Fire Cloak™ is featured in the August 2026 edition of the International Fire & Safety Journal (IFSJ), examining an important question for anyone responsible for managing lithium battery fire risks: what does an effective response look like when immediate extinguishment may not be possible?
The feature, From extinguishment to containment, explores why the growth of electric vehicles and other battery-powered equipment requires organisations to reconsider some established assumptions about fire safety.
For decades, successful firefighting has focused on putting out a fire as quickly as possible. But lithium batteries have unique properties which mean battery fires can behave very differently. This does not mean extinguishment is no longer important. It means that isolation, containment and control may also need to play a central role in preventing a single incident from becoming a much wider emergency.
Here are three of the key points explored in the feature:
Containment is an active form of fire control
The move from extinguishment to containment can sound counterintuitive. If a battery is on fire, why would the immediate objective not be to put it out?
When a lithium battery enters thermal runaway, the reaction generates intense heat, smoke, toxic gases and its own oxygen. The cells are often enclosed deep inside a strong, sealed battery casing, making it difficult for water to reach the source of the incident. Even when the visible flames have been suppressed, damaged cells may retain enough energy to reignite.
Containment recognises these realities. Its purpose is to isolate the affected vehicle or battery, control the visible fire and limit the movement of flames, heat, smoke and toxic gases while the incident is managed.
It is not a passive response. It is a deliberate action designed to bring greater control to an unpredictable situation.
The objective is to prevent escalation
A lithium battery incident does not happen in isolation. The surrounding environment can determine how serious its consequences become.
In a confined or densely occupied location – such as a car park, ferry, workshop or logistics facility – vehicles and other valuable assets are generally positioned close together. Access may be restricted, while smoke, toxic gases and extreme heat can quickly threaten people, property and infrastructure.
In these situations, containing the affected asset quickly can buy valuable time and reduce the risk of the fire spreading, before emergency services can bring the incident under control.
A specialist EV fire blanket forms a key part of this containment response. When correctly deployed, it can help suppress external flames, reduce heat transfer and limit the spread of smoke and toxic vapours. By preventing escalation, it makes the incident more manageable.
The blanket does not replace evacuation procedures, trained responders, personal protective equipment or the fire and rescue services. Its value comes from how it supports a properly planned and coordinated response.
Containment equipment needs evidence behind it
Vehicle fire blankets have been available for several years, but until recently there was no dedicated framework for assessing the performance of a complete fire limitation blanket designed for EVs.
A fire-resistant fabric classification alone cannot show whether the finished product will withstand the demanding conditions of a lithium battery incident. This is why independent testing and certification are so important.
Developed in Germany, DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11 was the first dedicated specification to set out testing and performance requirements for fire limitation blankets used with electric vehicles. It provides a dedicated testing framework covering the complete blanket.
Fire Cloak™ has achieved full testing and certification to DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11, providing organisations with transparent, documented evidence of its performance.
A changing approach to a changing risk
As battery technology becomes increasingly integrated into vehicles, workplaces and public infrastructure, organisations need fire strategies that reflect the realities of lithium battery incidents.
Fire Cloak™ puts this containment-led approach into practice. Designed and manufactured in the UK, and independently certified to DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11, it gives organisations a proven way to isolate an affected vehicle, limit the spread of fire, heat and toxic vapours, and help protect the people, assets and operations around it.
Read the full International Fire & Safety Journal feature: Lithium battery fires: From extinguishment to containment – IFSJ
To discuss how Fire Cloak™ can support your lithium battery fire strategy, contact our team.
Confidence. Control. Continuity.
