How to Store Lithium-ion Batteries: Maintenance and Handling Precautions
The configurability and endless practical use cases of lithium-ion batteries make them highly popular in many industries. Thanks to their high efficiency, impressive power to weight ratio and low self-discharge, it''s expected that the demand for lithium-ion batteries will increase by 7X globally between 2022 and 2030.
These batteries have become so ubiquitous that many people forget the most important tenet of these batteries: they must always be treated like they might combust at any minute, particularly when no longer in normal use.
A damaged battery can cause a fault to be triggered, which is what often leads to fire. When a faulty battery is in storage and combusts, it may cause other batteries to ignite and releasing toxic, flammable vapours that make the fire incredibly challenging to manage. Lithium-ion battery fires can even reignite after being contained.
In this post, we''ll talk through the safe storage requirements for lithium-ion batteries that manage the risks to keep people and facilities safe.
The UK doesn''t have specific regulations or legislation for the general storage of lithium-ion batteries. The Health and Safety Executive has, however, published guidance on good practices for handling and storing batteries, even though it is not compulsory.
Regulations are not prescriptive but instead follow the typical routes:
You can find the HSE''s guidance for using electric storage batteries safely here. If you have complex battery needs or concerns, you can also work directly with the HSE, which can provide some battery testing methodologies.
Where new regulations do exist, they target the dedicated lithium-ion battery sites, which are developed for the purpose of storing batteries, not incidentally storing batteries as part of the course of business. These new regulations were brought in from a lack of support from the planning system as well as the recently published UK Battery Strategy, which will help the UK develop a world-leading battery supply chain and take advantage of the continued global demand for batteries. The new regulation also accepted consultation from England''s fire and rescue service (FRS) and also made FRSs statutory consultants for the planning application process for building new industrial lithium-ion battery storage facilities.
Spontaneous lithium-ion fires rarely occur, but the risks associated with a fire are incredibly severe. The root cause of a short circuit in the battery can come from the cell design, temperature, storage period, state-of-charge, or chemistry. It is considered a risk to store the battery in the open or share a storage unit with anything combustible.
In general lithium-ion batteries should always be removed from the devices they power and stored at 60-70% of the pack''s capacity. If a battery will go unused for three more days, it should be stored in a cabinet or larger store.
Once disconnected, storing lithium-ion batteries follows similar principles as the correct storage of chemicals. The storage facility (e.g. a flammable storage cabinet) should be located away from heat and ignition sources and should offer:
Safety Storage offers lithium-ion battery stores and cabinets offer 90 minutes of fire protection with secure, lockable doors and self-sealing vents, which handle the highly-flammable vapours that can cause a battery fire to burn out of control. You also have the option to add fire detection systems and fire extinguishers to the cabinets. Stores and cabinets can be manufactured in non-standard sizes to suit your storage area or the quantity or type of batteries on your premises.
Emergency preparedness for lithium-ion batteries must incorporate training on what to do if a battery:
Treating the damage to a battery as an emergency is essential in preventing a future fire. As a general rule, if a worker is ever concerned about a battery, they should notify their designated Workplace Health and Safety Officer immediately and then notify emergency services where appropriate.
Battery damage may or may not be visible to user, but you can consider a battery damaged in the following circumstances:
Additionally all staff should be trained in what to do if a lithium-ion battery fire breaks out. Facilities teams should make themselves aware of the UK Fire Industry Association''s guidance on Lithium Ion Battery Fires and provide relevant training.
Do you have the storage capacity you need to safely store your batteries? The experts at Safety Storage are not only experts in chemical storage but also offer pioneering products for battery storage.
Get in touch to discuss your facility''s needs and learn more about how a custom storage system can help you maintain compliance with safety standards.
Lithium batteries are powerful, long-lasting options for personal and professional use. We use these battery packs for golf carts, forklifts, RVs, and much more. However, there may come a time when you need to put temporarily unused batteries in storage. Doing so the wrong way, however, could result in damage to the batteries and a reduction in performance when you go to use them again.
BigBattery is here with a guide to safely storing lithium batteries and ensuring you have the proper physical and mechanical conditions to maximize the longevity of your batteries. Fortunately, lithium battery packs are highly durable, and you may only need to make a few changes for adequate long-term storage. Read on to become a battery-storage pro!
One of the first questions to address with battery storage is whether you need to disconnect the battery from its larger power system. For example, you may think you can put your golf cart into storage, and that effectively puts the battery away with it. However, that''s not the best idea.
Even when you turn off the electrical components of your golf cart, camper van, or other vehicle, the battery still self-drains at a rate inherent to its chemistry, and leaving it connected will cause it to drain faster, potentially shortening its lifespan. So for the sake of your lithium battery pack and what you connect it to, we recommend separating the two when keeping them in extended storage, typically 3 – 6 months or longer.
When you plan to store your battery pack for a long time, be sure to charge the battery to around 60 – 80 percent capacity. Again, your batteries will self-discharge over time, so keeping a written record of when you put them in storage or most recently charged them can benefit you in the long run.
Additionally, we suggest charging your battery pack roughly every three months. While many modern lithium battery chargers have a fail-safe to prevent overcharging, we advise against leaving your battery on a charger for any extended charging period.
When figuring out how to store lithium batteries, you should consider several factors. Fortunately, it''s usually not too difficult to find adequate conditions in which to store these packs and keep them safe from damage. Here are just some of the things you should pay close attention to:
Unlike many older lead-acid batteries, lithium battery packs have a much greater tolerance for extreme temperatures. However, that doesn''t mean you shouldn''t be careful. The ideal temperature range for a lithium battery pack in storage is between 35 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. No matter where the ambient temperature of your storage area falls within that range, you should try to keep that temperature as consistent as possible.
Lithium batteries are not likely to suffer any noticeable damage unless you store them at consistently extreme temperatures such as under 20 degrees or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, keeping them at a comfortable temperature is ideal for battery longevity. Being stored outside the optimal temperature range for long periods may cause them to self-discharge faster and require more maintenance while in storage.
You don''t need to keep your lithium batteries in pitch blackness, but limiting light as much as possible is generally a good idea. Exposure to light, especially natural sunlight, may cause cosmetic damage and temperature changes that can negatively impact the inner workings of your batteries. So try to reduce exposure to harsh or overly direct sunlight and keep your batteries in a cooler, covered area to reduce the risk of any long term issues.
It''s usually not a good idea to mix batteries with water, and that same idea applies when you want to keep batteries in storage. While lithium batteries have self-contained structures that typically do a good job of keeping out excess moisture, you should always try to keep them in a dryer area with little to no humidity. If you live in an area with high humidity, we suggest keeping a dehumidifier or a desiccant bucket nearby. This will help keep some of the moisture from affecting your battery pack.
Proper ventilation is a helpful thing to consider when storing your lithium battery packs. It may not be as essential if you keep your batteries indoors where you have an air conditioner or heating system that helps recirculate the air.
However, if you keep your battery in a garage or storage shed, maintaining proper airflow reduces particulates in the air and can keep things fresher around your battery. Installing vents, screens, or even just cracking the windows a bit can help prevent the air in your storage area from becoming stale or retaining excessive heat.
One of the most common mistakes that people make when storing their batteries is failing to place them in an ideal spot. For starters, you do not want to rest your battery directly on the ground or floor, as that may cause natural overheating and discharge. We also recommend not placing them on a completely solid surface like a desk or table.
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