Key Takeaways:
- Experiments conducted by both organizations have demonstrated a potential explosion hazard when fire blankets are used during electric vehicle (EV) fire suppression efforts when there is battery involvement.
- When flaming is eliminated by the fire blanket, the ongoing accumulation of flammable gases released by continued thermal runaway in the battery pack presents a potential explosion risk.
- The experiments reinforce the need for continued research on EV firefighting tactics.
QUINCY, Mass. and COLUMBIA, Md., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, today issued a notice about a potential explosion hazard when fire blankets are used during electric vehicle fire suppression efforts with battery involvement.
- During experiments involving the use of electric vehicle fire blankets to suppress an EV fire with battery involvement, it was observed that the deployment of a fire blanket eliminated flaming by denying oxygen to the vehicle and the battery fire.
- While the flaming was eliminated, battery thermal runaway propagation continued after blanket deployment, which resulted in the continued release and accumulation of flammable battery gases into the volume under the blanket
- In some of the experiments, this accumulation of flammable gases under the blankets presented an explosion risk to firefighters operating near the vehicle.
- The risk of an explosion can be increased when re-introducing air into an oxygen-depleted accumulation of unburned flammable battery gases.
FPRF is conducting research to improve the safety of firefighters responding to electric vehicle (EV) fires and incidents by assessing current firefighting tactics and tools used by the fire service to manage EV incidents and the impact of suppression activities on managing re-ignition risks. Recent experiments for the Assessment of EV Firefighting Tactics, Tools and the Impact on Stranded Energy research project were conducted to assess the ability of four firefighting tactics to suppress and establish control of fire incidents involving standalone electric vehicle battery packs and full electric vehicles with confirmed battery pack fire involvement: standard hose stream application – water only; standard hose stream application – with injected agent; electric vehicle fire blankets; and firefighting appliances. Analysis of the data from FPRF experiments is underway. Preliminary results will be presented at the annual NFPA Conference and Expo on June 16, 2025 in Las Vegas and the full analysis will be provided in FPRF’s forthcoming research report, which will be publicly available this fall at nfpa.org/foundation.
FSRI is conducting research to improve understanding of hazards generated by electric vehicle battery fires and to enable the development of firefighting tactics for effective electric vehicle fire control. Recent experiments for the Fire Safety of Batteries and Electric Vehicles research project were conducted to evaluate the capability of standard hose stream application, water application with an under-vehicle nozzle, and an electric vehicle fire blanket, to suppress and establish control of a burning electric vehicle with confirmed battery pack fire involvement. Analysis of the video and data from FSRI experiments is underway and will be addressed in detail in FSRI’s forthcoming electric vehicle research report, which will be available at fsri.org.
About Fire Protection Research Foundation
The Fire Protection Research Foundation is the research affiliate of NFPA. The Foundation is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to plan, manage, and communicate research in support of the association’s mission to help save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge and passion. The FPRF facilitates research on a broad range of fire safety issues in collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world.
About Fire Safety Research Institute
The Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere.
Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we impart stakeholders with the information, tools and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. Learn more at fsri.org.
About UL Research Institutes
UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing public safety through scientific discovery. Since 1894, our research has advanced our mission toward a safer, more secure, and sustainable future. Focused on global risks from fire mitigation and air quality to safe energy storage and digital privacy, we conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety data, and partner with experts to uncover and act on existing and emerging risks to human safety. Discover more at UL.org.
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