Lithium Battery Fires & Alternative Energy Systems

4 min read

Solar, inverters and lithium batteries have become part of daily life in South Africa, but not enough focus is put on one of the risks: lithium battery fires.

And when a lithium battery fire starts, it is not “just another electrical fire”.

It behaves differently, spreads differently, and it is far harder to stop.

Why lithium battery fires are not like normal fires

Most building fires respond to the basics: remove the heat, remove the fuel, starve the fire of oxygen.

Lithium battery fires do not play by those rules.

Traditional extinguishers often do not solve the problem

CO₂, water and dry powder extinguishers can help with surrounding flames, but they often cannot stop what is happening inside the battery cells. The battery can keep generating heat and keep the reaction going, even when the visible flames look under control.

They burn extremely hot

When a lithium battery fails, it can go into thermal runaway. This is a chain reaction where heat and pressure build rapidly inside the battery. Once that starts, the temperature rise can be aggressive and fast.

That level of heat can ignite what is around it, even in buildings that people think of as “low fire risk”.

They can reignite hours later

One of the biggest dangers is the false sense of safety after the flames drop. Lithium batteries can flare up again later because the internal heat has not been properly reduced.

The gases are a serious hazard

Lithium battery fires can release toxic gases that are dangerous to inhale and can also be flammable. Getting close without the right protective equipment can be unsafe, and in many cases it is simply not possible.

Bigger batteries mean bigger consequences

A phone battery is one thing. An inverter battery bank is another.

Power storage systems hold a lot of energy. That energy becomes heat during a failure. Heat becomes ignition. Ignition becomes spread.

If the system is installed inside the main building, the fire load increases in that exact area. And if there are combustibles nearby, such as timber shelving, cardboard packaging, insulation, or stored materials, you have created the perfect conditions for a large loss.

What usually triggers these fires

In many cases, the root cause is not mysterious. It is preventable.

Here are the common triggers we keep seeing:

• Poor or non-compliant installation
• Incorrect spacing between the inverter and batteries
• Overcharging or excessive discharge beyond manufacturer limits
• Batteries exposed to high ambient heat or installed near heat-generating equipment
• Damage to batteries or wiring
• Ageing components and lack of maintenance
• Battery management system failures

With the demand for solar and backup power, the market is flooded with installers. Not all of them are properly qualified. That is where problems begin.

A valid electrical Certificate of Compliance and test report should be available, and the installation should meet manufacturer requirements and legal standards.

The quiet risk that causes big fires: what is stored nearby

A lithium battery failure is bad on its own.

A lithium battery failure next to combustible storage is how a small incident becomes a total building loss.

One of the simplest risk controls is also one of the most ignored:

Do not store combustible materials within two metres of the inverter and battery installation.

No cardboard, timber, paint, chemicals, stock, racking, packaging, or “just for now” storage.

If you would not store it next to a welding station, do not store it next to your batteries.

So what actually works?

Right now, the most reliable and cost-effective approach is not a fancy suppression product.

It is good risk placement and proper separation.

The best practical advice

• Install the system in a separate structure where possible
  A dedicated outbuilding, garage, or plant room is usually far safer than installing the system inside the main building.
• If it must be inside, treat it like a high-risk area
  Use proper fire-rated separation. Fire walls and compliant fire doors matter. A normal hollow-core door is not a fire door.
• Use qualified installers and keep the paperwork
  Compliance is not just a technical detail. It matters at claim stage.
• Keep a clear space around the system
  At least two metres. No exceptions.
• Inspect and maintain the system
  Regular checks help pick up early warning signs before failure.

Specialist lithium fire suppression products are entering the market and some look promising, but they are not a substitute for correct installation, correct location, and good housekeeping.

The insurance angle you should not ignore

Alternative energy systems are not “automatic cover” in every policy, especially when systems get larger.

Many insurers underwrite these installations based on generation and storage capacity. Larger systems may need to be declared, specified on the schedule, and sometimes assessed before cover applies.

If the system is undisclosed, non-compliant, or materially changed without notice, it can complicate a claim when you least need complications.

Landlords should also take note: if a tenant installs a system, the landlord still has exposure. This needs to be managed properly in leases and risk control requirements.

The takeaway

Alternative energy is a smart move, and for many businesses it is essential.

But it does change the fire risk profile of your building.

If you have an inverter and lithium batteries on site, the most important questions are simple:

• Is it installed correctly and legally?
• Is it placed in the safest possible location?
• Is the area around it clear of combustibles?
• Has it been properly declared to insurers?

Because when these lithium battery fires happen, they are rarely small.

Important Note

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or financial advice.