London Fire Brigade is asking e-bike users to check their batteries following a fire caused by an exploding battery that has been officially classed by the UK’s regulatory body as a “dangerous” product.
The battery pack caught alight in a corridor of a hotel in Kensington on Friday 26 January with around 25 firefighters required to put the fire out.
In January, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) announced it is taking enforcement action against the manufacturer of the UPP battery after its products were linked to a number of fires in the UK.
Five online marketplaces have been issued with Withdrawal Notices, which require them to stop supplying the UPP battery. The Withdrawal Notice has also been issued to 20 sellers directly and the China-based manufacturer.
The Brigade's Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: "The recent enforcement action taken by the Office for Product Safety & Standards is a welcome step towards reducing the risk of customers being exposed to dangerous products.
"The lithium batteries that power these vehicles have failed catastrophically and caused devastating fires. We’re asking people to check whether they have a UPP battery at home. If you do, stop using it right away, and contact the seller.
"Often, these batteries fail if they are used with the wrong charger, are faulty, counterfeit or become damaged. As part of our #ChargeSafe campaign, we are calling for much-needed legislation for online marketplaces to ensure products like batteries, chargers and conversion kits are strictly regulated.”
Graham Russell, Chief Executive of OPSS, said: “We consider these UPP batteries to be dangerous, and that is why we are taking this action to stop them being supplied. This fire in Kensington really emphasises why we’ve taken the action that we have. Consumers need to be aware of the risk of these batteries failing, and the potential fatal consequences that can occur. If anyone owns one, they should not use it and contact the seller for redress.”
At the fire, a man inside a hotel room heard the battery pack making a hissing noise and when he touched it, felt that it was unusually hot. Picking up the battery, he then placed the battery down on the ground just outside his room. Around 20 minutes later, the battery caught alight, quickly filling the corridor with smoke. He was seen trying to smother the fire but was unable to do so, due to the intensity of the fire.
Firefighters were on the scene four minutes after being alerted and worked to extinguish the fire. There were no reports of injuries with around 80 people safely evacuating the building.
Assistant Commissioner Pugsley added: “This was a lucky escape for the occupant who inadvertently compromised his own escape route as well as others by placing it where he did in the corridor. If a battery is showing signs of failing, such as if it’s too hot, leave it alone and raise the alarm. In this case, the occupant picked the battery up before later trying to put out the fire using extinguishers. You should never try and tackle a lithium battery fire. Instead get away and call 999.”
E-bikes and e-scooters have become London’s fastest growing fire risk. In the early hours of this morning, around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a flat in Whitechapel. Two people were rescued by firefighters via ladders. The fire is believed to have been caused by the failure of a lithium battery in an e-bike which was being stored on an escape route (hallway).
Anyone know which bikes have UUP batteries installed?
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