New AVD Extinguishers are coming soon.
Available in the first half of 2021
Are you protected?
Lithium battery failure can be caused by the following:
Physical impact or penetration
Overheating
Short circuits
Internal cell failure
Manufacturing defects
With the rise in technology that uses lithium batteries, comes the added risk of lithium battery fires. How prepared are you for a lithium battery fire? And are lithium batteries dangerous?
The consequences of lithium battery fires are severe, so having the right precautions in place is critical.
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How AVD Works
Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) Fire Extinguishing Agent
What is AVD?
AVD is an aqueous dispersion of chemically exfoliated vermiculite. It is applied to lithium battery fires as a mist, extinguishing them and preventing the propagation of the fire.
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral of hydrated laminar aluminum-iron-magnesium silicates. It is both chemically and physically inert. Consisting of thin, flat flakes containing microscopic layers of water.
The chemical exfoliation of vermiculite produces microscopic, individual platelets that are freely suspended in water. This yields a stable aqueous dispersion of vermiculite to be used as a lithium battery fire extinguishing agent.
Is AVD safe?
AVD is non-toxic to humans, plant life and animals. It is environmentally safe with no Global Warming Potential (GWP) and only releases steam when exposed to the raised temperatures of a fire.
How does AVD work?
It effectively creates a non-flammable oxygen barrier while providing a cooling effect on the fire source.
The vermiculite particles within the mist are deposited on the surface of the burning fuel to create a film over the top of the fire. The film instantly dries and, because the high aspect ratio platelet particles overlap and bind together producing a non-flammable oxygen barrier between the fuel and the atmosphere.
This process has a cooling effect on the fuel source and, as the water content in AVD is evaporated, the vermiculite platelets begin to build up and the fire is brought under control.
What are the benefits of AVD?
The AVD is an innovative fire suppression agent that provides a unique solution to the otherwise unsolved problem of lithium battery fire protection. AVD’s exceptional performance includes the following:
Water content cools the fire source through rapid endothermic process
Vermiculite platelets encapsulate the fuel source creating an oxygen barrier film
The vermiculite film is not electrically conductive
AVD is nearly twice as effective as water on a class A fires
AVD can be applied as a fire break to prevent the propagation of fire
AVD is non-toxic and environmentally friendly
Ranging in sizes from 500 milliliter to 50 liter
AA Series Aerosol AVD Extinguishers
Available in 400ml and 500ml sizes
AH Series Handheld Portable AVD Extinguishers
Available in sizes from 1 liter to 9 liter
AW Series Wheeled Portable AVD Extinguishers
Available in sizes from 25 liter to 50 liter
Come visit us at the boat show!
Fire-Hawk will be at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show! Come see our latest innovations and enter to win a new AVD Fire Extinguisher!
Visit us at our booths:
Yellow Zone Marine Equipment 438
Blue Zone Boating Acessories 195
FAQs
Are lithium batteries a fire safety risk?
Since their invention in the 1970’s lithium(li-ion) and lithium-polymer (li-po) battery cells have posed a challenge for conventional fire suppression. Today’s lithium batteries are safer than the designs, prototypes, and implementations of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. However, lithium batteries continue to present a fire hazard and safety risk that has only grown due to their widespread by consumers and industries.
Today lithium batteries are now used in portable electronic devices (i.e., mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, etc.), toys, cordless power tools, drones, medical equipment, electric modes of transportation, and energy storage systems (ESS) for solar and wind power generation. The average person routinely uses multiple lithium battery powered devices daily and the technology’s usage continues to grow through continuing integration of lithium battery technology by product manufacturers.
This pervasive use of lithium battery technology in everyday life along with limited consumer awareness of its fire risk obscures the potential safety hazard to users. Lithium battery fires are real, and instances resulting in severe injury, death, and costly damage do occur. The use of lithium battery powered devices in industrial, office, school, home, vehicle, travel, and recreational settings increases the chance of encountering a lithium battery fire.
What causes lithium battery fires?
Lithium battery fires are the result of battery cell failure caused by the following:
Physical impact or penetration
Manufacturing defects
Internal cell failure
Short circuits
Overcharging
Overheating / Expose to heat
Do traditional fire extinguishers provide adequate protection against lithium battery fires?
The fire extinguishing options currently in homes, vehicles, and place of works are not designed for handling the fire hazards that result from lithium battery cell failure.
Lithium battery cell failure leads to dangerous exothermic reactions in the chemical materials of the cell. These chemical reactions result in thermal runaway, an uncontrolled positive feedback loop that results in the release of the stored energy in the cell. This release of energy is in the form of heat which leads to release of hot flammable gases, catastrophic explosion, and fire.
The hot flammable gases produced by thermal runaway are hydrocarbons that are formed as the electrolyte dissociates. These hydrocarbons are toxic and burn vigorously at extreme temperatures and rapidly spread the fire to the surrounding battery cells and other flammable materials.
Thermal runaway in a damaged cell may even occur after an initial fire has been successfully suppressed. Fire extinguishers not designed to address thermal runaway provide inadequate protection against lithium battery fires. They may initially extinguish the fire only to have thermal runaway continue and ultimately result in fire re-ignition or an explosion in only seconds, or minutes, or hours after extinguishment of the initial fire.
How to Protect Against Lithium Battery Fires?
Fire extinguishers using AVD fire suppression agent have been independently tested to extinguisher lithium battery fires and impede thermal runaway. Fire-Hawk offers a range of AVD extinguishers to address your fire protection needs.
The severe consequences of lithium battery fires are significant injury, loss of life, and loss of property. Having the right precautions in place is critical. How prepared are you for a lithium battery fire? Are you protected?