Sprinkler systems have played a critical role in containing a series of lithium-ion battery fires linked to e-bikes and e-scooters in UK homes, according to the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA).
BAFSA highlighted three recent incidents where sprinklers successfully activated to suppress fires before they could escalate, protecting lives and enabling safe evacuation.
In one case, Avon Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire in a four-room flat where a lithium battery ignited in the hallway, blocking the main escape route. A concealed sprinkler head above the fire activated and extinguished the blaze before fire crews arrived. Ten residents, trapped on the fourth floor, were later rescued by aerial ladder platform. The incident was reported to BAFSA’s Sprinkler Saves UK initiative, which confirmed that sprinklers limited the fire and reduced injuries to minor smoke inhalation.
In a separate incident in Birmingham, a lithium battery in an e-bike caught fire while charging in the hallway of a high-rise block. The fire blocked the internal escape route, forcing residents onto an external balcony. A single sprinkler head activated, extinguishing the flames before firefighters arrived.
A third fire occurred in Gloucestershire, when an e-bike battery caught fire in a studio flat within a house of multiple occupancy. The sprinkler extinguished the fire before the fire service arrived, and the resident evacuated safely.
BAFSA noted that although current UK sprinkler standards do not explicitly cover lithium-ion battery fires, these incidents demonstrate their effectiveness. All three cases were reported to Sprinkler Saves UK, which documents real-world sprinkler activations to build awareness and advocate for wider adoption.
