Responding to Battery Events
Thermal Event
In the unlikely event that a battery is involved in a thermal event, your primary concern should be your own safety and the safety of those around you.
Important!
Prevent thermal events
The most effective way to prevent a lithium-ion/polymer battery thermal event is to discharge the battery prior to opening the device or otherwise working on or near the battery. (A battery with a state of charge less than 25% will be unable to produce a thermal event.)
Important!
If a battery begins to smoke, emit sparks or soot, or if you hear hissing or popping sounds, the battery is most likely undergoing thermal runaway. The most effective way to stop the reaction and prevent further smoke is by smothering it IMMEDIATELY with plenty of clean, dry sand, dumped all at once.
Do not attempt to use water or an ABC/CO2 fire extinguisher on a thermal runaway battery, as these will not be effective at stopping the reaction, and will make a bigger mess to clean up afterwards.
Response
Immediately upon noticing that a battery thermal event is occurring, pour all the sand, all at once, over the battery to cover it completely, smothering the reaction and limiting smoke produced. Timing is critical; the faster you pour all the sand, the faster the thermal runaway will stop.
If sand is not used, the thermal reaction is self-limiting and should extinguish itself in under 30 seconds. Smoke may continue to be emitted from the battery for up to a minute longer.
Leave the room for 30 minutes, if necessary for comfort. Meanwhile, let the cell rest during that time.
Once the reaction has been smothered and the battery has had time to cool (~30 minutes), put on heat-resistant gloves and safety glasses.
Remove the product and any debris from the sand. Place the item(s) into the fire-proof safety cabinet for a minimum of 2 hours.
If employees are injured or were exposed as a result of the thermal event, notify your company's management.
Sweep up sand. Pour it back into dispenser for reuse. Add more sand to refill the dispenser, if necessary.
Wipe down the affected area with water. Use an ESD mat cleaning solution on the affected area.
Dispose of compromised batteries (including any debris removed from sand) according to your usual waste or recycling protocols. See “Return/Recycle Procedures” in this training course.
Order more sand from your regional supply vendor.