The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), affiliated with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has received $1.06 million in funding from the Department of Homeland Security’s FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Fire Prevention & Safety Grant program.
This three-year study, titled “Lithium-ion Battery Fires: Initial Investigation into Contamination, Cleaning Efficacy, and Firefighter Exposures,” will analyze the chemical exposures firefighters face during lithium-ion battery fires and assess decontamination procedures for personal protective equipment (PPE).
The research is being conducted in partnership with North Carolina State University, the Illinois Fire Service Institute, and Command and Control, LLC.
The project aims to address the risks posed by lithium-ion battery fires, which emit toxic gases and produce intense heat.
Amanda Kimball, executive director of FPRF, emphasized the importance of the study: “Lithium-ion battery fires pose unique challenges due to their intense heat, potential for explosions, and release of toxic gases.
“These incidents not only endanger firefighters but also the public, as these batteries are commonly found in consumer products and electric vehicles.”
The study will examine contamination sources, utilizing controlled burns and field-contaminated PPE to evaluate cleaning procedures.
The project is divided into two phases.
The first phase involves characterizing contaminants from lithium-ion battery fires and testing cleaning efficacy on PPE.
The second phase focuses on sampling firefighter exposures through environmental and biological analyses, comparing controlled burn data with typical fire scenarios involving residential and battery-powered equipment.
The study aims to develop protocols for identifying contaminants and enhancing PPE decontamination methods.
Findings will be disseminated through technical reports, conferences, webinars, and training sessions, with the ultimate goal of improving firefighter safety and operational guidelines.
The project is scheduled for completion by September 2027.
The NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation has launched a three-year study, supported by $1.06 million in DHS funding, to investigate firefighter risks from lithium-ion battery fires.
The study will analyze contamination sources, assess PPE cleaning procedures, and develop protocols for measuring firefighter exposures.
Scheduled for completion in September 2027, the research aims to inform actionable safety guidelines through reports and training initiatives.
