SafeQuip, a leader in innovative fire safety solutions in South Africa, is spearheading effective lithium fire extinguisher solutions in the country.
With the use of lithium-ion batteries increasing in many types of portable devices and battery storage solutions, lithium-ion battery fires have emerged as a growing risk worldwide. In South Africa, as the country progresses towards greener energy solutions and increased off-grid power system installations, the same challenges arise.
Stakeholders, including insurance providers and fire departments, are taking proactive measures to address the rising risks of lithium-ion fires.
Pierre Malherbe, Managing Director of SafeQuip says, “Without a fire class structure in place for lithium-ion batteries and due to the severe risk posed by thermal runaway in the batteries, risk mitigation and the use of tools that are available to combat these fires effectively is being discussed and documented across all sectors globally. As more knowledge is shared and standards and protocols are being developed, it is important to verify and test the ability of products to combat, suppress and prevent re-ignition of lithium-ion battery fires effectively.”
Currently, many products are being developed and marketed in this field, Malherbe says, and it is important that each new product has been correctly certified and verified according to the local regulations, standards, and test protocols. He emphasises that as part of this verification, as well as testing the product’s effectiveness in suppression and extinguishing, effective prevention of re-ignition should also be tested. Independent testing has shown that although many products can suppress and/or extinguish a lithium fire they are not always effective in preventing re-ignition and this can happen after minutes, hours or even days if the agent used is not fully effective.
SafeQuip has been working with AVD Lithex over the past three years to address this critical issue.
This partnership journey has involved advocating amendments to the SANS 1910 standard to enable the use of water-based extinguishing agents – a milestone achieved when the revised standard was published in November 2022.
Subsequently, SafeQuip submitted product samples to BSI and has worked steadily towards certification through much of 2023. Once it has certification in place, SafeQuip will offer the only SANS 1910-approved fire extinguisher with lithium fire extinguishing capabilities in South Africa.
AVD Lithex holds approvals in several countries and carries well-recognised certifications, including BSI certification, the CE mark, EN 3.7 approval, Apergaz module B approval, NTA 8133 KIWA test, and tests with UL are ongoing. This positions SafeQuip’s product as inherently compliant with the requirements in South Africa for safe equipment. Based on vermiculite, the patented technology distinguishes the SafeQuip product from others on the market. It boasts three critical features in combatting lithium-ion battery fires: cooling and encapsulation, preventing propagation, and preventing re-ignition.
Although various products, such as water mist and gel-based media, are claimed to suppress fires effectively, the final test lies in the prevention of re-ignition. SafeQuip’s lithium fire extinguisher has met this stringent criterion, having successfully passed the KIWA test, which is recognised internationally as a key indicator of re-ignition prevention.
AVD Lithex has extended its groundbreaking technology to fire blankets, creating a versatile blanket that can withstand temperatures above 1 000°C – a valuable tool for containing fires until they self-extinguish.
The South African Qualification and Certification Committee (SAQCC) rightly asserts that currently, no lithium fire extinguisher in South Africa complies with SANS 1910 and none should be serviced. However, SafeQuip is leading the way to deliver a SANS 1910-approved fire extinguisher with lithium fire extinguishing capabilities, which will be a significant development for the South African market.
SafeQuip and AVD Lithex are committed to advancing fire safety standards in South Africa and globally, ensuring that the risk of lithium fires is mitigated effectively.
For more information visit: www.safequip.co.za
