Passive Fire Protection - 
Creating a Safe, Fire ‑ Compartmented Area for E‑Bike Storage and Charging

• They burn hotter and faster, often exceeding 1,000°C.
• They can reignite even after appearing extinguished.
• They produce dense, toxic smoke that can compromise escape routes.
• They can escalate from a fault to full thermal runaway in seconds.

Lithium‑ion fires produce heavy, toxic smoke.

• Provide mechanical or natural ventilation to prevent smoke accumulation.
• Avoid sealed rooms with no airflow.
• Consider automatic smoke extraction for larger installations.

• Install dedicated, fused, RCD‑protected circuits.
• Use commercial‑grade charging points, not domestic extension leads.
• Provide individual charging bays to prevent cable clutter and overheating.
• Ensure chargers are manufacturer‑approved and not damaged or modified.

• Maintain the room between 10°C and 30°C where possible.
• Avoid direct sunlight or proximity to heat sources.
• Consider temperature monitoring for larger fleets.

• Install smoke or heat detection linked to the building’s fire alarm.
• For higher‑risk sites, consider:
  • Aerosol suppression units
  • Water‑mist systems
  • Lithium‑ion fire blankets
  • Thermal runaway suppression cabinets

• No charging of damaged batteries.
• No overnight charging unless the room is fully protected.
• Mandatory visual checks before plugging in.
• No storing combustible materials in the same compartment.
• Keep the area clean, dry, and uncluttered.

• Use controlled access (keypad, fob, or staff-only).
• Install CCTV for monitoring and incident review.
• Provide secure anchor points to prevent theft.

A well‑designed e‑bike charging room typically includes:

• Fire‑rated enclosure with 30–60 min protection
• Non‑combustible finishes (concrete, metal, fire‑rated plasterboard)
• Dedicated charging racks with cable management
• Clear 1m separation between charging bikes where possible
• Emergency lighting and clear signage
• Fire extinguisher (CO₂ or water mist) placed outside the room
• Automatic detection linked to the main fire panel
• Ventilation system to manage smoke and heat
• Secure access to prevent unauthorised use

This creates a controlled, predictable environment that reduces risk and satisfies insurers and fire officers.

• Charging bikes in corridors or escape routes
• Using extension leads or daisy‑chained adapters
• Storing flammables (cardboard, chemicals, packaging) in the same room
• Allowing damaged batteries to remain in circulation
• Overloading sockets
• Leaving chargers permanently plugged in

These shortcuts are the root cause of most e‑bike fire incidents.