Solar battery fire extinguishers
For solar battery storage systems in homes, businesses and industrial sites
Solar battery storage is everywhere now, from a home battery on the garage wall to large commercial and industrial energy storage. These systems hold a lot of stored energy, and the lithium-ion batteries inside carry a fire risk that ordinary extinguishers are not built to handle. Knowing that before an incident is half the battle.
At Industro, we supply fire safety equipment for commercial facilities, industrial sites and businesses running solar battery storage across Australia. our fire extinguisher range
The risk in a solar battery system
A solar battery stores significant energy in lithium-ion cells, and those cells can enter thermal runaway: an internal chain reaction that builds heat and can lead to smoke, fire, re-ignition and rapid heat generation. As with all lithium battery fires, that makes it a different challenge from ordinary combustible, liquid or electrical fires.
What actually helps
Be clear-eyed about this. A standard CO2 or ABE extinguisher can help with surrounding materials or a small secondary fire, but it will not reliably stop a battery system in thermal runaway. For that, the right approach is specialised lithium battery fire equipment where suitable, isolation of the system, and a proper emergency plan, including evacuating and letting the fire service handle a battery in runaway. See Lithium Battery Fire Extinguishers.
The electrical side of the installation (inverters, wiring, switchboards) is a Class E electrical risk, and the usual CO2 and ABE extinguishers apply there. CO2 fire extinguishers · ABE fire extinguishers
Good practice
- Cover the electrical and surrounding-fire risk with the right extinguishers.
- Have an emergency procedure specific to the battery system.
- Follow the installer's and manufacturer's safety guidance, and your site fire risk assessment.
Related
- Battery risk: Lithium Battery, EV Charging Station fire extinguishers
- The basics: What Fire Extinguisher for Electrical Fires, Electrical Fire Classes Explained
Running solar storage and want the fire safety right? Talk to the team at Industro. get in touch