The Challenges and Solutions of Explosion Control

The Increase of Lithium-Ion Battery Storage

In recent years, as E-bikes and electric scooters have become more publicly accessible, the market has seen a humungous surge in the usage and production of Lithium-Ion Batteries. Powerful in their own right, they also present a wide variety of problems regarding storage and proper care. Lithium-ion batteries must be stored correctly, to avoid a potential fire or explosion event. Recently, as of writing this article, there has been a wide variety of life-taking fires which have taken place all over the world, with entire marketplaces and structures being destroyed, more information on these incidents can be found at Fire Middle East Magazine. 

Explosion Control

In an explosion event, involving a Lithium-Ion Battery as the cause, the battery is usually improperly stored, damaged, or has overheated in major capacity, resulting in thermal runaway, causing the leaking and trapping of flammable gases composed of hydrogen, hydrocarbons (e.g. methane, ethylene, etc.), carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

To counter these, rules and regulations demand that there be both active and passive fire protections in place to react when an energy-storage device using a Lithium-Ion battery reaches its capacity. One such example of passive fire protection is the deflagration venting which is kept in place, allowing heat to quickly vent out of any contained areas. An active example of passive fire protection effective against Lithium-Ion Battery explosions is the usage of mechanical exhaust ventilation, and diffusing combustible concentration reduction.

The Challenges

There are, however, outstanding issues with Energy Storage Systems (ESS) remain.

There are significant technical gaps in the application of NFPA 68 and NFPA 69 for energy storage system (ESS) containers that must be addressed. To enhance safety, a redundant approach is essential. While passive protection offers a nearly maintenance-free solution, the prescriptive calculation methodology for deflagration vent design in NFPA 68 is not fully applicable to ESS designs. Furthermore, active systems outlined in NFPA 69, such as mechanical exhaust ventilation, are widely utilized in the ESS industry. However, these systems are typically based on insufficient test data and engineering analyses that rely on questionable assumptions about failure event progression. It is crucial to recognize these limitations and take appropriate measures to ensure safety.

Jensen Hughes at the Fire Middle East Conference 2025

At The Fire Middle East Conference, there are multiple panels and discussions focused on the evolution of rules and regulations and looking at how modern codes and compliance regulations factor into the increase in the presence of lithium-ion batteries. One such company, silver sponsor of the Fire Middle East Conference, Jensen Hughes is positioned to helm this discussion at the Fire Middle East Conference 2025 – which is designed to tackle the most pressing issues currently facing the Fire and Safety Industry.

Explosion control is becoming increasingly important due to the evolving offerings in the market. Therefore, it is essential to engage in discussions on this topic. Join the conversation at the Fire Middle East Conference 2025, taking place on the 14th May 2025.

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