Charge batteries safely on the construction site: Fire protection for power tools
Battery-powered screwdrivers and other battery-operated power tools such as drills, saws or even construction spotlights have become an integral part of modern construction sites. Thanks to lithium-ion batteries, they have enough power even for professionals and there are no more annoying cables. However, rough handling (e.g. dropping) and exposure to heat and frost on open construction sites can affect the performance and service life of the batteries. In the worst case scenario, a battery can thermally “run away” and cause a fire or even an explosion - and this in a building where fire protection measures such as smoke detectors and sprinkler systems may not even be installed. Batteries therefore pose a liability risk for contractors. We therefore explain the most important tips for handling batteries on the construction site here:
- One of the most important rules is to handle the batteries with care. The thin membranes in the cells can be damaged by hard knocks or hitting the ground. This can potentially cause short circuits, which can lead to the battery overheating and ultimately exploding. If a battery has been dropped, it should at best only be used with caution, checked regularly for heat build-up and only charged under supervision. Users should also transport the batteries in such a way that they can be quickly removed from the body in the event of a thermal runaway. If it is visibly damaged, the battery must be disposed of safely.
- Lithium-ion batteries generally do not tolerate frost. This applies in particular to operation and charging. Pay attention to the recommended temperature range and wait until it has reached room temperature. A cold battery not only ages faster, it also has less power and capacity.
- Lithium-ion batteries also do not tolerate extreme heat. Therefore, batteries should not be operated or charged next to heat sources or in direct sunlight. On hot days, you should also check the batteries regularly for overheating and, if necessary, keep switching between two batteries.
- Special care must be taken when charging: If the battery is too hot or too cold, it can age particularly quickly when charging. Lithium-ion batteries should therefore be charged at room temperature and allowed to cool down or warm up first. (Good batteries and chargers actually use their battery management system to ensure that they are not charged at the wrong temperatures. Therefore, batteries should only be charged with the chargers intended for this purpose). Due to the risk of fire, batteries should not be charged next to flammable material or on escape routes.
- Caution is also required when transporting rechargeable batteries and power tools. Although the strict ADR special regulations for the transport of lithium-ion batteries do not apply to contractors travelling to and from the construction site, the risk of fire remains.
Paying attention to these tips will significantly extend the service life of your batteries and devices and further reduce the already low risk of fire. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also store, charge and transport your batteries in one of our RETRON containers. The steel containers protect the batteries and prevent fire from escaping in the event of a thermal runaway. Thanks to their insulation, RETRON containers also delay the external effects of frost or heat. (In the long term, however, the batteries should not be charged in the sun, even in a RETRON container).
