Battery cabinets - for charging & storing lithium-ion batteries

Battery cabinets comprise two product classes - on the one hand rather simple battery charging cabinets, which have a charging option or a power connection, and on the other hand fireproof safety cabinets, which have a particularly high safety level for the storage of lithium-ion batteries and are usually also fire protection-certified.

Charging cabinet or fireproof safety storage cabinet for lithium-ion batteries - the differences

In order to clarify the differences between the two types of battery cabinets, the most important features of charging cabinets and fireproof safety cabinets are explained below. In addition, a => comparison of battery cabinets in table form provides a quick overview of which battery cabinets are best suited for which purpose.

Battery charging cabinets - for organized storage and charging

Simple battery cabinets are usually charging cabinets for lithium-ion batteries. These cabinet types are characterized by the fact that they have a charging option for rechargeable batteries / mobile devices. Depending on the battery cabinet and design, these are usually one or more 230V sockets and increasingly also USB charging sockets. The battery cabinets can also often be locked to prevent unauthorized access. Special safety mechanisms that protect the environment in the event of a battery fire are not normally built into the battery cabinets.

Is the charging function the main focus of the cabinet?

If no defective or endangered batteries are stored and the focus is on the storage and charging of batteries or end devices, the "simple" battery charging cabinets are generally a good choice. The most important features of charging cabinets for Li-ion batteries are not only the storage options but also the connection options for chargers.

Power supply always available for battery charging cabinets

As the name"battery charging cabinet" suggests, the ability to charge batteries within the cabinet is a key feature of these products. Depending on the design and individual requirements, there are different devices / connection options that enable charging. Both integrated 230V and, increasingly, USB connections are available in the battery charging cabinets for this purpose.

Fireproof safety cabinets for lithium-ion batteries

In contrast to the simple battery charging cabinets, the primary focus of battery safety cabinets, as the name suggests, is on the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries. To this end, these battery cabinets have numerous safety mechanisms and are built much more robustly than the charging cabinets. The safety measures are often documented in an F90 fire protection certification.

Diverse safety mechanisms and optional power supply

Depending on the model, the fireproof battery cabinets also have exhaust air devices, automatically closing doors and many other mechanisms designed to protect the environment in the event of a battery fire. Some fireproof battery cabinets are also equipped with a power supply so that they can not only store lithium-ion batteries, but also charge them.

Comparison of battery charging cabinets and fireproof safety cabinets for batteries in a table

The table below shows the most important features and differences between battery charging cabinets on the one hand and fireproof cabinets for lithium-ion batteries on the other.

Finding a suitable battery cabinet

If you are faced with the decision to purchase a cabinet for storing lithium-ion batteries, it is important to find exactly the cabinet that best meets your requirements from the large selection of models and suppliers. The following questions will help you choose the right battery cabinet:

• Should the battery cabinet be fireproof?
• Should the lithium-ion batteries be able to be charged in the cabinet?
• What type of cabinet should it be and how much storage space should the battery cabinet have?
• What features should the cabinet have?

Should the battery cabinet be fireproof?

This question about fire resistance and the built-in safety mechanisms is the most important factor in the decision. As lithium-ion batteries can pose major hazards (e.g. in the form of a battery fire), battery cabinets differ fundamentally in their design - on the one hand in fireproof battery cabinets and in simple charging cabinets. If comprehensive fire protection is required for battery storage, battery safety cabinets are the right choice. On the other hand, if the focus is purely on storage and orderly charging, normal charging cabinets are sufficient.

Should defective batteries be stored?

Whether a cabinet should be fireproof can also be clarified by asking what the status of the lithium-ion batteries to be stored is. When it comes to defective batteries, which generally pose a greatly increased risk of fire, you should definitely opt for a model with fire protection. Simple battery charging cabinets are completely unsuitable for storing defective Li-ion batteries because they do not offer any explicit protection mechanism.

What fire protection certification should a safety cabinet have?

Once you have decided on a fireproof battery cabinet, the next question is the fire protection certification, i.e. how long the battery cabinet should be able to withstand a fire. Common certifications are F60 (60 minutes fireproof) or F90 (90 minutes fireproof); some manufacturers of fireproof battery cabinets also have their own test mechanisms.

Wide range of applications for fireproof battery safety cabinets

Safety cabinets for lithium-ion batteries are used in many areas. Large quantities of small and medium-sized batteries are often used in commercial environments in particular, and these should normally also be stored and charged in fireproof safety storage cabinets. Below are some examples of where Li-ion batteries should be stored in appropriate fireproof or fire-resistant safety storage cabinets:

• Storage of e-bike batteries at bicycle dealers
• Storage of Li-ion batteries from home and garden appliances
• Storage of Li-ion batteries in craft businesses
• Storage of Li-Po batteries in model making
• Storage of golf trolley batteries.

Should the batteries be able to be charged in the cabinet?

While the dedicated battery charging cabinets with or without fire protection always have a power supply, this is not necessarily the case with the fireproof safety cabinets. As the safety aspect is paramount with these models, there are cabinets without, with or with an optional power supply, which can be retrofitted on request. If you want to be able to charge batteries in the cabinet, you should choose a model with an integrated or at least optional power supply.

What type of cabinet should it be and how much storage space should it have?

Whether it's a simple battery charging cabinet or a fireproof safety cabinet for lithium-ion batteries, when it comes to the question of size, both categories offer different models with correspondingly diverse designs: From compact under-counter cabinets to normal floor-standing models with one or two doors, there are numerous battery cabinets to suit every need and also every budget.

What features should the battery cabinet have?

In addition to the type of cabinet, the question of the desired equipment is of great importance: This includes points such as the number of compartments, levels or drawers as well as the number and types of power supply and, last but not least, the existing safety mechanisms such as automatically closing doors, exhaust air systems and much more.

Drawers, shelves or cupboard compartments

Drawers and (adjustable) shelves are particularly practical for efficient storage. Depending on the model, there are also battery cabinets with fixed compartments. Depending on the individual area of use, you need to decide which configuration best meets your everyday requirements.

Power supply - 230V, USB and more

If the battery cabinet is also to be used for charging Li-ion batteries, the power supply is essential. The number and type of power supply varies from model to model - while some battery cabinets mainly have 230V sockets installed, dedicated battery charging cabinets often also have USB charging options that can be connected directly to smartphones, tablets etc.

Safety mechanisms - automatic doors, exhaust air systems, etc.

There is a wide range of security mechanisms: from access control, simple locks and automatic closing doors that ensure safety in the event of a fire, to exhaust air systems and integrated alarm functions, there are suitable battery cabinets depending on the application scenario. Simple charging cabinets primarily provide access controls, while fireproof battery cabinets have sophisticated safety mechanisms to protect the environment, especially in the event of a fire. These safety mechanisms also include intelligent extensions, such as the Smartbox from Düperthal.

Large selection of battery cabinets from leading manufacturers

In our range, we offer a variety of different battery cabinets from leading manufacturers in Germany and Europe, including Düperthal, CEMO, Priorit, Lista and KLW Karl Lutz - well-known and established brands in the field of safety and business equipment. The range also includes other manufacturers that specialize in specific segments in the field of charging cabinets or battery-powered safety cabinets (such as M7-Tools) or are not yet so well known in Germany (such as Ecosafe).

Düperthal - Battery safety cabinets

The fireproof cabinets from Düperthal are innovative storage systems for lithium batteries that impress users with numerous safety mechanisms, certifications and, depending on the model, even integrated charging options. In addition to safe battery storage, the Düperthal battery cabinets were developed with a focus on efficient use and easy integration into day-to-day operations. Exhaust air systems, fire protection certifications and self-closing doors are just some of the safety precautions that characterize Düperthal models and offer maximum safety.

Fireproof battery cabinets from CEMO

CEMO has not only been an established manufacturer in the field of hazardous materials storage and fire protection cabinets in general for many years, CEMO has also launched a number of safety cabinets for the storage of lithium-ion batteries, which enable both the safe storage and charging of batteries. Flexible to combine and with a fire resistance of 60 minutes, these fireproof battery cabinets are ideal for storing small quantities of batteries.

Battery safety cabinets from Priorit

Priorit is a familiar name to anyone who has ever dealt with the hazardous materials cabinet segment. With the PRIOCAB-Li product line, Priorit has now expanded its range to include the increasingly important area of battery cabinets. Whether as an underbench cabinet, single door or double door floor-standing cabinet - a wide range of models offers the right storage option for intact, critical or defective lithium-ion batteries for every user. Compared to other manufacturers, Priorit is characterized in particular by its extremely attractive price-performance ratio, which makes many users choose the fireproof battery cabinets from this established manufacturer.

Fireproof battery cabinets from Ecosafe

The company Ecosafe is still little known in Germany, but has so far focused on the Switzerland / France region. Ecosafe is already one of the leading manufacturers there, particularly in the field of fireproof battery cabinets, and is known for its outstanding quality. Maximum safety and a wide range of accessories are just two of the features that Ecosafe battery cabinets offer customers and are therefore becoming increasingly popular in Germany.

Battery charging cabinets from KLW Karl Lutz

KLW Karl Lutz is a constant in the field of operating and storage equipment. With the increasing selection of battery charging cabinets, KLW Karl Lutz has responded to the growing popularity of battery-powered devices and now offers a wide range of options for storing and charging them safely. Whether craftsmen, logistics companies or, for example, film crews - battery-powered devices have become indispensable in countless fields of work and being able to store and charge them in an organized manner is becoming an essential part of everyday operations. Efficient use in day-to-day operations, practical design of the charging cabinets and an attractive price-performance ratio characterize the models from KLW Karl Lutz.

Battery charging cabinets from LISTA

Alongside KLW Karl Lutz, LISTA is also one of the best-known manufacturers of workspace equipment and has developed a focus on cabinets in general and, in recent years, on battery charging cabinets in particular. Whether craftsmen, logistics companies or, for example, film crews - battery-powered devices have become indispensable in countless fields of work and being able to store and charge them in an organized manner is becoming an essential part of everyday working life, which LISTA takes into account with a wide range of different battery cabinets.

Affordable battery cabinets for a wide range of applications

The battery charging cabinets from LISTA offer an attractively priced and very versatile option for storing and charging the batteries of smartphones, tablets, notebooks and many other devices. LISTA charging cabinets are also being used more and more frequently in public facilities such as schools etc.

Charging cabinets from M7-TOOLS GmbH

With its origins in screwdriving and automation technology, M7-TOOLS GmbH has always been characterized by the unique innovative strength with which it develops solutions in a wide variety of areas in order to optimize everyday operations. With the M7 SMART battery charging cabinet, this manufacturer has created a battery charging cabinet in which a wide range of devices and batteries can be safely stored and charged at the same time. Compared to other systems, this battery charging cabinet offers extensive safety features, which makes this cabinet particularly attractive and safe in a commercial environment.

Recommendations from German insurers for the storage of lithium-ion batteries

To date, there is no fixed set of rules or public law regulations for the storage of lithium batteries or Li-ion batteries, so when choosing the right storage option, you can rely on advice or recommendations from renowned institutions or associations. One document often referred to in this context is the German insurers' recommendations for preventing damage caused by lithium batteries.

Important to note: These statements are not laws or regulations, but recommendations for loss prevention from an association. We will be happy to advise you on the selection of suitable cabinets or storage boxes for your individual requirements!

Classification of Li-ion batteries with different capacities

The recommended measures for safe storage are based on the capacity of the Li-ion batteries to be stored. A distinction is made between low, medium and high capacity batteries. Below are the specifications for the three power classes:

• Low-capacity Li-ion batteries have a capacity of less than 100 Wh
• Medium-capacity Li-ion batteries have a capacity of more than 100 Wh and a gross weight of less than or equal to 12 kg
• High-capacity Li-ion batteries have a capacity of more than 100 Wh and a gross weight of more than 12 kg.

According to the above classification, e-bike batteries, for example, belong to the medium-capacity batteries, a smartphone or notebook battery to the low-capacity batteries, and the battery of an electric car to the high-capacity class.

Safety rules for storage

Basic rules apply to the storage of all Li-ion batteries, which must be observed regardless of the quantity / capacity stored. For example, the manufacturer's specifications should be observed, external short circuits should be prevented by appropriate terminal caps and internal short circuits caused by mechanical damage. High temperatures (including direct sunlight) must be avoided. Damaged or defective batteries must also be removed from the storage area or stored in an area separated from fire protection. In addition to these general recommendations, there are further safety and damage prevention rules for the individual performance classes.

Storage of low-power lithium-ion batteries

The normal safety rules listed in the previous section apply to low-power batteries. If large quantities of low-power batteries are stored (more than six Euro pallets or more than 7m³), the following recommendations for medium-power batteries also apply to these battery types.

Storage of medium capacity Li-ion batteries

Storage areas for medium-capacity batteries should be structurally fire-resistant (e.g. by storing them in an appropriate battery safety cabinet) or physically separated, whereby a distance of 5m must be maintained. Mixed storage with other products that can have a fire-accelerating effect should also be avoided. In addition, a suitable fire alarm system should be installed in the storage area, which works with suitable battery extinguishing agents. For large quantities / storage areas (area >60m² and / or height > 3m), the following instructions for high capacity batteries apply.

Storage of high-capacity Li-ion batteries

The Association of Insurers for Loss Prevention due to Lithium Batteries only makes very limited comments on these battery types, but refers to the examination of each individual case. Possible measures mentioned here - similar to those for medium-capacity batteries - include limiting the quantity and separation, as well as storage in fire-resistant, separate areas or compliance with minimum distances.