Fire risk education key goal of lithium-ion battery podcast

Upcoming IFSEC Insider Podcast mini-series on lithium-ion batteries will aim to raise awareness of their fire risk.

Matt Humby (pictured), Senior Technical Consultant at Firechief Global, and an expert on the topic, will join SHP Editor Mark Glover on the IFSEC Insider Podcast for a special three-part mini-series to talk about the risks associated with the ubiquitous resource.

Lithium’s use in rechargeable batteries is common among laptops, mobile phones and electric vehicles and is seen as a key component as the world eyes a green energy transition from fossil fuels.

However, despite the batteries’ obvious advantages, a lack of awareness exists around their fire risks. A survey of over 500 UK organisations revealed that only 85% have risk assessments for lithium-ion batteries (LIBS) on-site; a statistic that concerns Humby, who says building awareness is a goal of the forthcoming podcast.

“This is a great way for us at Firechief Global to provide vital education on this emerging fire risk. There is a need to understand LIBs, respect them, and how we are going to recycle them. One EU study suggests 78 million will be thrown away each week.”

The podcasts will cover regulation and standards, and offer an eight-step plan for mitigating risk, among other advice and guidance. It is set to be recorded this month (February) and the three-part mini-series will be released weekly at the beginning of March on SHP and IFSEC Insider.

Fire Safety in 2023 eBook

SHP's sister site, IFSEC Insider has released its annual Fire Safety Report for 2023, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry.

Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.

Plus, explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.

Click here for more information and to view this Fire Safety eBook