Fire and Safety at RISE

𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐎₂ 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨-𝐑𝐨 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 🚢   With more battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being transported on ro-ro ships, it’s crucial to understand the performance of traditional fire suppression systems, like low-pressure carbon dioxide (CO₂) systems. CO₂ systems can help prevent fires from spreading, but they have challenges, such as toxicity and the need for well-enclosed spaces. In January, Anna Karlsson, Magnus Arvidson, and Chen Huang, from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, started the Carbon diOxide Fire Fighting Experimental Evaluation (COFFEE) project to see if CO₂ systems can effectively manage BEV fires. Our initial literature study has given us a great starting point to understand how CO₂ has performed in previous fires on board vehicle carriers.   🔍 What we found:  • From 2013 to 2023, 22 major fires on vehicle carriers were identified from different media sources. • Only one fire might have started in an electric vehicle. • Out of 10 fires where the CO₂ system was used, 5 failed to suppress or fully extinguish the fire. • The time to discharge the system in case of fire is typically 30 minutes.  • There’s a big gap in research on CO₂ and lithium-ion battery fires.   “Our findings highlight the need for more research and testing. We’re excited to start testing battery cells and, later, full vehicle fires. Combined with multi-physics simulations, these will help us further in our work to make ro-ro ships safer.”, says Anna Karlsson, researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. COFFEE is financed by Trafikverket and Stiftelsen Sveriges Sjomanshus. Although CO₂ might not be effective in extinguishing and cooling a battery cell to prevent thermal runaway, it could help reduce the risk of fire spreading to nearby vehicles and spaces. This aspect still needs to be investigated and is one of the upcoming objectives of the project.   Read the full report from the COFFEE literature study, by Magnus Arvidson and Anna Karlsson, both from RISE. ↓   Stay updated on the project findings here at Batteries at RISE. #FireResearch #FireSafety #RoRo #VehicleCarrier #CarbonDioxideSystems

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 🎄🎆 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy the holidays with joy and cheer. A small fire grows big, so beware,  Don’t leave lit candles anywhere. Water your tree to prevent a fire,  A safer home is our desire.   You don’t have 3 minutes to act,  Check your fire alarms, it’s a crucial fact! Equip your home with tools to fight,  A blanket and extinguisher are just right.   Stay safe and sound, have lots of fun,  Peace, love and joy to everyone!   𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 & 𝐀 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 2025! /the LinkedIn Editorial team Robert Jansson McNamee, Kaisa Pekkadotter Kaukoranta and Susanne von Hebel.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚ç𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞?   🔥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬! We’ve just wrapped up the European Commission-funded project SI2.825082, and the results are in! 🌟   This project, which brought together 29 laboratories and involved extensive testing, has led to a comprehensive final report that sets the stage for a unified European standard for façade fire testing and assessment.   𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: • 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝: We’ve updated criteria for fuel sources, combustion chamber design, and secondary opening placement. • 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Our repeatability tests, wind effect evaluations, and studies on alternative fuel sources have shown ways to improve safety, cut costs and standardize testing procedures. • 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚: We’ve set new temperature thresholds for fire spread—700 K for large-scale and 500 K for medium-scale exposures. • 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦: We’ve proposed a harmonized framework that integrates fire resistance times and performance parameters. • 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: We’ve effectively shared our findings through a project website and YouTube channel and by addressing nearly 1,000 stakeholder comments.   “Our findings provide a robust foundation for a unified European standard, ensuring safer building practices and enhanced fire safety across the continent. Let’s continue to build safer and more resilient structures together!”, says Johan Anderson, researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.   The DG GROW project aimed to finalize a European method for assessing the fire performance of façades under medium and large fire exposures, where the exposures are based on BS 8414 and DIN 4102-20 standards. It included theoretical and experimental Round Robin tests involving 29 laboratories and extensive façade fire testing across four facilities, resulting in 24 tests, supplemented by industry-funded additional experiments.   Would you like to learn more about the research? Below is the full report “Finalisation of the European approach to assess the fire performance of façades” by Johan Anderson, Johan Sjöström, RISE, Roman CHIVA, Efectis, Fabien Dumont, University of Liège, Anja Hofmann-Böllinghaus, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Peter Toth, ÉMI Nonprofit Kft., Octavian Lalu, BRE, and Lars Boström, RISE. ↓ #FireResearch #FireSafety #BuildingStandards #Innovation

𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍! 💡 Today there are two conflicting mounting systems when evaluating a reaction to fire performance of loose-fills in the SBI test. In one of these setups the system is hold in place by two extensive wire meshes. Compared to the conventional method these meshes significantly: • Reduce the thermal exposure of the tested system • Prevent flames to spread along the system. • Prevent any flaming part or debris to fall to the floor. All of whom substantially increase the relative reaction to fire performance. We at RISE do not support this use of mounting system which prevents the intended fire exposure to reach a product to be tested, thus significantly increases its reaction to fire performance. “This leads to unhealthy competition on the market for the producers and test labs, as well as to more hazardous products reaching the market” says Richard Johansson, project manager at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. The videoclip, shows the burning behaviour of a loose-fill product when tested in the conventional setup. The performance indicates class E or worse. When tested with the double mesh system, the same product indicates class B. If you have questions, please contact richard.johansson@ri.se #fire #FireSafety #SBI  

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐅 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞? 🚒 💡 The EGOLF Reaction to Fire course, organized by RISE, is a comprehensive training program designed to standardize fire testing procedures across Europe. This course aims to minimize operator-dependent uncertainties in reaction-to-fire tests by providing harmonized training in various EN standards. "The course is a key step towards a harmonized interpretation of fire safety standards across Europe. By providing training on EN standards, we aim to minimize testing uncertainties and enhance the reliability of fire safety assessments. This training does not only boost professional expertise but also significantly contributes to safer building practices”, says Susanne Blomqvist, project manager and trainer at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Participants will engage in both theoretical learning and practical laboratory tasks. This is crucial for ensuring consistent and reliable fire safety testing, ultimately contributing to safer building practices across Europe. The next course will be held 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 31 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 4, 2025, in Borås, Sweden. The course is open to both members and non-EGOLF members. Choose whether you want to take individual EN courses or the whole week. The course is held in English. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/dVwz4TQZ #fire #FireSafety #ReactionToFire #R2F 

𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐋 9540𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🎉   We are thrilled to share that RISE Research Institutes of Sweden has achieved the prestigious UL 9540A certification at the module level, underscoring our commitment to fire safety and innovation in battery technology.   Last week, UL Solutions visited Borås to award the certificate, which was achieved for completing the Module Level Test in accordance with ANSI/CAN/UL9540A:2019 under the Witnessed Test Data Program (WTDP).   This certification is crucial for assisting battery manufacturers in evaluating thermal runaway and fire propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).   “Achieving the UL 9540A certification is a significant milestone for our team. Moreover, our top-notch facilities enable us to conduct thorough testing at every level: Cell, Unit, and Installation. This certification not only underscores our commitment to battery safety but also plays a crucial role in advancing fire safety standards within the industry.”, says Anders Lönnermark, Director Fire Protection at RISE. Would you like to discuss cooperation? Please contact Anders Lönnermark. Picture from left: Kim Olsson, RISE, Tobias Plettner, UL Solutions, Mohit Pushp, Anders Lönnermark, and Patrik Johansson, RISE. #FireSafety #FireResearch #BatteryTesting #BatteryTechnology #UL9540A

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐮𝐦-𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬?🔥   Our report from 2019 remains highly relevant in the field of fires in lithium-ion batteries. The report highlights the effectiveness of fixed fire suppression systems, a critical component in mitigating the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.   “Internal activation of a water-based fire suppression system inside a battery pack has shown great potential in preventing thermal runaway propagation.”, says Ola Willstrand, researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.   This research involved several tests on battery packs to find the best suppression methods, focusing on water-based systems for their superior cooling capabilities.   Would you like to learn more? Then, read the test report by Ola Willstrand, Roeland Bisschop, and Rosengren Max. ↓ #BatteryResearch #LithiumIonBatteries #FireSafety #Electrification

Hi Anna Karlsson, researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden! 🚢🔥 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲? “Much of the focus for maritime fire safety today is the transition towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This shift involves extensive assessments of alternative fuels and materials, addressing safety concerns related to people, cargo, ports, and the ship.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲? “One big challenge is to ensure that crew members can safely navigate this ongoing transition. For instance, updating training programs sustainably can facilitate effective learning without taking too much time from other duties. Another challenge is in adopting a collaborative approach to learn from other industries.” 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲? “New fuels and materials may need alternative fire safety design and outside-the-box solutions. This is RISE home arena. We have a strong foundation in fire safety engineering and maritime-specific expertise, emphasizing the usability and design of fire safety in the maritime sector.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰? “I am just about to publish a report from our COFFEE project. The project is about the performance of CO2 suppression systems and their effectiveness for battery vehicle fires in the ro-ro space of vehicle carriers. I am also planning for the Safety Meet at Donsö Shipping Meet 2025. Make sure to save the date: September 1–3!” #firesafety #maritimefiresafety #maritimesafety

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐚𝐦𝐬. 🚒 🌎 A study by Sixten Dahlbom, Tove Mallin and Magnus Bobert, all from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, evaluated the performance of eleven PFAS-free Class B firefighting foams. These foams were tested against various fuels (Jet A1, heptane, diesel) and water types (freshwater, synthetic seawater) using different foam generation techniques. “Our study demonstrates the promising potential of PFAS-free firefighting foams. The results highlight the importance of tailored solutions for different firefighting scenarios. This research is a crucial step towards sustainable and environmentally friendly firefighting practices.” - Sixten Dahlbom, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden The results showed that Compressed Air Foam (CAF) outperformed traditional methods in terms of extinction time and burnback resistance. However, no single foam met all performance standards across all tests. This research is pivotal in supporting the shift towards environmentally friendly firefighting solutions, reducing dependence on harmful PFAS chemicals. Read the full publication ⬇️ #FireSafety #FireResearch #PFASFree #Firefighting #SustainableSolutions 𝘋𝘢𝘩𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘮, 𝘚., 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯, 𝘛. & 𝘉𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵, 𝘔. 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘍𝘈𝘚-𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘉 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘴, 𝘈𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘰𝘢𝘮 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 58, 1639–1665 (2022).

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐅𝐃 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲? 🌟 At RISE, we perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling to enhance fire safety and environmental protection. Our expertise spans from simulating smoke and toxic gas dispersion to optimizing ventilation in complex structures like tunnels and buildings. “By using CFD modeling and fluid mechanics, we can simulate complex fire scenarios and optimize safety measures, ultimately saving lives and protecting the environment” says Johan Anderson, Researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Our high-performance computing clusters enable us to conduct large-scale simulations efficiently, ensuring accurate and reliable results. 🌍✨ Curious to learn more about what we can do? Contact johan.anderson@ri.se  Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dFC8jjtG #CFD #FireSafety #FireResearch #CFDModelling #FireSimulation