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A quick google seems to show that’s fairly standard[0]: > A small Li-ion fire can be handled like any other combustible fire. For best result use a foam exting

A quick google seems to show that’s fairly standard[0]: > A small Li-ion fire can be handled like any other combustible fire. For best result use a foam extinguisher, CO2, ABC dry chemical, powdered graphite, copper powder or soda (sodium carbonate). If the fire occurs in an airplane cabin, the FAA instructs flight attendants to use water or soda pop. Water-based products are most readily available and are appropriate since Li-ion contains very little lithium metal that reacts with water. Water also cools the adjacent area and prevents the fire from spreading. Research laboratories and factories also use water to extinguish Li-ion battery fires. [0]: https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_...

Gwypaas 7y ago
Not really true, you have a problem of toxic gases being released.[1] For my latest safety training in the maritime industry the handling of lithium battery fires was essentially put yourself upwind and let it burn it self out to prevent any exposure. The conclusion from the paper is important: "Using water mist resulted in a temporarily increased production rate of HF but the application of water mist had no significant effect on the total amount of released HF." Though presumably, submerging the car would help by solving the fumes in the water creating hydroflouric acid instead. [1]: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09784-z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09784-z
- rightbyte 7y ago
  When I did safety training at a US Energy Department facility they said you should use salt extinguishers for lithium battery fires. They are quite rare and yellow. They didn't say why.
- marcinzm 7y ago
  The study makes a note that it's testing HF production and not testing putting out a fire. "The intention in this study was however not to extinguish the fire completely." If you have the luxury of isolating the burning component and a lot of open space and a consistent wind direction you can let it burn. Few places outside of ships and desolate areas have that. Airplanes definitely don't. Neither do locations inside of cities. Cars also have many lithium cells so isolating the burning one is impossible and you probably want to avoid all of them catching on fire. Letting a car fire burn on it's own means you now have clouds of HF and you need to evacuate massive area for a long time. Or you drop it in water and avoid all that.

Gwypaas 7y ago

Not really true, you have a problem of toxic gases being released.[1] For my latest safety training in the maritime industry the handling of lithium battery fires was essentially put yourself upwind and let it burn it self out to prevent any exposure. The conclusion from the paper is important: "Using water mist resulted in a temporarily increased production rate of HF but the application of water mist had no significant effect on the total amount of released HF." Though presumably, submerging the car would help by solving the fumes in the water creating hydroflouric acid instead. [1]: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09784-z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09784-z

rightbyte 7y ago
When I did safety training at a US Energy Department facility they said you should use salt extinguishers for lithium battery fires. They are quite rare and yellow. They didn't say why.
marcinzm 7y ago
The study makes a note that it's testing HF production and not testing putting out a fire. "The intention in this study was however not to extinguish the fire completely." If you have the luxury of isolating the burning component and a lot of open space and a consistent wind direction you can let it burn. Few places outside of ships and desolate areas have that. Airplanes definitely don't. Neither do locations inside of cities. Cars also have many lithium cells so isolating the burning one is impossible and you probably want to avoid all of them catching on fire. Letting a car fire burn on it's own means you now have clouds of HF and you need to evacuate massive area for a long time. Or you drop it in water and avoid all that.