In today’s increasingly electrified world, lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and home backup systems. Their widespread use is a testament to their efficiency and energy density. However, as fire expert Dr. Alexander Morgan highlights, these batteries also pose significant fire risks—risks that demand innovative fire protection strategies, including the use of flame retardants.
The Growing Presence—and Risk—of Lithium-Ion Batteries
“Lithium-ion battery storage is very common in homes and buildings now,” Morgan noted. From small devices like phones and laptops to large-scale energy storage systems for homes and vehicles, these batteries are nearly everywhere. Their benefits are undeniable: long-lasting energy performance, potential for backup power during outages, and integration with solar systems. But with these advantages come new challenges.
Unlike traditional energy storage methods—such as propane tanks or gasoline generators—lithium-ion batteries behave differently when they fail. “It’s very, very rapid when they go into ignition and heat release,” Morgan said. “It’s almost at explosion levels of speeds.” This rapid escalation leads to the release of large volumes of hazardous gases and intense heat, making such fires extremely difficult to extinguish.
Everyday Scenarios with High Stakes
The danger isn’t limited to industrial settings. Morgan points out that even a phone or laptop battery can ignite while resting on a couch or mattress. “Couches being the more hazardous scenario than mattresses in the United States,” he said. If a battery short-circuits and ignites, “you’re gonna probably have the couch on fire within a few minutes, and then the room in flashover within three to five,” referencing findings from fire-ignition research that he’s conducted.
This rapid progression underscores the need for proactive fire safety measures. “It’s an entirely different scenario if you’ve got a large lithium-ion battery going up in your house,” Morgan warned. Traditional building materials and fire codes may not be equipped to handle such intense and fast-moving fires.
Flame Retardants: Prevention and Protection
So what can be done? One of the most effective strategies is the use of flame retardants. These materials can either help prevent ignition or slow the spread of fire, buying precious time for occupants to escape or for emergency responders to intervene.
Morgan emphasized the importance of secondary containment through integration of flame retardants: “You realize your handheld device is starting to go into thermal runaway, but it’s got some flame retardant protection built into it, enough for you to get it and throw it out of the house, and then maybe just cooks off on your lawn. Not ideal, but at least it buys you time.”
This concept—time—repeatedly surfaces in fire safety discussions. Even in cases where flame retardants don’t prevent fires; they can delay them, giving people a chance to react. “That’s another way to look at flame retardants: either they prevent the fire or give you more time to escape,” Morgan says.
Material Innovation and Engineering Solutions
Morgan pointed out that while there has been a call to use inherently low-flammable materials such as metals or glass, there can be practical and financial challenges to such a move – and even then, such as with lithium ion batteries, they may not be sufficient.
“Lithium-ion batteries, in some cases, can go straight through certain metals,” he explains. In one experiment, a 0.5 gram lithium-ion battery at full charge melted through steel containment. “So people don’t always realize the hazards associated with these batteries.”
This revelation challenges assumptions about material safety. While metals are often considered fireproof, lithium’s high reactivity can compromise even steel. Therefore, selecting the right materials—and enhancing the overall system, such as the inclusion of flame retardants—is critical.
Education and Awareness
In addition to engineering solutions, Morgan advocates for public education. “Maybe that’s best met through an education campaign,” he says. Moreover, understanding the diversity of flame retardants is essential. “It’s important to become informed about these materials rather than just assume that they’re just a uniform class of materials,” Morgan advises. Flame retardants vary widely in chemical composition and application, and their effectiveness depends on the context in which they’re used. In many cases, exposure to the chemistry itself is minimal or nonexistent.
Despite the risks, Morgan maintains a balanced view. “They bring a lot of benefit, don’t get me wrong. I have several in my own house that I use,” he says of lithium-ion batteries. The goal isn’t to eliminate these technologies but to make them safer through thoughtful design and fire protection strategies, such a flame retardants.
As our reliance on lithium-ion batteries in homes and office spaces continues to grow, so too must our commitment to safety. Flame retardants offer a powerful tool in this effort—one that can help prevent fires, slow their spread, and ultimately save lives.
Dr. Alexander B. Morgan, Ph.D., is Group Leader and Distinguished Research Scientist with the Advanced Materials Chemistry Group at the University of Dayton Research Institute. He can be reached at Alexander.Morgan@udri.udayton.edu.
