Fire safety in your listed property part 2: lithium batteries

By Julie Talbot Insurance Advisor

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Invented in the 1980s, lithium – or lithium-ion – batteries are included in more products than ever. With high energy, low density, and quick charging, it’s easy to see why they’re widely used in everyday items such as mobile phones, garden and camping equipment, home security systems, laptops, smart watches or even pacemakers.

Reasons for their increasing popularity and widespread use include:

Durability: Lithium batteries are very robust (unless they are exposed to risky conditions as stated below)
High energy densities: Lithium-ion batteries have the capacity to hold more power (up to 150 watt-hours of electricity in 1 kg of battery)
Lightweight: They’re not as heavy as conventional batteries
Quick and easy charging: Charging times are quick, and there’s the added benefit that there isn’t the wait for Lithium batteries to discharge from 100 per cent before recharging
Maintenance is low cost: During a time when every penny counts, this is a real advantage

But while lithium batteries boast impressive capabilities, if misused, mistreated, or not properly cared for, they may cause very real, and very damaging consequences. Lithium batteries are highly combustible and may be the root of serious fires that spread rapidly. And when you live in a listed property, repairs caused by fire may cost an awful lot more than in a standard home – especially if you need to use both specialist materials and artisan builders for repairs or rebuilds.

At Abode, we’ve put our top tips together to keep your listed home safe from lithium battery-powered damage.

Close-up of a person riding an electric bike on a sunny day, focusing on the legs, bike frame, and electric motor.

So, where are lithium batteries found?

Lithium batteries can be found in the following items and many more:

Laptops
Tablets
Mobile phones
Security alarm systems
E-cigs
Smart watches
Digital cameras
Power tools
Solar panels
Drones
E-bikes
E-scooters

This list includes things you may use every day and others you may only use on occasion. It’s important to exercise as much caution, no matter the frequency of use.

What are the risks?

Whilst the batteries possess many benefits when it comes to size, weight, and power, they can be volatile and unpredictable.

When mistreated, cells can fail causing a heat reaction. This in turn can cause smoke, fire, and even an explosion.

And here’s something else to consider; the nature of the batteries can mean the fire is often hard to extinguish, allowing the blaze to cause much damage to a user of a device or their beloved home. In extreme cases, owners of lithium battery-powered items – or even those that live in the same block of flats –have been killed by misuse or malfunction.

How to minimise risks

There are several ways to reduce the risk when it comes to using, storing, and charging lithium-powered items.

Vape with lithium battery in jeans pocket

Leading the charge

The first is careful charging. Never leave a lithium battery on charge overnight or for extended periods. They are not designed to be used this way. This applies to the full range of lithium-powered items, including power tools not charged in the house (consider what you keep in your garage or garden shed). Charging outside of the house still runs the risk of major damage – fires can spread quickly and your listed property remains at risk.

In addition, always charge the item with the charger supplied at the time of purchase. if you need to purchase a replacement make sure you do so from reputable suppliers, checking for relevant safety marks.

Lastly, never cover your item with anything while it is charging – especially if doing so in bed. Blankets, duvets, and pillows can accelerate the batteries’ rise in temperature.

End-of-life aftercare

When your lithium battery-powered item reaches the end of its life, even if the battery has not been damaged, it’s still important to treat it with care and dispose of it with care – in the right place and following safety guidance. Not doing so could cause a fire, that may damage you or your neighbour’s historic property.

After all the decades and centuries of careful upkeep, to lose all or part of your property to a lithium battery fire or explosion would be unthinkable.

You can learn more about the safe disposal of items powered by lithium batteries and regulations around waste batteries here.

Ensuring you’re protected

At Abode we understand the devastating consequences a fire can have on a listed property and with lithium-ion batteries’ ability to combust and cause rapidly spreading fires within moments, we advise you to take care of items powered by these.

Taking these steps is just one of the ways to protect the listed property in your care. Another way is to ensure your home insurance is up to the job. Comparison sites don’t allow for the complexities that comes with insuring a listed property but partnering with a specialist broker helps you get better cover for your unique requirements. Using Abode as your specialist listed property broker means that you know you’re talking to experts in their field who truly understand the particular care involved.

To speak to a member of the team for a quote or free advice, you can call us on 01644 476433 or click here to submit a form or request a call back at a time to suit you.

To learn more about safeguarding your home from fire – especially through the winter months – you can read another of our articles: Fire safety in your listed property part 1: time to turn the heat up (safely).