UL Solutions Takes Aim at Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risks with Innovative New Certification Programs for Battery Containment Enclosures and Micromobility Charging Equipment

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, today announced its new testing and certification program for battery containment enclosures, including the battery charging or storage cabinets that are becoming more common on city sidewalks and in apartment buildings to address growing concerns around hazards of lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes.

Safety-certified battery containment enclosures are growing in popularity for use with e-bikes and other micromobility products, and are supported by fire departments, including the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), for their ability to contain fire and other hazards associated with thermal runaway. UL Solutions also launched services for micromobility charging equipment that can further help mitigate safety risks.

Battery containment enclosures often resemble cabinets and are designed with safety features to contain battery thermal runaway fires and gases. They can be used to store and charge batteries, such as e-bike or power tool batteries, and help protect people around them if a thermal runaway event or battery fire occurs despite following proper battery maintenance and usage instructions from the manufacturer.

“The use of e-bikes is on the rise, and new products enter the market daily that tap the convenience and sustainability of batteries,” said Dr. Robert Slone, senior vice president and chief scientist at UL Solutions. “Our new battery containment enclosure and micromobility charging equipment engineering evaluation, testing and certification services can help reduce the risks associated with the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries and devices.”

UL Solutions conducts engineering evaluations and tests battery containment enclosures per UL 1487, the Standard for Battery Containment Enclosures, a binational Standard for the United States and Canada. The FDNY Hazmat Command played an integral role in crafting this document.

“It’s really important to have third-party experts test and certify battery containment enclosures and micromobility charging equipment to make sure they meet safety standards,” said Chief of Fire Prevention Thomas Currao, FDNY. “For battery enclosures especially, this kind of testing shows they can contain dangerous situations like thermal runaway, which will help stop fires or explosions from spreading.”

These tests evaluate a battery containment enclosure’s ability to withstand battery thermal runaway events, including fire, explosion and shrapnel. Thermal runaway occurs when the lithium-ion battery enters an uncontrollable self-heating state that can produce fire, flammable and toxic smoke, and extremely high temperatures while ejecting harmful particulates.

“That kind of protection matters, whether it’s in an apartment building, office or industrial space,” Currao added. “Choosing certified equipment means we’re taking smart steps to prevent battery hazards and make our city safer for the public and for our members.”

UL Solutions evaluates and tests micromobility charging equipment per UL 4900, the Standard for Micromobility Charging Equipment, which is also a binational Standard for the United States and Canada. This Standard addresses the electric shock and fire risks of the charging infrastructure.

About UL Solutions

A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.