What does the storage of lithium-ion batteries actually involve?

The boom in energy storage and the EV market means that the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries is now an issue that cannot be ignored. Why? Well… You don’t want to cause a lithium battery fire, do you? And that is one of the risks such a battery poses. Today, we’ll explain what the storage of lithium-ion batteries actually entails.

What are lithium-ion batteries and why is storing them a challenge?

Most of us associate these cells with the consumer electronics we use every day. So it can’t be dangerous, can it? Nothing could be further from the truth!

Lithium-ion batteries are classified as high-risk cargo (ADR Class 9). Recently, on our blog, Wojciech Wiśniewski, our Business Development Director and Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor, discussed how even the logistics industry ignores the risks of storing lithium batteries! Our expert also warned against the lack of appropriate safety procedures.

He reminded us that the carrier of such a dangerous battery is… even a smartphone.

Let’s stop pretending that storing lithium-ion batteries is safe. To understand the risks involved, let’s consider what such a battery consists of.

How is a cell constructed and what is the thermal runaway mechanism?

A Li-ion cell is a complex system comprising an anode, a cathode and a highly flammable electrolyte, separated by a polymer separator. During operation, lithium ions move between the electrodes, which naturally generates heat. The problem arises when the separator is damaged. And a lithium battery fire is ready to happen. Really, that’s all it takes.

When the separator is damaged, a phenomenon known as ‘thermal runaway’ occurs. This is an uncontrolled chain reaction that makes a lithium battery fire extremely difficult to control. The battery itself begins to produce oxygen, which sustains combustion even without access to air. This causes traditional fire-fighting methods to fail.

What requirements must a warehouse meet to safely store lithium-ion batteries?

The appropriate requirements for storing lithium-ion batteries extend beyond the building’s structure alone. You must constantly monitor the batteries’ parameters and check their condition. A covered room is not enough; you need technology that can anticipate the risk.

According to the AIG report “Standard of Care at Warehouses Storing Lithium-ion Batteries and Products that Include Them” (MLCE, 2022), a warehouse must provide cool and dry storage conditions for lithium batteries. The temperature must not fall below 0°C (32°F), with an optimal level of around 10°C (50°F).

Storage at higher temperatures increases the risk of spontaneous combustion, which is why we carry out thermal imaging(infrared scanning) as early as the unloading stage and on a daily basis in the warehouse.

In addition to temperature, the report defines several other mandatory requirements for the storage of lithium-ion batteries:

  1. State of Charge (SoC) – a level above 30–50% is a warning sign; batteries with a high SoC must be segregated immediately.
  2. Separation and quarantine – batteries that are damaged, overheated, have damaged packaging or have been dropped must be immediately moved to a separate, secure area (away from the rest of the stock).
  3. Storage organisation – pallets containing lithium-ion batteries must not be stacked on top of one another (unless in a dedicated racking system).
  4. Fire protection – the warehouse must be equipped with a fire detection system (compliant with NFPA 72 or equivalent) and an automatic sprinkler system designed in accordance with NFPA 13 (with internal hydrants in accordance with NFPA 14).

How can fire safety for lithium-ion batteries be ensured?

Detection systems in such a warehouse must detect more than just smoke. Monitor the concentration of gases, such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide, which are released even before a flame appears.

NFPA 855 requires that rooms containing lithium-ion batteries have forced exhaust ventilation to keep the concentration of flammable gases below 25% of the lower explosive limit. The ventilation must activate automatically upon a signal from the gas detection system, and the entire system must have a backup power supply.

Also equip the warehouse with REI 120 fire partitions. Thanks to these, even if a lithium battery fire breaks out, the fire will not spread to the rest of the building. With these improvements, you will make it easier to store lithium-ion batteries safely.

How to extinguish a lithium battery fire?

If a lithium battery fire occurs, the response time and type of extinguishing agent determine the survival of the infrastructure.

According to the publication “Hazards of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS): mitigation strategies, minimum requirements and best practices” (Galushkin et al., 2023), extinguishing fires in lithium-ion battery energy storage systems requires vast quantities of water for intensive cooling of the cells.

However, the water is not used here to cut off the oxygen supply (the batteries themselves generate oxygen during the reaction), but to rapidly lower the temperature in order to stop the propagation of thermal runaway to adjacent pallets or modules. Without sufficient water, the chain reaction can continue for a very long time and spread further.

How can it be extinguished? We rely on high-capacity sprinkler systems, designed in accordance with VdS CEA 4001 guidelines. These require sprinklers on every shelf level, an appropriate water spray density, and additional horizontal metal barriers. Without such an installation, firefighting is doomed to failure from the outset. Conventional fire suppression systems simply cannot keep up with the cooling requirements.

Why is it so difficult to extinguish a lithium battery fire?

Why does a lithium battery fire spread so quickly?

The thermal runaway mechanism mentioned earlier means that a lithium battery fire is no ordinary fire. It is a violent release of energy, often in the form of a so-called jet fire (a stream of fire ejected under pressure). Such a flame instantly heats up neighbouring modules. Propagation occurs in an avalanche-like manner.

What does the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries look like in practice?

This is best explained using the example of our ADECON Battery Warehouse. It is the first facility in Europe to meet the highest European safety standards for Li-Ion batteries.

In our warehouse, every battery is under round-the-clock protection. A unique 24-hour thermal imaging monitoring system scans the temperature of all stored goods. Thanks to this, even the slightest deviation is detected at an early stage, before a problem arises.

Each pallet space on the racks (up to 4,088 EPAL pallets protected by sprinklers) has an individual sprinkler (type K240, pressure 2.4 bar), supported by additional sprinklers suspended from the ceiling. The racks are reinforced and separated by metal barriers, ensuring that any fire is confined to a single rack.

The combination of early thermal imaging detection and precise, targeted fire protection means that the ADECON Battery Warehouse provides the highest level of safety for lithium-ion batteries.

Unlike standard logistics warehouses, our facility allows for the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries. This ensures supply chain continuity, full compliance with customs regulations and ADR, and gives your insurer peace of mind. The risk of a lithium battery fire is negligible.

The most common mistakes when storing lithium-ion batteries (and how to avoid them)

Unfortunately, many businesses still treat lithium-ion batteries as ordinary goods. Here are the most common mistakes made when storing them:

  1. Storing them in random, ordinary logistics warehouses without dedicated fire protection.
  2. Failure to separate them from flammable materials and other goods.
  3. Storing at great heights (above 4–5 metres) without localised sprinkler protection.
  4. Ignoring the state of charge (SoC) of incoming batteries.
  5. Lack of regular inspections and early detection of damage.
  6. Stacking pallets on top of each other without racking or in an incorrect configuration.

How to avoid these mistakes?

  1. Choose specialist warehouses only.
  2. Always maintain adequate separation.
  3. Limit storage height.
  4. Check the state of charge upon receipt.
  5. Introduce regular inspections.
  6. Always use the original packaging.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can lithium-ion batteries be stored in a standard warehouse?

No, because standard warehouses do not meet fire safety standards and do not have gas detection systems. To ensure the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries, an ATEX-certified infrastructure with REI 120 partitions is required.

What is a safe temperature for storing Li-ion batteries?

The safest range is 15–25°C. Higher temperatures accelerate chemical degradation and may trigger a lithium battery fire through a thermal runaway reaction.

What are the main requirements for storing lithium-ion batteries?

The most important include: temperature and humidity control, high-capacity sprinkler systems, gas detection and maintaining a low state of charge.

Do insurers require special safety measures for batteries?

Yes, most insurers require compliance with standards such as NFPA 855 or VdS CEA 4001. Failure to comply may result in a refusal to pay compensation if a lithium battery fire breaks out.

Risk management in battery logistics is a necessity today. Appropriate requirements for the storage of lithium-ion batteries protect your business from disaster. Do you want to be sure your goods are safe? Contact ADECON. With us, every consignment is safe.

References:

  1. AIG. (2026). Standard of Care at Warehouses Storing Lithium-ion. Retrieved from:https://www.aig.com/content/dam/aig/america-canada/us/documents/business/risk-engineering/mlce/mlce-li-ion-warehouse-store-aig.pdf
  2. BiznesAlert. (2026). Energy storage in Europe: a 100 GW boom. Retrieved from:https://biznesalert.pl/magazyny-energii-w-europie-boom-na-miare-100-gw-ale-sa-ograniczenia/
  3. Galushkin, D., et al. (2024). Hazards of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS). ResearchGate. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371850177
  4. NFPA 855. Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems. National Fire Protection Association.
  5. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 on batteries and waste batteries.
  6. VdS CEA 4001. Sprinkler Systems, Planning and Installation. VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH.
  7. Wiśniewski, W. (2026). Storage of lithium-ion batteries: the logistics industry continues to ignore the real risks. ADECON Know-how. Retrieved from: https://adecon.eu/pl/know-how/pokaz/20,magazynowanie-baterii-litowo-jonowych:-branza-logistyczna-wciaz-ignoruje-realne-ryzyko--ekspert-ostrzega
Share:

Back