Until recently, extra fire safety measures were not required for an integral bicycle parking. Now the sales of electric bicycles is booming and the capacity of batteries is increasing, the fire risks of bicycle parkings is also increasing.
If the battery of an electric bicycle catches fire, a lot of smoke is produced and toxic fumes are released. If the bicycle parking is storing multiple electric bicycles, this can quickly lead to large problems, the more so if there are people present in the building who are less mobile, such as is the case with assisted living centres.
Photo: GinoPress
Why does a battery catch fire?
There are no exact figures, but fire brigades state that at least once a month a fire is caused because the battery of an electric bicycle catches fire. Problems mostly occur during charging. This can be caused by the use of non-original chargers or by overcharging the battery.
But batteries sometimes also ignite spontaneously. If the bicycle has fallen, the battery could be damaged. A chemical reaction will occur in the battery cells, heating up the battery, which can ultimately catch fire.
Photo: Henk Smits
How do you keep a fire in a bicycle parking in check?
The fire risks increase even more due to the increasing capacity of batteries. An increasingly large amount of energy is stored in a smaller battery. Battery fires cannot be prevented completely. It is important to make sure the fire is contained in the bicycle parking and remains manageable. Storing electric bicycles in a separate space is one of the most fire-safe solutions. By equipping the bicycle parking with a fire-resistant partition, the fire will be limited to the fire compartment. This gives persons present in the building the opportunity to get outside safely, while the fire brigade has the opportunity to fight the fire and limit material damage.
Do you also want a fire-safe bicycle parking in your building? Consider the application of Firescreen® fire and smoke shutters and curtains. Compact and lightweight, they can be applied in many different situations. Our advisers will be pleased to help you select the right fire screen for your situation.
