As a leader in industrial safety solutions and energy storage system (ESS) protection, Fike Corporation is committed to sharing our knowledge to keep people and property safe.
Because of Fike’s 80 years of industry expertise and daily internal and third-party testing, and because we are not beholden to one solution group, we have the ability to be forthcoming and truthful with our knowledge as well as the ability to be product agnostic.
Our mission is to ensure people return home every day to their families, which includes our continued efforts in spreading truthful and helpful information to those decision makers who need to hear it, because we believe it can ultimately protect someone’s life.
We say all this because of a letter recently distributed by a major fire protection provider that stated that through all of their testing, they have come to the conclusion that no solution exists to stop cascading thermal runaway.
While we do agree with much of the letter, we disagree that thermal runaway is an unsolvable problem.
Anyone involved in ESS safety has likely by now heard of Fike Blue through our continued presence at global battery tradeshows, frequent information delivered via social media, podcast appearances, trade publication articles, and through various other channels.
Fike Blue is a thermal management system that absorbs the heat from thermal runaway and has been proven to work time and time again both at the Fike Research and Innovation Center in Blue Springs, Mo. and through third-party National Recognized Testing Laboratories such as CSA. Consequently, NFPA 855 is planning to include a new section regarding thermal management as a viable solution to suppressing cascading thermal runaway.
However, Fike’s ESS protection strategies do not end with Fike Blue. Our Battery Hazard Analysis service provides consultancy, testing, validation and system design of a reliable protection stragegy that will pass UL 9540A. This includes determining methods of achieving “explosion control” defined by NFPA 855 and may include a system of exhaust ventilation, explosion vents, gas detection and even Fike Blue to reduce offgassing as quickly as possible.
We have spoken to countless AHJs, industry professionals and decision makers who are confused by what is and what is not the truth regarding ESS safety. This is a real problem that we safety organizations must agree upon what works and what doesn’t because people’s lives are at stake. The longer these installations go unprotected, and due to the increasing number of ESS’s that are projected to be deployed over the next few decades, it’s up to all of us to ensure decision makers are equipped with accurate information to ensure employees, first responders and nearby communities are protected from what we all know is a very serious hazard.
Our team is open to any discussions and happy to share any of our knowledge and data about ESS safety.
Finally, if you want to learn more about ESS hazards, the various methods of protection and their effectiveness, ESS explosion control, and more about Fike Blue, we invite you to join our three-part ESS Safety Webinar Series beginning January 23, 2025. Please register here if you’re interested: webinars.fike.com
Sincerely,
Product Management Team
Fike Corporation