Lithium-ion batteries in the workplace: Safety and storage

Table of Contents

1. Ensuring Battery Safety with Lithium-Ion Technology
2. Identify Hazards and Ensure Battery Safety with Lithium-Ion Batteries
3. How can you safely store lithium-ion batteries?
4. Responsibilities as a Building Owner
5. Staying Up to Date with Battery Safety

Ensuring Battery Safety with Lithium-Ion Technology

You can find lithium-ion batteries in a growing number of products, including automobiles, power tools, vacuums, E-Bikes, E-Scooters, portable electronics, and energy storage systems for buildings. These batteries are efficient because their rechargeable qualities classify them as “secondary” batteries, unlike “primary” batteries, which can only be used until they are depleted. As more and more day-to-day items turn to this type of energy storage system, let’s identify some of the concerns and controls.

Identify Hazards and Ensure Battery Safety with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Two typical fire hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries include:

• “Thermal Runaway”—the rapid self-heating of a cell that results in an exothermic reaction (release of stored energy). The extent of this exposure will depend on a battery’s state of charge (SOC), cell capacity and cell chemistry as not all lithium-ion batteries use the same materials and electrolyte volume.
• The ignitable electrolyte in this type of battery also poses a risk. The electrolyte in primary batteries like nickel or lead acid batteries is not ignitable.

Lithium-ion batteries are more likely to cause fires during the charging stage or immediately after they are fully charged. This often happens due to mechanical failure from a damaged battery pack or inadequate ventilation. When stored, lithium-ion batteries can fail due to external sources, such as excessive heat from fire leading to thermal runaway, or from mechanical damage caused by impacts, like collisions with a forklift or being dropped.

How can you Safely Store Lithium-Ion Batteries?

To reduce the risk of a battery catching fire or exploding, maintain these best practices in your workplace:

1. Limit batteries in storage to approximately 30% State-of-Charge (SOC).
2. Install in-rack sprinklers to prevent thermal runaway occurring as a result of a fire.
3. Verify the health of batteries upon receipt by inspecting them for visible mechanical defects.
4. Routinely inspect batteries using an infrared camera for signs of elevated temperatures which could cause thermal runaway.

Responsibilities as a Building Owner

As the owner of a residential building where tenants store E-Bikes or scooters indoors, take the initiative to educate them about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and proper charging techniques.

According to Jason Ostapeic, Team Lead, Risk Control at Unica, you can prevent many losses involving secondary batteries. “We’ve seen several losses in the commercial sector that happened because of improper use and storage. The use of off-brand lithium-Ion batteries has often been a source of fires in residential homes and apartments, yet these same batteries are being stored or charged in industrial buildings.”

Sharing a few simple tips can significantly reduce fire risks:

• Use only manufacturer-approved and CSA certified chargers and batteries.
• Charge lithium-ion batteries at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.
• Charge batteries or use devices on hard surfaces, like tabletops or floors; soft surfaces can trap heat and lead to fires.

Commercial building owners operating warehouses or retail plazas should also stay vigilant and promote awareness of proper care and safety. This is especially important for businesses storing inventories of E-Bikes and other devices powered by lithium-ion batteries or retailers stocking these items in-house.

Staying Up to Date with Battery Safety

There is ongoing research on lithium-ion batteries by the National Fire Protection Association and other safety groups. As the usage and technology around these secondary batteries continues to transform, it’s important to stay educated on their associated risks and practices.

For additional information on lithium-ion battery safety, please visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

To protect your business, seek advice from a broker and ask about Unica’s Commercial Building Owners Coverage™. Unica’s Commercial Building Owners Coverage bundles protection for your physical assets, business income, liability, and employees. It offers comprehensive protection so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your investment is backed by Unica’s best-in-class service.

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