INCREASED USE OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
According to FM Global’s Angèle Morcos and Jens Vollweiler, the increased use of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can pose serious fire risk to large commercial properties. Further, “Limited research has been done to understand the [potential] hazard associated with the storage of Li-ion batteries, and how to adequately mitigate against property loss as a result of this hazard.”
Their seven-page paper, Increased Use of Lithium-Ion Batteries, describes the fundamentals, development and history of use of Li-ion batteries, as well as their related protection schemes and FM Global research.
Morcos is an account engineer for FM Global’s Chicago (Ill., USA) operations. In her previous role as a senior staff engineer at FM Global’s Norwood (Mass., USA) offices, Morcos was responsible for several FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets for storage and non-storage occupancies. She holds a master’s degree in fire protection engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, Mass.) and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), serving on various technical committees for NFPA 13.
Vollweiler is an engineering specialist for FM Global’s Frankfurt (Germany) operations. With 12 years at FM Global, he serves German clients with growing
Li-ion protection needs.