NFCC demands action over lithium-ion batteries as use outpaces safety standards

Lithium-ion batteries driving new UK fire risks

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has warned that rising use of lithium-ion batteries in UK homes is outpacing current product safety standards and called for urgent government action to address the resulting fire risks.

In a statement issued on Wednesday 19 November 2025, NFCC said lithium-ion battery fires can be explosive, spread quickly and produce toxic gases with a high risk of reignition.

The organisation warned that these incidents place the public, firefighters, property and the wider environment at increased risk.

NFCC has published new recommendations aimed at strengthening safety across lithium-ion-battery-powered consumer products and related energy technologies.

The council wants ministers to use existing and new regulatory powers to tighten product safety rules, including for items sold online.

It is also calling for better systems to dispose of batteries safely and new investment in research to help fire and rescue services manage these incidents.

NFCC said a coordinated national public information campaign is needed so that people understand how misuse, unsafe charging and product modification can raise the likelihood of lithium-ion battery fires.

Data on growing e-bike and e-scooter fire risks

NFCC reported that lithium-ion batteries are now embedded in a wide range of everyday products, including electric toothbrushes, tools, toys, mobile phones, tablets, laptops and vapes.

They also power personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) such as e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as electric vehicles (EVs).

While NFCC described these technologies as important for a low-carbon future, it stressed that fires involving lithium-ion batteries are complex, produce toxic and potentially explosive vapours and carry a serious risk of reignition.

According to Prevention of Future Death reports cited by NFCC, at least six fatalities since 2023 have been linked to e-bike and e-scooter fires.

Between January 2021 and September 2023, a search of free-text entries in the Government’s Incident Recording System found 139 fire records that mentioned e-bikes and 124 that referred to e-scooters.

The Government has acknowledged that this dataset may be incomplete, and NFCC believes the true number of lithium-ion battery incidents is higher.

London Fire Brigade attended 179 fires involving e-bikes or e-scooters in 2023 and in 2024 the Office for Product Safety and Standards received reports of 211 such fires, close to half of which occurred indoors.

NFCC noted that reporting to the Office for Product Safety and Standards is voluntary, so these figures are likely to be an underestimate.

Product Safety and Metrology Act powers welcomed

NFCC has linked its lithium-ion battery concerns to the new Product Safety and Metrology Act 2025, which has recently received Royal Assent.

The act gives Government powers to introduce enforceable safety rules for products such as e-bikes and e-scooters, including items sold through online marketplaces.

NFCC said these powers could be used to reduce the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries if they are implemented promptly and effectively.

The council welcomed the legislation but said urgent work is still needed to close existing safety gaps and ensure the powers are used to protect people and firefighters.

NFCC is also asking policymakers to recognise wider fire safety issues linked to emerging energy technologies beyond lithium-ion batteries, covering the full range of new storage and charging systems.

It argued that regulatory frameworks need to be flexible and able to adapt at pace as energy technology changes.

NFCC recommendations on Lithium-ion batteries and wider energy risks

In its Fire Risks in Energy Technologies Position Statements, NFCC set out a series of actions it wants Government and regulators to take.

It called for mandatory product safety rules and third-party testing for personal light electric vehicles.

NFCC also wants online marketplaces to be regulated so that all lithium-ion battery products sold in the UK must meet designated safety standards.

The council recommended a safe, accessible disposal regime for lithium-ion batteries, including damaged units, to reduce the chance of unsafe storage or handling.

It urged updates to Building Regulations guidance so that the fire risks from storing and charging energy technologies in homes and public places are fully addressed.

NFCC said fire and rescue service advice should be considered and responded to when services are consulted on fire safety risks, including comments under the Fire Safety Order during Building Regulations processes.

The council has asked for national public awareness campaigns on the safe use and disposal of lithium-ion-battery-powered products and for ongoing research funding to improve firefighting tactics and training for energy technology incidents.

It also called for better coordination across Government and regular consultation with fire safety specialists to aid long-term risk planning.

NFCC Chair Phil Garrigan said the growing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in homes is reshaping the work of fire and rescue services and requires stronger protections from Government and industry.

Phil Garrigan, National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, said: “Lithium-ion batteries are now everywhere in our homes – powering the phones in our pockets, the laptops on our desks, e-scooters, and cordless appliances we use every day.

“But these technologies must not come at the cost of public and firefighter safety.

“The fire risks linked to these familiar products are evolving far faster than the safety standards designed to protect us.

“When things go wrong with lithium-ion batteries the consequences can be devastating, and tragically, lives have already been lost.

“Fire and rescue services are the first line of defence when these batteries fail, facing fires that are incredibly complex and dangerous to tackle.

“They need stronger protection, clear standards, and better tools from government and industry to continue safeguarding people and property as these batteries become ever more common in our homes.”

How NFCC’s lithium-ion battery position could shape practice

NFCC’s call for mandatory product safety rules and third-party testing for personal light electric vehicles could influence how fire and rescue chiefs and senior officers assess risk from e-bikes and e-scooters in their areas.

The focus on regulating online marketplaces and requiring designated safety standards for lithium-ion battery products is directly relevant for standards and certification bodies that advise on conformity and enforcement.

Requests for updated Building Regulations guidance on storing and charging energy technologies in homes and public places could affect building services engineers and facility managers who specify locations for charging points and storage areas.

The emphasis on safe, accessible disposal routes for damaged or end-of-life batteries could change procedures for risk assessors, fire-protection contractors and electrical contractors who frequently manage equipment removal and waste streams.

NFCC’s call for investment in research on firefighting tactics and training for energy technology incidents could shape future work by training officers and instructors as operational guidance for lithium-ion battery fires develops.