In 2022 Fire and Emergency NZ reported 35 house fires caused by battery charging.  THIRTY FIVE!  Here are some tips to reduce the risk at your home.

All Pervasive Lithium.
Lithium batteries are now in everything from hearing aids and smart phones to Bluetooth speakers, scooters and cars – if it has a charging jack it’s probably Lithium.  Lithium is popular but it’s also relatively dangerous.

If they are so dangerous why use them?
Lithium batteries are a great choice for an Industrial Designer as they have a huge energy density.  You can pack a lot of runtime into a tiny space, and unlike Lead Acid, NiCad and NiMh battery chemistries, LiPo’s (or lithium-ion polymer batteries) can be drawn down to 20% further enhancing runtime.

Thermal Runaway.
The issue with Lithium’s is thermal runaway and this occurs when a Lithium battery gets too hot, it starts to break down and this makes it even hotter creating a self perpetuating destructive cycle that is extremely hard to stop.

How does it happen?
The key reasons thermal runaway occurs are gross battery damage or battery or charger faults.  If you see a bulge on your device, that’s the beginning of the failure of the battery pack – take it to be repaired or get your data off it and dispose of it safely.

Fasten your seatbelts.
If you have heard airline safety messages telling you to press the call button if you drop your phone down the side of the seat, it’s not because they think you’ll get your hand stuck, it’s because smoke and fire from damaged personal electronic devices is now the number one cause of in-air incidents.

If you are packing for a flight and notice a bulge in a device, unplug it and leave it at home.  If you are on a flight and notice bulging or heating, call the flight attendant right away. They will take your device and place it in a thermal bag.

What to do if it happens at home:
1. Get Out and Stay Out: Move away from the smoking/burning battery as quickly as possible.
2. Alert others: Notify those around you of the fire and instruct them to leave the area.
3. Call emergency services: Dial 111 and give them your address and the details of the device and its location, open up your gates and meet them at the letterbox.
4. Handle the battery with caution: If you are able to safely move the battery, use a wet towel, tongs or a fire blanket and avert your eyes as they can explode.  In an apartment drop it in a pot or steel bath, start filling with water and leave.  In a house or building get the battery out a door or window onto a non-flammable surface like the lawn or footpath.
5. Ventilate the area: Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate and clear any fumes that may have accumulated. Ruptured Lithium batteries release toxic gases that are not good for you.
6. Dispose of the battery properly: Lithium batteries should be disposed of at designated recycling centers to avoid environmental damage – All Bunnings stores have a battery recycling box.

Please pass this onto your kids/parents/gadget-head mate and I really hope none of us ever need this information but if you have any questions you can always get us on advice@aa.net.nz

Stay safe!