If the smartphone battery smokes or even an electric car catches fire: What should you do? How do you put out the fire? And how do you avoid a battery fire from the start? We asked two experts from the Munich fire department.
How do you delete a burning smartphone or e-scooter battery - for example as in this case? How should you store batteries? Why do batteries burn? What should electric car owners watch out for if they notice a fire in their vehicle? We asked the fire department in Munich.
The answers came from Christian Emrich, head of the "Li-ion storage media" working group of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Berufsfeuerwehren (AGBF) and the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV), and from Felix Menzinger, M.Eng., Fire chief inspector at the district administration department of the City of Munich. Both experts are referred to in the article as "Feuerwehr München".
Is an old, probably completely discharging battery from a smartphone or notebook that has not been switched on for years still a source of danger? Should you remove the battery (as far as possible) if you want to keep the device for a long time, for example in a museum or as a memory?
Fire department Munich: A deeply discharged Li-ion battery may start to react when trying to recharge. However, this statement cannot be generalized, since the batteries can have different structures and chemically different compositions, and the quality of the batteries can differ greatly. Furthermore, the quality of the charger also plays a decisive role here (e.g. original charger or "purchased part"?) And the fact whether a battery is already "damaged". In this context, special reference is made to the respective operating instructions or instructions from the manufacturer.
Removing batteries that are no longer required from devices that are no longer to be used may reduce the likelihood of fire. Special care should be taken to ensure that batteries that are no longer required are properly disposed of (no disposal with normal residual waste / domestic waste).
How big / high is the flame caused by the fire of a battery, for example in an indoor surveillance camera or in a smartphone?
This question cannot be answered in general, since the course of fire of the batteries varies, for example, depending on the basic structure (pouch cell, cylindrical cell, prismatic cell), the chemical composition and the state of charge. In practice, it can be determined that in almost all cases of fire it is not just a matter of reacting the battery, but as a result of the reaction other furnishings can catch fire and the course of the fire in the then prevailing room fire "overlaps" the course of the battery.
How big is the fire hazard from lithium-ion batteries at home?
Feuerwehr München: Basically, with good manufacturing standards, certified charging and cell monitoring systems and proper handling, lithium-ion storage media can be classified as sufficiently safe.
How should you store lithium-ion batteries at home?
Even with the storage of relatively small quantities of lithium-ion storage media that catch fire, the fire can spread very quickly. Burning parts can be thrown around due to the sometimes explosive burning. For this reason, special attention must be paid to the structural partitioning between fire compartments or rooms with stored new and old batteries.
What circumstances lead to a battery fire in smart home devices and smartphones?
There can be different reasons for the ignition of a battery. Mechanical damage, for example, if the smartphone battery falls on the floor, can lead to internal short circuits. Overcharging can lead to electrical wear and tear (electrical stress). And an increase in temperature (thermal stress), for example as a result of a fire, can also lead to battery damage.
Is it really best to extinguish a burning lithium-ion battery with water? So specifically: if a smartphone is on the floor, then pour a bucket of water over it? Or can you smother the fire with a pillow/blanket? Can you use a powder or foam extinguisher?
The extinguishing agent of choice is water. Burning small batteries or small rechargeable batteries should be extinguished with water for as long as possible. At the end of the fire, they must be stored in a container under water until they are handed over to a qualified disposal company.
Asphyxiation using pillows, sand, CO2 or other extinguishing agents does not work because the chemical processes must be cooled. The oxygen that the combustion process needs is already chemically bound in the cells. Therefore "covering / suffocating" the source of the fire does not help.
After extinguishing, the fire brigade monitors the lithium-ion battery, for example with thermal imaging cameras. Since back ignition cannot be ruled out, the battery should be moved to a safe place.
Important: When a lithium-ion battery is burned, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, hydrofluoric acid and heavy metal deposits can develop. Avoid contact and do not inhale the gases.
Regarding operational questions in the household, the recommendation is the same as for any technical device: the operating instructions and instructions of the manufacturer must be followed, because each "battery" is built somewhat differently. Basically, quality is the main factor for security. This starts with the production up to the charger in everyday life.
In general, users should always call the fire brigade via "112" if smoke develops and then take extinguishing measures with water or water or foam fire extinguishers. However, only as far as they do not endanger themselves!
When the electric car burns ...
If an electric car is on fire - can you, as a driver, delete anything yourself? Actually you can only flee and call 112, right?
This question can only be answered in a differentiated way. If there is a fire within the engine compartment or in the passenger compartment, extinguishing measures that are initiated with portable fire extinguishers may lead to success. It must be mentioned here that not every fire of an e-car actually drives the battery in the fire.
In general, users should always call the fire brigade via "112" if smoke develops and then take extinguishing measures with water or water or foam fire extinguishers. However, only as far as they do not endanger themselves!
Is an electric car burning more than a car with an internal combustion engine?
Fire Brigade Munich: No. Certified electric vehicles pose largely comparable dangers to vehicles with other types of drive (fuel, gas). The fire performance is also comparable.
How does the fire department extinguish a burning electric car?
Fire department Munich: electric cars are extinguished with water. If the fire is apparently extinguished, the vehicle battery must be monitored further with a thermal imager in order to be able to counter reignition in good time.
How do you delete a burning smartphone or e-scooter battery - for example as in this case? How should you store batteries? Why do batteries burn? What should electric car owners watch out for if they notice a fire in their vehicle? We asked the fire department in Munich.
The answers came from Christian Emrich, head of the "Li-ion storage media" working group of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Berufsfeuerwehren (AGBF) and the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV), and from Felix Menzinger, M.Eng., Fire chief inspector at the district administration department of the City of Munich. Both experts are referred to in the article as "Feuerwehr München".
Is an old, probably completely discharging battery from a smartphone or notebook that has not been switched on for years still a source of danger? Should you remove the battery (as far as possible) if you want to keep the device for a long time, for example in a museum or as a memory?
Fire department Munich: A deeply discharged Li-ion battery may start to react when trying to recharge. However, this statement cannot be generalized, since the batteries can have different structures and chemically different compositions, and the quality of the batteries can differ greatly. Furthermore, the quality of the charger also plays a decisive role here (e.g. original charger or "purchased part"?) And the fact whether a battery is already "damaged". In this context, special reference is made to the respective operating instructions or instructions from the manufacturer.
Removing batteries that are no longer required from devices that are no longer to be used may reduce the likelihood of fire. Special care should be taken to ensure that batteries that are no longer required are properly disposed of (no disposal with normal residual waste / domestic waste).
How big / high is the flame caused by the fire of a battery, for example in an indoor surveillance camera or in a smartphone?
This question cannot be answered in general, since the course of fire of the batteries varies, for example, depending on the basic structure (pouch cell, cylindrical cell, prismatic cell), the chemical composition and the state of charge. In practice, it can be determined that in almost all cases of fire it is not just a matter of reacting the battery, but as a result of the reaction other furnishings can catch fire and the course of the fire in the then prevailing room fire "overlaps" the course of the battery.
How big is the fire hazard from lithium-ion batteries at home?
Feuerwehr München: Basically, with good manufacturing standards, certified charging and cell monitoring systems and proper handling, lithium-ion storage media can be classified as sufficiently safe.
How should you store lithium-ion batteries at home?
Even with the storage of relatively small quantities of lithium-ion storage media that catch fire, the fire can spread very quickly. Burning parts can be thrown around due to the sometimes explosive burning. For this reason, special attention must be paid to the structural partitioning between fire compartments or rooms with stored new and old batteries.
What circumstances lead to a battery fire in smart home devices and smartphones?
There can be different reasons for the ignition of a battery. Mechanical damage, for example, if the smartphone battery falls on the floor, can lead to internal short circuits. Overcharging can lead to electrical wear and tear (electrical stress). And an increase in temperature (thermal stress), for example as a result of a fire, can also lead to battery damage.
Is it really best to extinguish a burning lithium-ion battery with water? So specifically: if a smartphone is on the floor, then pour a bucket of water over it? Or can you smother the fire with a pillow/blanket? Can you use a powder or foam extinguisher?
The extinguishing agent of choice is water. Burning small batteries or small rechargeable batteries should be extinguished with water for as long as possible. At the end of the fire, they must be stored in a container under water until they are handed over to a qualified disposal company.
Asphyxiation using pillows, sand, CO2 or other extinguishing agents does not work because the chemical processes must be cooled. The oxygen that the combustion process needs is already chemically bound in the cells. Therefore "covering / suffocating" the source of the fire does not help.
After extinguishing, the fire brigade monitors the lithium-ion battery, for example with thermal imaging cameras. Since back ignition cannot be ruled out, the battery should be moved to a safe place.
Important: When a lithium-ion battery is burned, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, hydrofluoric acid and heavy metal deposits can develop. Avoid contact and do not inhale the gases.
Regarding operational questions in the household, the recommendation is the same as for any technical device: the operating instructions and instructions of the manufacturer must be followed, because each "battery" is built somewhat differently. Basically, quality is the main factor for security. This starts with the production up to the charger in everyday life.
In general, users should always call the fire brigade via "112" if smoke develops and then take extinguishing measures with water or water or foam fire extinguishers. However, only as far as they do not endanger themselves!
When the electric car burns ...
If an electric car is on fire - can you, as a driver, delete anything yourself? Actually you can only flee and call 112, right?
This question can only be answered in a differentiated way. If there is a fire within the engine compartment or in the passenger compartment, extinguishing measures that are initiated with portable fire extinguishers may lead to success. It must be mentioned here that not every fire of an e-car actually drives the battery in the fire.
In general, users should always call the fire brigade via "112" if smoke develops and then take extinguishing measures with water or water or foam fire extinguishers. However, only as far as they do not endanger themselves!
Is an electric car burning more than a car with an internal combustion engine?
Fire Brigade Munich: No. Certified electric vehicles pose largely comparable dangers to vehicles with other types of drive (fuel, gas). The fire performance is also comparable.
How does the fire department extinguish a burning electric car?
Fire department Munich: electric cars are extinguished with water. If the fire is apparently extinguished, the vehicle battery must be monitored further with a thermal imager in order to be able to counter reignition in good time.
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