Sarah Peeters, Wear to be Safe
Hank Zieverink, Wear to be Safe, PPE Factory
Across several industries, the use of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries has increased significantly in recent years, thanks to their high energy density, long service life, and efficiency. In mission-critical sectors such as transportation, data centers, and hospitals, Li-ion batteries are playing an increasingly important role. However, that growth also brings risks.
Shocks, punctures, overheating, or internal defects can lead to short circuits and chain reactions in which the battery spontaneously ignites — potentially setting off other batteries as well. In such events, substances (such as fluorine compounds) can be released that are hazardous to people as well as equipment.
Another complicating factor: lithium fires are difficult to extinguish with conventional means. Special extinguishing agents or inert gases are often used. Li-ion batteries contain flammable electrolytes and produce their own oxygen through chemical decomposition. This means a battery can continue to smoulder internally and even heat up without any external air supply. Even when visible flames have been extinguished, the internal chemical reaction can continue without external oxygen. Once the battery is exposed to air again (for example, when a cabinet or container is opened), there may suddenly be enough oxygen to reignite materials. Such re-ignition can occur minutes to hours after the initial fire.
The Wear to be Safe approach focuses on three core principles:
- Physical compartmentalisation
- Safe transportation
- Hazard control
Batteries are placed in fire-resistant compartments, enabling safe and responsible transportation. If a fire does occur, it can be contained and allowed to burn out in a location where the risk to people and equipment is minimal.
If you can isolate and remove a battery at an early stage, you may avoid evacuating an entire factory, data center, or hospital wing. Preventing water damage or contamination also reduces downtime and protects equipment. If only a single cell is affected, you might preserve the rest of the system. In addition, post-incident analysis becomes easier.
There is no optimal solution for every case — the best approach varies per situation. That’s why a customised solution is essential. In some cases, each individual battery must be wrapped in fire-retardant material. In other cases, it is more efficient to compartmentalise an entire module or larger installation as one unit. Many DIY stores have collection bins filled with discarded devices containing batteries. Drop a damaged power drill in too forcefully, and you could trigger a chain reaction. By placing these collection points in a fireproof container, you can significantly reduce risk.
Practical safety, based on knowledge and experience
No matter how careful you are, handling batteries always carries a risk of malfunction or defect. You can calculate, test, and optimise everything, achieving a high level of safety. But you can never entirely eliminate risk. In practice, it’s about how you manage those risks and prevent an incident from escalating into a disaster. Speed plays a major role here: the sooner you can intervene, the more you can limit damage. When something goes wrong, every second counts — but in moments like these, stress, panic, or uncertainty often take over.
That’s why we ensure our solutions are simple to understand and use — even for people who may not be thinking clearly or are unsure at a given moment. It’s good to have a fire blanket that meets prescribed standards, but for us that’s not enough. We make sure that the blanket is lightweight and easy to handle, too — for example, allowing you to cover a burning car within 30 seconds.
The focus should not be solely on fighting danger in the moment, but on the overall picture: logistics before an incident, how a product is stored or transported, and what happens after an incident. This broader perspective is reflected not only in our products but also in the packaging and the instructions provided.
By visiting sites, analysing emergencies, and speaking with people, we learn — and we immediately incorporate those insights into our products. A good product is only truly good if it is immediately understandable and can be used without hesitation.