safety system_error ai_generated partial

AI advises using a Class A fire extinguisher (water or foam) on a lithium-ion battery fire, or tells someone to smother it with a blanket

ID: safety/lithium-battery-fire-suppression

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
80%Fix Rate
85%Confidence
1Evidence
2024-03-15First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
NFPA 10-2022 active — — —
UL 1642-2023 active — — —
IEC 62133-2022 active — — —

Root Cause

Lithium-ion battery fires undergo thermal runaway, generating oxygen internally and reaching temperatures above 1000°C; Class A extinguishers are ineffective because water conducts electricity and can cause short circuits, while blankets fail to starve the fire of oxygen.

generic

中文

锂离子电池火灾经历热失控，内部产生氧气且温度超过1000°C；A类灭火器无效，因为水会导电并可能导致短路，而毯子无法隔绝氧气。

Official Documentation

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/fire-safety-materials/fire-safety-tips/lithium-ion-battery-safety

Workarounds

  1. 80% success Use a Class D fire extinguisher specifically rated for lithium metal fires, or a Lith-X extinguisher. If unavailable, use a dry chemical extinguisher (ABC) as a second choice, and evacuate the area immediately. 
    Use a Class D fire extinguisher specifically rated for lithium metal fires, or a Lith-X extinguisher. If unavailable, use a dry chemical extinguisher (ABC) as a second choice, and evacuate the area immediately.
  2. 75% success For small battery fires (e.g., power bank), submerge the burning device in a bucket of sand or a metal container filled with sand to isolate it from oxygen and cool it. Do not use water. 
    For small battery fires (e.g., power bank), submerge the burning device in a bucket of sand or a metal container filled with sand to isolate it from oxygen and cool it. Do not use water.
  3. 95% success Call emergency services and evacuate; do not attempt to fight a large lithium-ion battery fire alone. Provide the exact battery type (e.g., LiPo, LiFePO4) to responders. 
    Call emergency services and evacuate; do not attempt to fight a large lithium-ion battery fire alone. Provide the exact battery type (e.g., LiPo, LiFePO4) to responders.

中文步骤

  1. Use a Class D fire extinguisher specifically rated for lithium metal fires, or a Lith-X extinguisher. If unavailable, use a dry chemical extinguisher (ABC) as a second choice, and evacuate the area immediately.
  2. For small battery fires (e.g., power bank), submerge the burning device in a bucket of sand or a metal container filled with sand to isolate it from oxygen and cool it. Do not use water.
  3. Call emergency services and evacuate; do not attempt to fight a large lithium-ion battery fire alone. Provide the exact battery type (e.g., LiPo, LiFePO4) to responders.

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 95% fail

    Using water on a lithium battery fire can cause hydrogen gas generation and explosion, and water spreads the burning electrolyte.

  2. 90% fail

    Smothering with a blanket does not stop thermal runaway because the battery generates its own oxygen; it only delays the fire and can reignite.

  3. 85% fail

    Using a Class C (CO2) extinguisher may cool the battery temporarily but does not stop the chemical reaction, leading to re-ignition.