As Electric Vehicles become more mainstream, it’s important to equip your workshop with the necessary items to be efficient and safe.
It’s thought that EV fires are a common occurrence, but it is more common for a regular combustion engine to catch fire due to the volatile fuel stored onboard.
EV fire are notable due to being severely ferocious, burning hotter than a regular combustion fire would, and potentially for hours, releasing toxic fumes. Once an EV fire starts, it’s extremely hard to stop due to thermal runaway, where a damaged cell combusts and causes another adjacent cell to become unstable, leaving unable to remove the fuel from the source. Arming your workshop with the relevant tools to fight one is hugely important for the safety of the people, but also the building and other vehicles.
Insurance losses
Allianz UK recently warned motor traders on the risks associated with battery fires, especially when the batteries have not been handled properly or potentially damaged, and the implications that could be caused by what seems like a small fire.
With two staggering recent claims, the result of stored EV batteries, safeguarding the staff and protecting the business from financial loss is important.
It is worth noting that whilst EV batteries are often mentioned in battery fires, this is due to the sheer size and output, but any lithium battery can cause devastating consequences, including the portable power tools you might already have around your workshop.
Protocols and regulations
It’s widely recommended that you stay vigilant when dealing with damaged batteries, and implement your own protocols to minimise risks, but also update your fire and safety regulations, adding new fire safety equipment where needed.
A small fire can very easily turn into a large on with fuel and accelerants that are often found in workshop, smart storage and strict procedures can help limit risks around these areas.
Fire safety equipment
Fire blankets aren’t limited to small pan fires when modern technology and materials, but the way in that they’re used follows the same idea. Using them to smother and extinguish fires works by cutting off the oxygen supply and preventing flames from spreading. A risk not usually associated with internal combustion engines is reignition, but as EV fire burn so hot, the fires can appear to spontaneously reignite, even hours later.
Fire Safety Blankets from Bridgehill
Bridgehill are based in Larvik, Norway, and specialise in creating fire-fighting blankets, suitable for even large electric vehicles with their latest Car Pro X that excess the latest standard (DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11).
Constructed using pyroxene or graphite, and a silicone polymer coating, the material can withstand upto 2500 degrees Celsius, allowing the Bridgehill blankets to be used on extreme fires to help smother and extinguish as quickly as possible.
Designed with rugged carry handles, the fire blankets are easily carried to where it’s needed, and easily visible pull straps allow you to cover the entirely of the battery or vehicle. Once covered, leave the blanket in place regardless of if you think the fire has been extinguished, await professional instruction.
The Bridgehill Range
Bridgehill use similar technology across all of their fire blankets, helping match your needs to the potential fire risk allow you to get the right product, whether it be smaller and portable tool lithium batteries, or large electric vehicle batteries.
The latest in the range from Bridgehill is the Car Pro X, specifically designed to withstand extremely hot fires for up to 30 uses, ideal for use in a high-risk environment, even covering large SUV types.
With over 250 blankets installed over 155 customer workshop sites already, and as the EV market grows with one registered every 60 seconds in the UK, it’s certain that you need to safeguard your workshop and your business.
Find out more technical specification on the fire blankets here.
Staff Training
It’s important to make sure you and your team are ready should you be unfortunate discover a workshop fire, ensure you’re confident with the equipment, make a note of where the equipment is stored and who is responsible for maintaining it. With fire blanket wall storage boxes, it’s easy to have the blankets near high-risk areas.
