Overview of the new Euralarm EV parking garages fire safety guidance

Euralarm has published a new guidance document addressing fire safety concerns in parking garages that accommodate electric vehicles (EVs).

The document outlines key risks associated with EVs, such as thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, fire propagation in confined parking spaces, and the impact of increased vehicle sizes on fire spread.

It also provides an overview of mitigation strategies, including architectural adjustments, fire suppression systems, and enhanced detection methods.

The guidance compares the fire risks of EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, emphasising that modern vehicles contain higher plastic content, which can intensify fire spread.

It also highlights specific concerns related to charging stations, which pose an increased fire risk due to overheating and faulty connections.

Fire risks associated with electric vehicles in parking garages

The guidance outlines the unique fire risks of EVs compared to ICE vehicles.

One major concern is thermal runaway, where damaged or overheating lithium-ion battery cells trigger a chain reaction, leading to intense and prolonged fires.

The document notes that these fires are difficult to extinguish due to the sealed nature of EV battery packs.

Statistics referenced in the report indicate that while EV fires are less frequent than ICE vehicle fires, they present distinct challenges in confined environments such as parking garages.

The presence of charging infrastructure further complicates fire safety, as faults in cables and connectors can increase the likelihood of ignition.

Another factor highlighted is the increasing size of modern vehicles, including both EVs and ICE cars, which reduces spacing between parked vehicles.

This, combined with higher plastic content in contemporary vehicles, accelerates fire spread and increases the risk of structural damage in parking facilities.

Mitigation strategies and fire protection measures

Euralarm’s guidance outlines a range of fire protection strategies for EV parking garages.

These include:

• Architectural considerations: Adjusting parking layouts to increase vehicle spacing and designing fire-resistant enclosures for charging stations.
• Fire detection and suppression: Installing early fire detection systems, such as thermal cameras and gas sensors, alongside automated fire suppression systems like sprinklers and water mist systems.
• Charging station safety: Implementing fire-resistant enclosures for charging areas, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and requiring periodic inspections of charging cables and connectors.
• Emergency response planning: Developing protocols for fire service access, including designated firefighting zones and post-fire EV removal procedures to prevent re-ignition.

The guidance also stresses the importance of integrating multiple fire protection measures, rather than relying on a single solution, to enhance safety in EV parking facilities.

Regulatory considerations and recommendations

The guidance references international regulatory frameworks and national standards regarding EV fire safety in enclosed parking spaces.

It notes that some countries, such as Germany and France, have introduced specific safety requirements for EV charging stations in parking garages, including physical separation and enhanced ventilation systems.

Euralarm advises that fire protection strategies should be tailored to each facility’s design, taking into account national regulations, building codes, and insurance requirements.

The guidance encourages facility owners and policymakers to consider the long-term impact of EV adoption on parking infrastructure and fire safety measures.

Euralarm publishes fire safety guidance for electric vehicle parking garages: Summary

Euralarm has released a guidance document detailing fire safety considerations for electric vehicle (EV) parking garages.

The document highlights the risks associated with EV fires, particularly thermal runaway events in lithium-ion batteries, which can lead to prolonged and difficult-to-extinguish fires.

The guidance compares fire risks between EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, noting that modern vehicles contain increased plastic content, which contributes to faster fire spread.

It also addresses the challenges posed by charging stations, which can be potential ignition points due to faulty equipment or overheating.

To mitigate these risks, Euralarm recommends a combination of architectural changes, enhanced fire detection and suppression systems, and stricter safety protocols for EV charging stations.

The document also references international regulations and best practices for managing EV fire risks in enclosed parking structures.

Facility owners and policymakers are encouraged to integrate multiple fire safety measures to improve overall risk management in EV parking garages.

Overview of the new Euralarm EV parking garages fire safety guidance

Euralarm has published a new guidance document addressing fire safety concerns in parking garages that accommodate electric vehicles (EVs).

The document outlines key risks associated with EVs, such as thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, fire propagation in confined parking spaces, and the impact of increased vehicle sizes on fire spread.

It also provides an overview of mitigation strategies, including architectural adjustments, fire suppression systems, and enhanced detection methods.

The guidance compares the fire risks of EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, emphasising that modern vehicles contain higher plastic content, which can intensify fire spread.

It also highlights specific concerns related to charging stations, which pose an increased fire risk due to overheating and faulty connections.

Fire risks associated with electric vehicles in parking garages

The guidance outlines the unique fire risks of EVs compared to ICE vehicles.

One major concern is thermal runaway, where damaged or overheating lithium-ion battery cells trigger a chain reaction, leading to intense and prolonged fires.

The document notes that these fires are difficult to extinguish due to the sealed nature of EV battery packs.

Statistics referenced in the report indicate that while EV fires are less frequent than ICE vehicle fires, they present distinct challenges in confined environments such as parking garages.

The presence of charging infrastructure further complicates fire safety, as faults in cables and connectors can increase the likelihood of ignition.

Another factor highlighted is the increasing size of modern vehicles, including both EVs and ICE cars, which reduces spacing between parked vehicles.

This, combined with higher plastic content in contemporary vehicles, accelerates fire spread and increases the risk of structural damage in parking facilities.

Mitigation strategies and fire protection measures

Euralarm’s guidance outlines a range of fire protection strategies for EV parking garages.

These include:

• Architectural considerations: Adjusting parking layouts to increase vehicle spacing and designing fire-resistant enclosures for charging stations.
• Fire detection and suppression: Installing early fire detection systems, such as thermal cameras and gas sensors, alongside automated fire suppression systems like sprinklers and water mist systems.
• Charging station safety: Implementing fire-resistant enclosures for charging areas, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and requiring periodic inspections of charging cables and connectors.
• Emergency response planning: Developing protocols for fire service access, including designated firefighting zones and post-fire EV removal procedures to prevent re-ignition.

The guidance also stresses the importance of integrating multiple fire protection measures, rather than relying on a single solution, to enhance safety in EV parking facilities.

Regulatory considerations and recommendations

The guidance references international regulatory frameworks and national standards regarding EV fire safety in enclosed parking spaces.

It notes that some countries, such as Germany and France, have introduced specific safety requirements for EV charging stations in parking garages, including physical separation and enhanced ventilation systems.

Euralarm advises that fire protection strategies should be tailored to each facility’s design, taking into account national regulations, building codes, and insurance requirements.

The guidance encourages facility owners and policymakers to consider the long-term impact of EV adoption on parking infrastructure and fire safety measures.

Euralarm publishes fire safety guidance for electric vehicle parking garages: Summary

Euralarm has released a guidance document detailing fire safety considerations for electric vehicle (EV) parking garages.

The document highlights the risks associated with EV fires, particularly thermal runaway events in lithium-ion batteries, which can lead to prolonged and difficult-to-extinguish fires.

The guidance compares fire risks between EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, noting that modern vehicles contain increased plastic content, which contributes to faster fire spread.

It also addresses the challenges posed by charging stations, which can be potential ignition points due to faulty equipment or overheating.

To mitigate these risks, Euralarm recommends a combination of architectural changes, enhanced fire detection and suppression systems, and stricter safety protocols for EV charging stations.

The document also references international regulations and best practices for managing EV fire risks in enclosed parking structures.

Facility owners and policymakers are encouraged to integrate multiple fire safety measures to improve overall risk management in EV parking garages.