Battery fires have grown significantly in the last decade. Lithium-ion batteries are potentially the most dangerous, as they are the most prone to overheating and thermal runaways. Unfortunately, most electronics today contain them. Battery fires have replaced electrical fires as the number one cause of fire and are becoming more prevalent since the rise of electric vehicles, especially in large cities. New York City and San Francisco fire departments have reported handling over 660 fires involving lithium-ion batteries during the last five years.
How Battery Fires Spark from Electronics
All batteries store chemical energy, which means any type of battery has the potential to be dangerous if mishandled. Lithium-ion batteries are more prone to overheating, the primary cause of battery fires. LIBs are in everything from smartwatches and earbuds to electric vehicles and scooters. Fires occur during a thermal runaway, which is caused by several things including overheating, electrical damage, and physical damage that punctures the battery. Overheating is a common occurrence and can happen simply by leaving a device in the wrong place at the wrong time. LIBs cause chemical fires, which are more difficult than regular fires to extinguish, and can even reignite hours or days later. For this reason, it is extremely important to take precautions. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent battery fires.
Avoid Battery Fires By:
- Avoid leaving electronic devices near an open window during severe temperatures.
- If a device starts to get warm, stop using it until it cools.
- Take care not to drop any device or damage it in any way that may puncture the batter.
- Use surge protectors to prevent electrical damage during a power surge.
- Avoid leaving any devices in a car for extended periods of time.
- Regularly clean out ports that may collect hair or dust partials over time and prevent airflow.
Partner with an ITAD Provider for Responsible Disposal
Battery fires can occur at home as well as in the office, but partnering with an ITAD provider can help prevent incidents from occurring with safe, efficient IT asset management and disposition. When IT assets are retired, they often end up piled in storage closets, where they can gather dust and over heat due to restricted ventilation and poor storage. It is common to store laptops on top of one another, but heat from one device can conduct the heat of another in close proximity such as stacking, and lead to overheating. Another thing to consider is when electronics containing LIBs overheat and catch fire, they cause a chain reaction to any other batteries nearby. ITAD providers offer responsible end-of-use services, including safe storage, data security, customized reverse logistics solutions, remarketing opportunities with battery removal, material recovery, and e-recycling.
IT asset disposition facilities like HOBI are trained in battery removal and dispose of lithium-ion batteries in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. With more than 30 years in the industry, HOBI is a premiere IT asset management and disposition enterprise focusing on mitigating environmental liability via electronic recycling. HOBI prioritizes employee and asset safety with safe, efficient storage that prevents heat damage.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.