Online Technical Session
RISKS AND REWARDS OF LITHIUM-ION AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
Laura King
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Regional Director
Wednesday November 22nd, 2023
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST
SFPE NCR members: free
Students: free
Non-members: $10
ABSTRACT
Lithium-ion batteries are fragile, and any electrical, thermal, or mechanical abuse can initiate thermal runaway. Electronic bikes and scooters are everywhere, and over-charging them can lead to fires, explosions, injuries, and deaths. Energy storage systems provide clean, low-cost, long-duration sources of energy, but they also present significant life-safety hazards – and they're found in every municipality.
This interactive session provides resources for dealing with lithium-ion and energy storage systems, educational resources, and best practices.
Learning Objectives
After participating in this session, attendees should be able to:
· Identify types of fire hazards and risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems.
· Understand better how energy storage systems and fire safety objectives might be in competition and how this can be resolved.
· Through examples and best practices, learn how to identify potential problems and appropriate mitigation strategies related to lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems.
BIOGRAPHY
Laura King is NFPA’s Regional Director for Canada. Laura promotes and supports the use of NFPA tools and resources, including NFPA codes and standards, training, certification, and public education initiatives such as Fire Prevention Week, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, and Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Laura joined NFPA in 2017 as public education representative and has worked with fire departments, associations, and First Nations groups across the provinces and the northern territories, to develop community risk reduction programs, build fire-prevention and life-safety education strategies, and create and disseminate consistent and accurate messaging. Laura was editor of Fire Fighting in Canada and Canadian Firefighter magazines for 10 years before moving to NFPA in 2017; she was a reporter and editor for more than 20 years for newspapers and magazines across Canada and the United States. Laura has degrees in journalism, political science, and public administration. She is a certified fire- and life-safety educator and holds several other certifications. Laura is a proud Cape Bretoner, and has lived and worked in Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton and the Greater Toronto Area.
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Engineering a Fire Safe World
