FPA Highlights The Continued Dangers Of Lithium-Ion Battery Charging And Cladding Issues

This past week has seen two serious fires impact high-rise buildings in New York and Dubai, highlighting the continued dangers of lithium-ion battery charging and cladding issues.

On the morning of 5 November, a significant fire broke out at an apartment building in Manhattan after a charging e-bike battery malfunctioned. The spreading fire and smoke prevented people from escaping, meaning firefighters had to perform a daring rope rescue, as footage showed residents hanging out apartment windows.

Unbelievably dangerous conditions

46 people were injured in the incident, two critically, with Fire Commissioner, Laura Kavanaugh commending the emergency response: “Fire, EMS, and dispatch did an extraordinary job rescuing a number of civilians, including an incredible roof rescue," adding they worked in “unbelievably dangerous conditions."

FDNY Chief Fire Marshall, Dan Flynn later explained how the fire began in an apartment that was possibly part of an e-bike repair business, where a battery was being charged: "They left it unattended, fell asleep, and that stopped them from being able to exit the apartment," Flynn said.

Lithium-ion battery

Two days later, a 35-storey building was evacuated in the heart of Dubai

He went on to highlight the dangers of charging these batteries, stating that this incident was ‘close to our two hundredth fire this year where the cause of the fire is a lithium-ion battery from a micromobility device.’

Two days later, a 35-storey building was evacuated in the heart of Dubai as a significant blaze engulfed one entire corner of the tower block. Seemingly fuelled by the external cladding, videos showed flames spreading up the outside of the tower to the roof of 8 Boulevard Walk.

State-Backed developer

The building, constructed by Emaar, the state-backed developer in the emirate, was planned to have its cladding replaced after a similar fire on another tower on New Year’s Eve in 2015. However, according to one resident, this work had not yet been completed.

When asked, Emaar refused to comment on the cladding but said no one was injured in the blaze, which was extinguished one and a half hours after it began at 2:20 am. There are continuing questions concerning the safety of some of the construction products and materials used in the emirates’ many tower blocks.