Fire hazard from home batteries: Risks, Guidelines, and 5 Safety Tips Fire hazard from home batteries: Risks, Guidelines, and 5 Safety Tips

In this blog, you’ll learn about the risks associated with home batteries, the current guidelines in the Netherlands, how to better protect your home, and 5 practical safety tips. Most home batteries use lithium-ion technology. If damaged, defective, or installed incorrectly, these batteries can experience what’s known as thermal runaway.

This is a dangerous chain reaction in which the battery:

• Very high temperatures were reached
• Difficult to extinguish is
• Produces toxic gases
• It could flare up again

A battery fire often develops quickly and unpredictably. As a result, it poses a serious risk in homes.

By taking the right precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk:

1. Never place the battery in an emergency exit. A battery stored under the stairs or in the hallway could block your only escape route in the event of a fire. Always choose a safe, separate location.
2. Make sure there is a safe escape route. For example, use a LFIM Kit (Lithium Fire Intervention Module) to safely escape a Li-Ion fire.
3. Use an appropriate fire extinguisher. Not every fire extinguisher is effective against lithium fires. Choose a fire suppression solution that is specifically designed for batteries.
4. Keep an EV fire blanket within reach. A fire blanket specifically designed for Li-ion fires can help contain a fire in its early stages and prevent it from spreading.
5. Choose automatic fire protection. An automatic fire suppression system detects and extinguishes fires at an early stage, without requiring you to take any action.

Although specific legislation is still being developed, there are clear guidelines from fire departments, installers, and insurers.

• It is best not to install a home battery in living areas
• Avoid placing items in escape routes such as hallways and stairwells
• Choose a separate utility room, garage, or outdoor installation

• Have the installation performed by a certified installer
• Use only certified systems and components

• Ensure adequate ventilation
• Equip the space with fire detection and fire extinguishing equipment
• Take into account fire-resistant materials and the distance from other objects

Unfortunately, in practice, we see that batteries are often placed in unsafe locations, with all the risks that entails.

The growth in the use of home batteries brings with it a new type of fire hazard. Many consumers are still not sufficiently aware of this.

At Liiontek, we have been working on lithium safety for years. Based on current trends, we expect an increase in residential fires caused by battery systems in the coming years. That is precisely why it is important to take action now.

At Liiontek, we develop innovative solutions to mitigate the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

LFIM kits
Our LFIM kits are specially designed to safely evacuate in the event of a battery fire and prevent permanent damage to the respiratory tract.

Automated Fire Extinguishers
Our automatic fire suppression systems respond immediately when a fire breaks out. This is essential for batteries, where seconds can make all the difference.

Home batteries are an important step toward a more sustainable energy system. But without the proper safety measures, they can also pose a serious risk. By taking installation, placement, and fire safety into account, you can better protect your home.

Liiontek specializes exclusively in Li-Ion fire prevention, suppression, and control systems. As true Li-Ion specialists, we have a solution for every possible problem; every solution is readily available from us, often in stock.

Would you like to learn more about safe home battery solutions? Contact Liiontek or discover our LFIM kits and fire blankets.