November 2010 - Follow procedures for safe battery charging
Jeff Jones, our resident retained Fire Fighter, has reported that he recently attended a major fire at a garage in Nottingham. It is understood that a flat battery in a vehicle under repair was being charged overnight as the vehicle needed to be moved the next day. The battery was left in the vehicle while it was being charged.
Sometime during the early hours a short circuit occurred and a fire began. The fire was not discovered until an employee opened up the premises in the morning. It took six appliances and approximately 30 fire fighters to extinguish the fire. Over 20 cars on the premises were affected by the fire. This case highlights the importance of having suitable fire precautions and following correct procedures for battery charging. Explosive gases are given off when batteries are charged. The risk of an explosion is great if the gases are allowed to collect. You should always use a dedicated, well-ventilated charging area and follow the battery manufacturer’s instructions for battery charging, particularly with regard to charging rate.
Not following the correct procedures could also invalidate any insurance claim. It is common for policies covering warehouses, etc., to require that batteries, e.g. for forklift trucks, are only charged in a designated area with all flammable materials removed from a zone around the battery. Please speak to your usual insurance contact if you need to check what conditions apply to your policies.
