AmSafe tests fire containment for lithium batteries

AmSafe Bridport has conducted a full scale test for its fire containment products by simulating a lithium-ion battery fire within an airfreight container.
In the test, the UK-based company reports that the subsequent fire was suppressed for over six hours.
Joe Ashton, cargo business manager at AmSafe Bridport, said: “The fully certified AmSafe Bridport Fire Containment Cover (FCC) provides a solution against the increased threat from the shipping of undeclared dangerous goods.”
The fire containment range is designed for the protection of undeclared dangerous goods, with lithium batteries posing the biggest risk to air transport.
Dangerous goods, including lithium batteries continue to be packed incorrectly, with a large number of accidents directly attributed to fire from these types of batteries.
Boeing recently advised passenger airline customers not to carry large numbers of lithium batteries in the passenger aircraft bellyhold.
Added Ashton added: “Concerns grow within the aerospace industry from the large number of packages containing undeclared dangerous goods, especially lithium batteries within mobile phones and laptops.
“Our fire containment solutions help mitigate the risk of on-board fires, when used to cover packages that may bypass screening and are not managed within a Dangerous Goods Process, and as such pose a very real potential fire threat.”
He concluded: “Recent tests on our fire containment cover and fire containment bag have confirmed their ability to withstand Lithium ion fires and therefore provides a relevant and capable solution in the fight against fires when transporting packages via air, road, rail & sea.”