recommendations, visit: https://blog.afexsystems.com/blog/battery-fire-protection-heavy-equipment
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