Over the past few weeks, Fire & Rescue Services have been highlighting the risks associated with incorrect battery disposal. There’s currently a national campaign warning about lithium batteries being placed in general waste - and the fires that can result.
But there’s another side to this issue that isn’t being discussed as widely.
For many fire & security businesses, the risk isn’t just disposal.
It’s transport.
The Overlooked Risk: Batteries in the Van
Engineers regularly remove, replace and transport:
-
Sealed lead-acid batteries
-
Lithium batteries
-
Backup system batteries
-
Panel batteries
-
Emergency lighting batteries
Once removed from site, these batteries often go straight into the van.
If terminals are exposed and the battery comes into contact with metal shelving, tools, cable drums or other batteries, a short circuit can occur.
That can mean:
-
Rapid overheating
-
Thermal runaway (in lithium cells)
-
Ignition
-
Full vehicle fire
And we are hearing about vehicle fires far more frequently.
In many cases, the cause is preventable.
A Simple Control That’s Often Missed
Securing terminals before transport is basic electrical safety - but in busy operational environments it’s easy to overlook.
Practical controls should include:
-
Taping or covering exposed terminals immediately on removal
-
Using appropriate containers for temporary storage
-
Avoiding stacking loose batteries together
-
Separating batteries from conductive materials
-
Ensuring proper disposal through approved recycling routes
None of this is complex.
But it does require awareness and discipline.
This Is a Competence Issue
Battery safety isn’t just a disposal conversation. It links directly to broader technical competence.
Under BS 5839-1, engineers responsible for installation, commissioning and maintenance must understand:
-
Battery specification
-
Environmental considerations
-
Charging regimes
-
End-of-life replacement
-
Safe removal procedures
If we only focus on passing inspections and signing certificates, we miss the bigger picture.
Competence is about understanding the full lifecycle of the system - including what happens when components leave the building.
The Cultural Point
Many vehicle fires start quietly.
A short circuit in the back of a van doesn’t announce itself until smoke appears - and by then, it’s often too late.
The real issue isn’t whether engineers know batteries can be dangerous.
It’s whether procedures make safe handling automatic.
-
Is terminal protection standard practice?
-
Are vans set up to segregate batteries?
-
Do toolbox talks reinforce this?
-
Is disposal part of formal training conversations?
If not, it should be.
A Small Detail With Serious Consequences
We spend a lot of time discussing standards, compliance and certification - rightly so.
But sometimes the biggest risks aren’t in the system design.
They’re in the small, practical details.
Sometimes the most significant fire risk isn’t in the building.
It’s in the van.