If you want to prevent a fire spreading, then your first stop should be someone who spends their life preventing them. We took that saying at its word, and stopped by the NSW Fire and Rescue website to find our answer. They provided several ways to stop batteries catching fire, and we are delighted to share them here.
Is Your Charging Environment Fire Safe?
Don’t charge your battery, or device on a surface that will burn. Check that your smoke alarm is working, and that you will hear it if it sounds. Avoid charging in living space in case you fall asleep. Never charge a battery near a door, on a staircase, or in a passage way, in case you block your exit.
Be There to Stop Batteries Catching Fire
You will never know a battery is burning, if you are somewhere else at the time. Take care to be somewhere close, when you charge a battery. Check the process regularly. Disconnect the battery charger when the battery is full, or if it becomes warmer than usual.
Charge Your Battery Per Supplier Specification
You could stop batteries catching fire, by simply using the charger the manufacturer supplies. That’s because this assures the charging current will be correct, and you will do the job cost-effectively. Stay away from suppliers, and batteries and chargers you don’t have a good reason to trust.
Stop Batteries Catching Fire By Inspecting Them
A battery, its matched device, and the original charger should work well together, provided they are all in good condition. Never charge a battery that is damaged, or you can’t trust completely. Consider the consequences of losing your home and possessions to a battery fire, if you charge a damaged battery.
Store you spare batteries in a safe place, where you can check them regularly for bulging or swelling. Never leave them, or a device containing them, in direct sunlight or in a parked vehicle where they can quickly heat up.
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