Storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries
To comply with insurance conditions and prevent the risk of fire, the university has drawn up a procedure for charging and storing lithium-ion batteries. Fires in lithium-ion batteries are rare, but if they do occur, the course of the fire can be difficult to manage and the consequences can be very serious.
The procedure in brief
- Within Lund University premises, staff and students may only charge electronic equipment supplied by Lund University. Private mobile phones, laptops and tablets are exempted. Charging must be done using the correct charger.
- Lithium-ion batteries intended for transport use or lithium-ion batteries larger than 10 Ah may not be charged, stored or otherwise handled on Lund University premises, except as follows:
- outdoors, at an appropriate distance from buildings, where charging equipment and batteries are sheltered from the elements. Batteries should not normally be charged when the temperature is below freezing, since this can damage the batteries. This must be taken into consideration if charging is taking place outdoors.
- indoors, in a room intended for the purpose, separate from other activities. The room is to have a fire rating of at least EI60 and is to be equipped with smoke detection systems.
The procedure and guidance for the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries is available to organisational managers on the HR website: Systematic fire safety management (in Swedish).
Lithium-ion batteries – for your organisation or for private use?
Lithium-ion batteries can be divided into two categories – those used in the organisation for research, teaching or by staff on duty, and those used by staff or students for private use.
Batteries for University organisations
The first group, i.e. batteries used in the organisation, might include batteries for work bicycles, cleaning equipment, drones, power banks used by staff in the course of their jobs and so on. For these batteries, it may be necessary to adapt part of your premises so that it meets the requirements in Kammarkollegiet’s terms of insurance.
If, after an inventory of the organisation’s batteries, it emerges that the premises need adaptation for the storage of lithium-ion batteries, contact the building supervisor or equivalent. The building supervisor or equivalent is to complete a form informing the facilities planning group at LU Estates of these required alterations.
Lithium-ion batteries for private use
Inventories are underway at the faculties to establish the extent of the need for lockers to store private-use lithium-ion batteries. In spring 2024, Akademiska Hus is working in collaboration with LU Estates to propose a plan for which lockers are fit-for-purpose and where these lockers are to be placed on campus. A pilot with three lockers will be carried out during the year at LTH and afterwards an evaluation will be made to decide on the continuation. A dialogue with other property owners has also been initiated so that all organisations within the University provide the same conditions for all staff and students, regardless of which property owner the premises are rented from.
What applies to private bicycle batteries in the meantime?
Until storage lockers or adapted premises are in place, or until you receive other instructions about what to do where you work or study, the following applies:
- You may not bring in, store or charge your own bicycle battery anywhere indoors on University premises.
- You may leave your battery on the bicycle provided it is parked a suitable distance away from the building.
Wheelchairs/mobility scooters etc.
For those who use, for example, an electric wheelchair or equivalent powered by lithium-ion batteries, Kammarkollegiet say:
“It has never been Kammarkollegiet’s intention to restrict accessibility for people with functional impairments. There is also a difference in that these aids are under constant supervision when in use. If damage occurs, this is naturally something that Kammarkollegiet will consider when adjusting the claim. Otherwise, the safety regulations for handling lithium-ion batteries apply.”
In the event of a battery fire
It is important to act quickly in the event of a battery fire.
- Alert people to the fire.
- Call emergency services on 112
Report the incident in the University’s incident management (IA) system.
Prevent battery fires
Fires while charging are usually down to obviously damaged batteries or incorrect charging. If the battery is obviously damaged, it is not to be charged. The most important way of preventing fires while charging is to use the correct charging equipment and be alert to overloading and heat. If the object being charged gets very hot, charging must be stopped immediately. Extension cables or power strips are not to be used since they can be dangerous if they are not correctly dimensioned.
More information for organisational managers on how to prevent battery fires is available in the guidance for the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries on the HR website: Systematic fire safety management (in Swedish).
Also read the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s tips for safe charging: Charge your batteries safely (msb.se, in Swedish).
Working group at LU Estates
To assist the University’s organisations with advice and guidance on individual questions, a working group bringing together different expertise on the issue has been formed at LU Estates. The working group will keep the information on this website up to date when new content is produced.
FAQ
If the battery lockers are located outside, at a suitable distance from buildings, this is allowed. It is not, however, permitted indoors under Kammarkollegiet’s safety regulations. They have decided that battery lockers indoors are not permitted, since they take the view that these have not been tested sufficiently to provide good enough protection against the risk of fire that lithium-ion batteries present.
No, this is not allowed.
Each device is to be charged with its original charger. Never place battery-powered devices in direct sunlight and always keep your equipment under supervision while ensuring that the charging does not present a fire risk.
Handle batteries with care. External stress from being dropped, shocks, impacts, exposure to high temperatures, or overcharging, can lead to a short circuit and an explosive reaction, possibly causing a fire.
No. As things stand, the recommendation is not to attempt to put out a lithium-ion battery fire. This is because they are extremely difficult to extinguish and there is a high risk of breathing in the poisonous gas and smoke. The fire brigade is always to be contacted in the event of a fire in a lithium-ion battery.
When fire has taken hold, various gases and smoke is released. This is extremely dangerous and can cause breathing difficulties and irritation of mucus membranes and eyes as well as affecting the future health of vulnerable people. You should, therefore, always seek medical attention after exposure to smoke from a lithium-ion battery.
Yes. If a fire related to a lithium-ion battery were to occur, this may, in addition to the consequences that a fire entails, also invalidate the insurance and result in legal and financial penalties.
No. Kammarkollegiet’s directive applies until another decision is issued.
Contact
Please contact your manager or buildning supervisor if you have questions regarding storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries at your workplace.