Safety events that result in fires or explosions are rare. The U.S. energy storage industry has prioritized the deployment of safety measures such as emergency ventilation to reduce the buildup of flammable gases. Such ventilation can reduce the effectiveness of fire suppression, so an increasing number of manufacturers have adopted a strategy of allowing fires in individual battery enclosures to burn out in a controlled manner, while also preventing the propagation of fire between enclosures. The rationale is that fire consumes any flammable gases as they are produced, thus preventing explosions. Additionally, allowing the battery to burn avoids problems with reignition which has been an issue with electric vehicle fires. The monitoring systems of energy storage containers include gas detection and monitoring to indicate potential risks, and they are remotely monitored 24/7.
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