Emergency Contact Fire safety - lithium cells and batteries Home Latest updates News Fire safety - lithium cells and batteries 13 Jun 2022 Download Sign up for alerts The Club would like to thank John Gow, Technical Director for Marine and Senior Investigator at Jensen Hughes – Forensics, for his invaluable contribution to this article. Lithium batteries are used in many devices including e-cigarettes, mobile phones, portable appliances, handheld radios, tools and yacht toys. Batteries of this type are very sensitive to high temperatures and the effects of physical damage. They are inherently flammable and can rapidly degrade.  If a lithium-ion battery pack fails, it can burst into flames and can cause significant damage and injury. There are multiple reasons why failure can occur, including manufacturing defects or design flaws. However, these factors are out with the control of the user. Other reasons that batteries can catch fire are: IMPROPER USAGE: storing or placing batteries adjacent to heat sources or naked flames can cause the battery to fail, sometimes with explosive effects. Physical damage such as puncturing, pinching, compression of the casing can induce a sudden rise in temperature with eventual failure also resulting in fire. COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS: The use of counterfeit batteries and chargers can increase the chances of failure as they often do not conform to the design and safety standards required to minimise the risk of fire. CHARGING ISSUES: Overcharging or charging at the incorrect rate – for example if the wrong charger is used. Members can reduce the risk of fire by following these simple rules: Buy from a reputable manufacturer or reseller. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Requesting a copy of the shipper’s Statement of Compliance may be a useful due diligence measure. Register your device with the manufacturer to ensure notification of product recalls. Do not leave adjacent to, or on heat sources. Do not use, or ship, batte