Lithium-ion Batteries – the Fastest Growing Fire Risk

Should we simply ‘ban’ such products?

It seems that regulation is only a matter of time. The new Labour government has committed to the introduction of a Product Safety and Metrology Bill which it said would enable the UK to “address challenges” caused by technological developments, including the risk of fire “associated by e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries”.

The Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill (the Bill) is currently being considered in the House of Lords at Committee stage and seeks to protect the public by providing regulations relating to the safe storage, sale, use and disposal of lithium-ion batteries. The Bill proposes to impose obligations on sellers, online sales platforms (or marketplaces), manufacturers and local planning authorities. The Bill can be accessed here.

As this is forthcoming, Handsam recommends clients implement appropriate measures as soon as possible and recommends a complete ban on such products should be considered, although clients could wait to see what the new Bill specifies if they feel the need

What are Lithium-ion batteries?

A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that is characterized by higher specific energy and energy density, which allows it to be more energy efficient and have a longer life, but crucially has proven to be far more prone to combust spontaneously.

Following a range of recent incidents, there are further updates on products containing Lithium-ion batteries which clients need to consider. These items are now considered a significant fire risk and all clients should consider how they are managed – or whether they are even allowed on site.

Action to consider taking?

Once you have discussed your approach, policies should be formulated and any items on your site which may contain Lithium-ion batteries should be identified. If they can be removed, then ideally they should be. Communications should then go out to all relevant parties (e.g. staff, parents, students and contractors) to inform them of the banning of any relevant items – for example E-scooters, which, unless hired, are illegal anyway. Regular reminders should also be issued and any such equipment confiscated immediately if it is brought to site if that is the approach chosen.

What are Handsam doing?

We have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of Lithium-ion Batteries and that the Bill is going through parliament hence why you are receiving this email. However, we now recommend that your health and safety policies and fire risk assessments include references to products containing Lithium-ion Batteries and have updated our templates for 2025. For example, Quick Guide 'F05 Managing Fire Risk Arson Risk Audit' now includes a reminder to check for equipment or products containing Lithium-ion Batteries. And consider equipment which contains Lithium-ion batteries such as E-scooters and E-bikes.

We have also updated the Handsam compliance tasklist system to include this. Please note that if your trust have chosen to operate a bespoke tasklist then this will need to be updated separately. The Handsam fire marshal and fire safety awareness courses have also been updated to include awareness of this issue.

What products contain Lithium-ion batteries?

Typically they are found in E-scooters or E-bikes, but with the increased use of electricity replacing oil and gas, the demand for batteries of these types will increase and become more varied.

What are the issues associated with Lithium-ion batteries?

When over-used, damaged or over-charged, equipment powered by Lithium-ion batteries can combust, causing devastating fires. The spotlight on the risks presented by these batteries recently returned to the headlines, with eBay announcing sales restrictions on e-bikes and batteries. As of 31 October 2024, only “eligible business sellers” will be allowed to list them for sale in the UK on that platform, with others expected to follow suit.

This change in policy is centred around prioritising consumer safety in an attempt to reduce the risk of substandard or damaged lithium-ion batteries from entering people’s homes and causing fires. The change in policy comes amid pressure on retailers to regulate the sale of such batteries – particularly following the London Fire Brigade (LFB) declaring e-Bikes and e-Scooters as the “capital’s fastest growing fire risk”, with the LFB revealing there was a 78% increase in e-bike fires in 2023 from 2022. There have been some very significant near misses which have hit the headlines and, in October 2024, a fire caused by a failing lithium battery resulted in 30 people being evacuated from a residential tower-block in East London. It could have been far worse.