Britannia Fire launches AVD extinguisher and blanket for battery fires

Britannia Fire adds AVD products for battery fires

Britannia Fire has launched a 6-litre Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) fire extinguisher and an AVD fire blanket for lithium-ion battery fires.

Britannia Fire said the products were developed in response to a rise in UK incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, e-bikes and scooters, consumer electronics and communication systems.

The new AVD extinguisher is the latest addition to the company’s P50 range.

It uses a water-based extinguishing fluid mixed with vermiculite particles for lithium-ion battery fires.

When discharged onto a fire, the water cools the affected area and the vermiculite forms an insulating layer to smother flames and help prevent reignition.

The blanket is made from high-silica glass fibres with flame and heat-deflecting surface coatings and an oxidised base fabric.

It is designed to be placed over a burning battery-powered device to help contain flames, block heat radiation and limit fire spread.

The P50 AVD can then be discharged under the blanket edge to cool and extinguish the fire.

Product details and intended use

Britannia Fire said the new products are intended for areas with charging stations or groups of battery-powered devices.

Andy Spence, Managing Director of Britannia Fire, said: “It’s concerning that fires involving lithium-ion batteries are on the rise.

“These fires are by nature more explosive and intense than typical fires and can be particularly difficult to manage.

“Our new P50 AVD fire extinguisher and AVD fire blankets provide a powerful, complementary solution for tackling these fires.

“The blanket isolates and contains the incident, helping to prevent escalation, while the P50 AVD rapidly cools and suppresses the flames with precision and safety.”

Spence added: “Many of us rely on lithium-ion powered devices every day, both at home and at work, which is why having the right fire protection in the right places is essential.

“Our new AVD products are particularly suitable for areas with charging stations or clusters of e-battery devices, whether that’s car parks, warehouses, work spaces, bike storage areas or IT equipment rooms.”

The AVD fire blankets are available in three sizes for electronics, e-bikes or scooters, and electric cars.

Britannia Fire said the P50 AVD is fully recyclable, has a 20 year life span and comes with a 10 year guarantee.

Simple checks can be carried out by a responsible person, with record-keeping logged through the Britannia Fire App.