Lithium-Ion Battery Challenges for Modern Facilities

Once largely associated with consumer electronics, lithium-ion technology now underpins a growing range of building systems and equipment. From uninterruptible power supplies and energy storage systems to electric maintenance vehicles, e-bikes and EV charging infrastructure, batteries are becoming embedded throughout modern facilities.

As organizations pursue electrification, sustainability and resilience goals, battery deployments are accelerating. Yet many facilities teams are discovering that the risks associated with lithium-ion technology differ significantly from those posed by conventional electrical equipment. A battery incident can develop rapidly, generate intense heat, release toxic gases and, in some cases, reignite hours or even days after an initial event.

For facilities managers, the challenge is no longer simply understanding how to prevent incidents. It is developing comprehensive strategies that encompass detection, response, remediation and business continuity.

A Hidden Ecosystem
Lithium-ion batteries are no longer confined to specialist industrial applications. Today, they are embedded throughout the built environment, often in places where occupants and even building operators may not immediately recognize their presence.

Hospitals rely on battery-backed systems to support critical equipment and maintain continuity during power disruptions. Universities and corporate campuses increasingly accommodate electric mobility devices, from e-bikes and scooters to maintenance vehicles. Commercial buildings are adopting battery energy storage systems to support sustainability goals, while data centers, telecommunications facilities and emergency response centers depend on battery infrastructure to maintain uptime.

As organizations continue to pursue decarbonization and electrification strategies, battery deployments are expected to increase significantly. While these technologies provide clear operational and environmental benefits, they also introduce new safety considerations that many facilities were not originally designed to manage.

The challenge for facilities managers is visibility. Unlike traditional building risks that are easy to identify and monitor, batteries can be dispersed throughout a property portfolio in multiple forms and locations. Understanding where batteries are located, their capacity, age and intended use is becoming a critical first step in managing risk effectively.

Why Lithium-Ion Incidents Are Different
While any fire presents serious consequences, lithium-ion battery incidents behave differently from conventional fires and often require a different approach to prevention and response.

The primary concern is a phenomenon known as thermal runaway. This occurs when a battery cell experiences an internal failure that generates heat faster than it can dissipate. The resulting chain reaction can spread rapidly between cells, producing extremely high temperatures and releasing flammable and toxic gases.

Unlike many conventional fires, battery incidents can escalate with little warning. In some cases, batteries may exhibit signs of distress beforehand such as swelling, unusual odors, excessive heat or audible popping sounds. However, these warning signs are not always present.

Another challenge is the potential for re-ignition. Even after a fire appears extinguished, damaged battery cells can retain enough energy to reignite hours or even days later. This creates additional complexity for emergency responders and facilities teams tasked with restoring operations.

For facilities managers, the implications extend beyond fire damage alone. Smoke contamination, air quality concerns, evacuation procedures and operational disruption can all become significant consequences of a relatively localized battery event.

Early Detection and Intervention
As awareness of battery-related risks grows, many organizations are investing in improved detection capabilities. Advances in sensing technologies can provide earlier indication of overheating batteries, off-gassing events and abnormal operating conditions.

These technologies are helping facilities teams move away from purely reactive approaches and toward earlier intervention. However, detection alone does not eliminate risk. When a potential battery issue is identified, personnel must understand who receives the notification, how the event is assessed and what actions should be taken to protect occupants and assets.

This is particularly important in facilities that operate around the clock or maintain limited on-site staffing. Many modern buildings, campuses and infrastructure assets cannot rely on immediate human observation to identify developing hazards. As a result, facilities managers are increasingly looking at how monitoring, communications and response procedures can work together as part of a broader safety framework.

Building a Response Strategy
One of the most effective measures facilities managers can take is developing an accurate inventory of battery assets across their properties. Understanding the type, size and location of battery installations provides the foundation for risk assessment and emergency planning.

Organizations should also establish clear response protocols that define responsibilities during a battery-related incident. This includes identifying decision-makers, outlining evacuation procedures and ensuring that relevant stakeholders receive timely information.

Collaboration with local emergency services is equally important. Fire departments may have specific requirements or recommendations regarding battery storage, suppression approaches and site access. Engaging responders before an incident occurs can improve preparedness and reduce uncertainty during an emergency.

Training also plays a critical role. Facilities personnel should understand the warning signs of battery distress and know how to escalate concerns appropriately. Regular drills can help ensure that emergency procedures remain effective and familiar.

Ultimately, preparedness is not about eliminating all risk. It is about reducing the likelihood of an incident escalating into a larger operational crisis.

Remediation and Recovery After Incidents
While considerable attention is given to preventing battery incidents, remediation can present some of the most significant challenges for facilities managers.

Following a battery event, organizations may need to address smoke contamination, air quality concerns, damaged infrastructure and the safe handling of compromised battery materials. Specialized cleanup procedures are frequently required, particularly where hazardous residues or contaminants are involved.

Business continuity also becomes a major consideration. Even when physical damage is limited, affected areas may remain inaccessible while investigations, repairs and environmental assessments are completed.

Facilities teams should consider remediation planning as part of their broader emergency preparedness efforts. Questions such as who will conduct post-incident assessments, how damaged batteries will be removed and when spaces can safely be reoccupied should be addressed before an incident occurs.

Regulatory Changes and Expectations
The rapid growth of battery technology is prompting regulators, standards bodies and industry organizations to update guidance and establish new requirements.

In the U.S., evolving standards such as the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 855 have already helped shape best practices for energy storage systems. This provides the minimum safety requirements for the design, installation and operation of stationary energy storage systems, setting out criteria for siting, fire protection, ventilation and emergency response to reduce the risk of fire and limit its impact.

Additionally, the development of the first full lifecycle standard for battery safety, NFPA 800 represents a broader effort to address battery safety from manufacturing and transportation to installation, operation and end-of-life management.

These developments reflect a wider recognition that battery technologies require dedicated safety frameworks rather than simple adaptation of existing fire protection standards. Facilities managers should expect continued evolution in this area. Building owners, insurers, regulators and occupants are all placing greater emphasis on battery safety as installations become more widespread.

Remaining informed about emerging standards and local requirements will be essential for maintaining compliance and demonstrating responsible risk management.

Looking Ahead
The role of lithium-ion batteries within the built environment is set to expand significantly over the coming decade. The growth of electric vehicles, renewable energy integration, backup power systems and digital infrastructure will continue to drive adoption across virtually every sector. At the same time, expectations around resilience, sustainability and operational continuity will place additional demands on facilities teams.

This presents both an opportunity and a responsibility.

Facilities managers have always played a critical role in protecting people, property and operations. As battery technologies become increasingly embedded within the facilities they oversee, that responsibility is evolving.

Organizations that take a proactive approach – combining risk assessment, monitoring, emergency planning and remediation preparedness – will be better positioned to navigate this changing landscape. The goal is not simply to respond to battery incidents more effectively, but to build safer, more resilient facilities capable of supporting the technologies that modern society increasingly depends upon.

James Pecz is Vice President at Ramtech North America. Ramtech designs and develops industry-leading wireless life safety solutions used across construction, infrastructure and industrial environments. With more than 35 years of experience, the company specializes in temporary fire detection, evacuation alerting and site safety systems that help protect people, assets and projects during construction and refurbishment.