Electric and hybrid vehicles are now becoming a routine part of servicing, diagnostics and repair work – from MOT lanes and inspection bays, to body shops and fleet maintenance facilities. Service schedules are now beginning to kick in as EVs age. That brings a different type of fire risk: lithium battery incidents, which can escalate quickly and generate intense heat and smoke. These fires are also typically harder to stabilise compared to traditional vehicle fires. Fire Cloak™ provides a high-performance, practical containment option to help workshops protect technicians, facilities, customer vehicles and business continuity.

Trusted by repair workshops and automotive service organisations to manage EV fire risk across workshop floors, service bays, vehicle storage areas and charging locations.

Workshops are enclosed, equipment-heavy environments where EVs may be raised on ramps, connected to diagnostics, charging for testing, or parked closely alongside other vehicles. That means there’s often limited space, limited separation, and plenty of surrounding assets you can’t afford to lose – from tools and lifting equipment to customer vehicles and the building itself. Batteries may also be removed if damaged, leading to exposed battery units.

If a battery incident escalates into thermal runaway, it can be prolonged and difficult to stabilise, with very high temperatures and the risk of re-ignition. In a workshop, heat and smoke can spread fast – putting technicians at risk, damaging equipment and forcing shutdowns that quickly disrupt bookings, throughput and revenue.

As EV volumes increase across independent garages, body shops and specialist facilities, workshops need a way to isolate a suspected vehicle quickly and keep the situation contained, while established procedures and emergency response plans take over.

In repair workshop environments, EV containment must meet workplace safety obligations and insurer requirements, while remaining straightforward for trained technicians to use in tight, operational spaces.

A controlled response typically depends on:

• Containment equipment positioned close EV service areas – service bays, MOT lanes, inspection areas and charging points
• A deployment approach that works in confined indoor spaces, around ramps and equipment
• Clear fit with existing workshop fire safety equipment, evacuation procedures and emergency protocols
• Storage that keeps equipment protected, visible, and “grab-and-go” ready
• Independent performance evidence (testing/certification) that provides confidence
• Simplicity – so trained staff can act quickly under pressure

Fire Cloak™ EV Fire Blankets are engineered and manufactured in the UK, and built for challenging environments where people, vehicles and property sit close together – including service bays, diagnostic areas, MOT lanes, vehicle storage zones and EV charging points.

Fire Cloak™ is independently tested and certified to DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11, with additional testing aligned to relevant ISO and BSI standards. For workshops, that means a proven containment option that can be stored on site and deployed by trained teams to help isolate an incident quickly indoors – with performance verified independently.

Workshops typically position EV containment capability where vehicles are serviced, inspected, charged or stored. Common use cases include:

• Service bays and diagnostic areas: EVs connected to tools, lifts and equipment in tight indoor spaces
• MOT lanes and inspection areas: vehicles stationary for extended periods during checks and testing
• EV charging points: commissioning, fault finding and post-repair charging
• Vehicle storage zones (indoor/outdoor): customer vehicles awaiting parts, authorisation or collection
• Quarantine areas: for damaged, suspect or post-incident EVs

In repair workshops, incidents are most likely to occur indoors, close to people and equipment – so speed, clarity and access to the right kit matter. Fire Cloak™ can be supplied in storage boxes and easily positioned at strategic locations so that trained teams can respond without delay.

A typical deployment can be carried out quickly by trained workshop staff as follows:

1. Retrieve the blanket from its designated storage location.
2. Approach the vehicle and prepare deployment in line with workshop fire safety and evacuation procedures.
3. Deploy the blanket over the vehicle to help isolate the incident and limit heat/smoke spread.
4. Continue response actions in coordination with existing firefighting equipment and emergency protocols.

Fire Cloak™ is trusted by automotive and industrial organisations across the UK, including Protech MOT & Automotive Academy, The Vella Group, Vehicle Bodycare Centre and Wessex Garages to support EV fire safety in repair workshops, maintenance facilities and controlled service environments.

If you have a specific question about Fire Cloak™ for repair workshop applications that isn’t answered here, please get in touch with our team for tailored advice.

If you operate a repair workshop or maintenance facility and work with electric or hybrid vehicles as part of daily operations, Fire Cloak™ can support your EV fire preparedness with a practical containment solution that integrates seamlessly into existing workshop fire safety and emergency response procedures.