The global market for fire protection materials used in electric vehicle batteries is forecast to exceed $10 billion by 2037 as thermal runaway safety requirements become more stringent, according to IDTechEx.
The market for fire protection materials used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries is expected to grow by around 13% annually over the next decade, driven by tighter safety requirements and increased adoption of passive fire protection.
Research from IDTechEx forecasts that the market will exceed $10 billion by 2037 as manufacturers combine passive fire protection materials with battery management, cooling and other thermal management systems.
Thermal runaway can be triggered by overcharging, overheating, internal short circuits or mechanical damage. While battery management systems and active cooling can reduce the risk, IDTechEx said no single technology can eliminate the possibility entirely.
Passive fire protection materials can help delay or prevent thermal runaway from spreading between cells and modules and ultimately beyond the battery pack.
Regulatory developments are expected to be a major driver of demand for fire protection materials.
China introduced stricter requirements through GB 38031-2025, which came into effect in July 2026. The standard includes requirements intended to prevent fire or explosion under specified test conditions for up to two hours, representing a significant increase in the thermal runaway protection requirements placed on EV batteries.
IDTechEx said the changes could influence battery manufacturers and automotive companies in other markets, with several automotive OEMs reportedly targeting longer thermal runaway escape times ahead of potential future regulatory changes.
Fire protection materials can be incorporated at either the cell or battery pack level.
Cell-level protection includes encapsulating foams, aerogels, mica and fire-resistant compression pads. At the pack level, manufacturers can use ceramic blankets, aerogels, mica, powder coatings and intumescent coatings.
Aerogels, mica and foam generated more than $1.6 billion in combined market revenue in 2025, according to IDTechEx.
The research firm expects smaller material categories, including intumescent coatings and fire protection compression pads, to experience stronger growth over the coming decade.
IDTechEx said the increasing use of passive fire protection reflects the evolution of battery designs and growing regulatory emphasis on containing thermal runaway.
The full research report, ‘Fire Protection Materials for EV Batteries’, is available from IDTechEx.
