{"id":209840,"date":"2022-11-22T10:35:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T15:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/facilities\/?p=209840"},"modified":"2022-11-22T10:45:52","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T15:45:52","slug":"fire-safety-advisory-lithium-ion-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/facilities\/2022\/11\/22\/fire-safety-advisory-lithium-ion-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Fire Safety Advisory: Lithium-Ion Batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) is the most popular rechargeable battery used today. \u00a0They are commonly found in cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric cars, and scooters\/bikes. This type of battery is low maintenance, has no memory and no scheduled cycling required to prolong the battery’s life.<\/p>\n

Despite the many advantages associated with the lithium-ion battery, there are drawbacks. One of the most dangerous being the all too real possibility that these batteries can overheat, catch fire, and in extreme cases explode. This is normally caused from \u201cthermal runaway.\u201d Thermal runaway is when the temperature inside the battery reaches the point that causes a chemical reaction. \u00a0Energy stored in the battery is released very suddenly creating extremely high temperatures and off gassing.<\/p>\n

Fires involving lithium-ion batteries have been increasing at an alarming rate and have resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities. Even when the initial cause of a fire was not the lithium-ion device, the involvement of lithium-ion batteries in a fire can increase the intensity and magnitude of the fire. Recently, a high-profile fire in Manhattan involving lithium-ion batteries required New York City Firefighters to rescue trapped occupants. The firefighters were lowered by a rope and removed the victims out of a window on the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0floor.<\/p>\n

What is the problem:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n