As the usage of lithium-ion batteries becomes widespread, the number of associated safety incidents with them also increases . The installation of the battery charging storage cabinet becomes an effective way to control risks from the occurrence of catastrophic events like battery-induced fire and explosion. However, many still have a limited understanding of how battery cabinets can mitigate these risks. In this article, we examine the main features of battery cabinets and explain how they can help organizations guard against the serious physical, emotional, and financial damage caused by a battery fire or explosion.

Understanding Battery Cabinets

In the workplace, risk management is a key aspect of ensuring employee safety and the protection of assets while sustaining the environment. The importance ranges from providing handling equipment to ease the physical work of employees to the installation of chemical containers in which toxic substances are safely kept. However, for some commonly found items, such as rechargeable batteries, most workplaces have failed to put in place prudent measures to avoid associated risks such as fires, explosions, and battery leaks.

To address this issue, manufacturers have developed a new type of safety equipment: battery storage cabinets, also known as lithium-ion battery charging and storage cabinets, designed to mitigate risks associated with rechargeable batteries. This kind of battery cabinet can provide the needed safety and security in the workplace to prevent potentially catastrophic events.

What are some of the features of battery cabinets to curtail the risks of the batteries?

Though the designs and manufacture of battery cabinets vary in the market, most of them have five critical risk control features that are vital in mitigating risks associated with the storage of lithium-ion batteries in workplaces. Let's look deeper.

Provide a cool, dry environment:

The battery storage cabinets should maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels to extend the battery life and reduce the likelihood of thermal runaway. As a temperature-sensitive battery technology, lithium-ion batteries require particular attention in their immediate surroundings to prevent overheating and possible safety risks.

In creating such an environment, many of the battery cabinets are specially designed with fans and ventilation systems. These features exhaust heat from the cabinet, maintaining its inside temperature in a cool, consistent state to create a perfect storage environment for batteries. The fan and ventilation incorporated with the sturdily constructed steel of the cabinet provide insulation while being non-threatening to batteries. Compared to traditional chemical safety cabinets or common cabinets in the workplace, storage facilities that do not have fans and ventilation, or cabinets made of flammable materials like particle board, these professional battery cabinets are much safer. The battery cabinets produced by Huijue Group have a complete ventilation system inside, which is a good choice for you.

Planning to buy a battery cabinet, you can refer to our buying guide to a battery cabinet to hopefully help you choose the most suitable product for yourself: Battery Storage Cabinet Buying Guide: Features, Safety, and Selection Tips         

Fire protection system:

Equipped with an efficient fire protection system such as an automatic sprinkler or gas extinguishing system it allows for prompt action in case of fire and reduces damages to the least. Battery storage cabinets normally come in durable and non-combustible sheet steel material construction that enables a safe storage environment for lithium-ion batteries. That steel design is effective, reducing the occurrence of fire, and flame retardation, with a sturdy construction that covers batteries from overheating and the threat of flames.

Our battery charging and storage cabinets are manufactured to use double-layered steel panels, having 40mm of air insulation between the two panels. Further, the door and wall gaps are closed to avoid direct radiation of heat or flames to the batteries. The doors of the cabinet are self-closing and hermetically sealed for the enhancement of fire safety. In such a situation, the design could buy enough time to make use of firefighting equipment or the evacuation of people. A lithium-ion battery fire could bring about not only personal injury and property damage but also the toxic fumes it will produce can affect the air quality of the surrounding community. Therefore, picking a battery storage cabinet with an insulated fire barrier is critical to minimize the risk of fire and explosion.

Security Storage:

A properly designed battery cabinet will help keep the batteries not only during charging when safety can be affected by it but also while it is in storage. The best cabinet should ideally include various sizes of batteries, dividers, and other specially made fixtures for multiple purposes. These compartments and fixtures also save the batteries from being damaged in case of any bump or fall and minimize the possibility of vibration and misplacement of batteries.

The anti-tilt design ensures that batteries remain stable under adverse conditions, while the robust storage structure is one of the strong points concerning battery cabinets. The doors of the battery cabinets are often fitted with high-performance locks and hinges to avoid unauthorized access for theft. In a nutshell, the solid storage structure of the battery cabinet is the pivot of its security, reliably protecting batteries with a well-designed internal layout and reinforced external construction that guarantees safe storage and usage of batteries.

Leak Containment:

Gaskets and pressure relief valves can also be included in some of the high-end models of the battery storage cabinet to respond to situations involving leakage or overpressurization of batteries, further enhancing safety. Leak containment for the control and limitation of fluid spread in case of a battery leak will effectively protect the work environment and personnel.

Certified Electrical Work:

For battery charging, the battery cabinets should have certified electrical components to enable a safe and compliant charging process.

A deeper understanding of exactly what these features do can help us better understand how battery cabinets can reduce the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in the workplace. Also, through these designs, battery cabinets can provide a safer, more reliable storage and charging environment for lithium batteries. Knowing what the battery cabinet is used for is not enough to purchase the right battery cabinet for you. If you have any purchasing needs, you can consult our professionals to answer your concerns.