‘Battery’ arsonist: New VDMA standard sheet characterises safe storage cabinets for lithium-ion batteries

• Demand is growing, sensitive batteries an be found in many electrical devices

• Lithium-ion batteries in smartphones, laptops, e-scooters, e-bikes, etc.

• No uniform standard to date - VDMA Specification 24994 defines exact test procedure for the first time

Frankfurt/M. – 16 September 2024. Battery arsonists: Fires caused by overheated ion-lithium batteries from e-bikes & co. are increasingly making the headlines. The simplest solution is to store and charge the battery in special storage cabinets. The new VDMA Specification 24994, in the truest sense of the word, characterises reliable models - until now, there was no standardised certification for this product area. ‘The VDMA Specification offers consumers guidance when making purchasing decisions,’ says Falko Adomat, Managing Director of the European Security Systems Association (ESSA). ‘Cabinets that have withstood the test requirements reduce the risk of fire enormously.’

The demand for containers in which lithium-ion batteries can be safely stored and charged is growing. These extremely effective storage media can be found in smartphones, laptops, e-readers, electric tools, electric scooters, e-bikes, etc. Due to their high energy density and the rapid flammability of lithium, they can catch fire under unfavourable circumstances. According to the Fire Brigade 2023, there were around 150 e-bike fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in the UK alone. This also happens time and again in Germany. The causes of the fires are usually not even visible from the outside. These include damage to the battery, e.g. as a result of falls, production errors or inferior material quality. The charging phase is particularly tricky.

Storage cabinets for batteries have been on the market for a long time - however, previous labelling is based on very different, often inadequate test criteria. The new VDMA standardised sheet clears up this consumer-unfriendly confusion - it makes the choice easy. Manufacturers, dealers, testing institutes, insurance companies and the employers' liability insurance association have jointly developed a reliable standard with detailed testing guidelines. ‘Cabinets that have successfully passed the required testing process offer their users the best possible protection against a battery fire. However, users should definitely pay attention to certification. It is crucial for security that VDMA 24994 is really fulfilled and that the audit was not just carried out on the basis of the standard sheet,’ emphasises Falko Adomat. 

Text 2.370 Z. inkl. Leerz.