Chemstore launches Electrovault for safe storage of lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular, not least due to their use in electric vehicles, but there is still some confusion around the safest way to handle and store the technology.

Chemstore managing director, Mike Brodie, explains: "When it comes to lithium-ion battery storage a standard fire-rated unit just won't do, yet we are finding many companies are unaware of this.

"For example, one issue with lithium-ion batteries is the occurrence of thermal runaway; lithium-ion batteries have a narrow operating temperature range of between 15 and 45°C and, if they exceed this limit, a thermal runaway can occur where an increase in temperature changes the conditions in a way that causes a further increase in temperature.

"During a thermal runaway hydrogen fluoride HF, phosphorus pentafluoride (PF5) and phosphoryl fluoride (POF3) are released and studies have shown that using water as a fire suppressant may increase the formation of HF, yet it's not uncommon to find people storing lithium-ion batteries in units with water suppression systems."

The Electrovault units are made to comply with RC61 guidelines for battery storage and can be tailored to suit your specification, whether that is:

    Atex Rated Temperature control

    Atex Rated Humidity Control

    Atex Rated Gas detection systems

    Fire Suppression Systems

   Fire Rated, including all Atex internal electrical components where required

    Atex Lighting

    Remote monitoring systems

    FIFO control operations

    LIFO control operations

    Fire rated and segregated Quarantine areas

    Restricted access control

    Fully automated extraction systems