Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars & Li-ion batteries

Table of contents

1. Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets - an efficient extinguishing agent for battery fires and electric cars
2. JUTEC extinguishing blankets / fire blankets made in Germany - ideal for electric cars of all sizes
3. Premium extinguishing blankets / fire blankets from VLITEX - efficient firefighting made in Europe
4. Reliable firefighting even for large lithium-ion batteries in electric cars
5. Fighting electric car fires with fire blankets / fire blankets
6. Special extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars as a quick first measure
7. Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for fire departments to fight battery fires
8. Extinguishing electric cars in underground garages or parking garages
9. Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electrically powered industrial trucks / forklift trucks
10. Costs of extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars
11. Frequently asked questions / FAQs on the subject of fire blankets / fire blankets for electric cars
12. Fire blanket, fire protection blanket and fire barrier blanket - the differences between the three designations

Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets - an efficient extinguishing agent for battery fires and electric cars

Burning lithium-ion batteries are one of the biggest challenges in firefighting and classic extinguishing agents such as water, CO2 or extinguishing foam can only be used to a very limited extent for battery fires. The high energy density within lithium batteries requires alternative methods and tools to extinguish an e-bike battery or a burning electric car, for example. We offer extinguishing blankets / fire blankets specially developed for this purpose by the manufacturers Brigdhill, JUTEC and VLITEX to ensure optimum firefighting for electric cars and containment of battery fires.

Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars, industrial trucks and other Li-ion batteries

Fires involving electric cars and industrial trucks are a particular focus of applications. Battery-powered ants and forklift trucks have long been used in intralogistics within companies, and the number of electric cars has also increased significantly in recent years. Both types of vehicle have powerful Li-ion batteries, which pose a great danger to people and the environment in the event of a fire. JUTEC, BRIDGEHILL and VLITEX offer suitable models for every application with their different versions of fire blankets / fire suppression blankets.

JUTEC, BRIDGEHILL, VLITEX - three well-known manufacturers in the field of extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars and battery fires

JUTEC, BRIDGEHILL and VLITEX are without question among the leading manufacturers in Germany and internationally in the field of extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars and battery fires. The companies stand for years of experience, state-of-the-art production techniques and the use of highly specific and robust materials in order to offer extinguishing blankets / fire blankets with maximum safety. Close cooperation with users from the field and the incorporation of the latest findings from materials research are characteristic of both manufacturers and result in fire blankets that can even cope with the extreme demands of burning electric cars with ever more powerful lithium-ion batteries.

JUTEC extinguishing blankets / fire blankets made in Germany - ideal for electric cars of all sizes

JUTEC is a specialist in the field of heat protection / occupational safety and is still relatively new in the field of fire blankets and extinguishing blankets, but with the fire blanket they have launched on the market, they have developed a product that is already convincing experts and fire departments as a protection concept for e-mobility. In the event of a fire, this fire blanket protects against the spread of flames, overheating and damage / danger to the surroundings.

Suitable for electric cars of various model series and manufacturers of electric cars / batteries

The flexible extinguishing blanket from JUTEC measures approx. 8,000 × 6,000 mm and is therefore suitable for electric cars from a wide range of model series and manufacturers. It can withstand constant temperatures of up to 1,150 °C and short-term temperatures of 1,300 °C. In addition to this model, JUTEC also offers a range of other fire protection blankets, so that a suitable flame protection blanket can be found for every application.

The most important properties of the JUTEC fire protection blanket at a glance

• Temperature-resistant up to 1,150 °C and 1,300 °C for short periods
• Special high-temperature fabric (RH/Q 94%) with mineral vermiculite coating on both sides
• Coating partially binds hydrofluoric acid (HF), which can arise from the electrolyte in the event of a battery fire
• No fiber breakage under thermal shock stress
• Flexible and resistant to displacement
• Standard dimensions approx. 8,000 × 6,000 mm, other sizes available on request
• Excellent chemical resistance
• European fire protection test in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1, class A1, non-combustible
• EC safety data sheet in accordance with 91/115/EEC
• Electrostatic certificate according to DIN 54345-1, non-conductive

Special fabric with high-temperature finish

The base material of the vehicle fire protection blanket is a special fabric with a high-temperature finish (RH/Q 94%). There is also a vermiculite coating on both sides, which binds hydrofluoric acid (HF). In addition, no fiber breakage occurs during thermal cycling. In addition, the silicate fabric with 96% SiO2 content enables cooling from above, which is extremely useful for firefighting operations.

Protection and prevention with JUTEC fire blankets

The JUTEC fire blanket prevents the release of flames, which isolates the fires and thus reduces the oxygen content of the fire. This supports the extinguishing work of fire departments and professional fire fighters and at the same time prevents the fire from spreading to the surrounding area. The JUTEC protection concept for electromobility thus offers comprehensive protection for batteries in the event of fire and reliably protects against the spread of flames, overheating and damage.

Overview of JUTEC extinguishing blanket / fire blanket models

Premium extinguishing blankets / fire blankets from VLITEX - efficient firefighting made in Europe

The VLITEX extinguishing blankets / fire blankets are made of special glass fibers and coated with a dense silicone coating, so that battery fires of any kind can be reliably contained.further advantages of VLITEX Premium M extinguishing blankets:

• Easy handling without lengthy instruction
• Smoke-restraining
• Low maintenance
• Weatherproof (can be used in both summer and winter)
• Environmentally friendly because the environment is not contaminated during extinguishing

Ideal as a preventive measure for electric cars involved in accidents

In addition to acute firefighting, VLITEX fire blankets / fire blankets for electric cars are ideal for preventive use: The extinguishing blanket spread over an electric car involved in an accident prevents a larger fire, the vehicle can burn out under the blanket. In particular, the extinguishing measures described below using a lot of water are not necessary. With a permanent temperature resistance of 1000 °C and peak loads of 1300 °C, they are ideal for extinguishing electric cars, but can also be used for vehicles with conventional combustion engines.

Many different sizes - and also manufactured exactly to your requirements

The VLITEX extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars and Li-ion batteries are available in many sizes and designs, so there is a suitable model for every application. Whether for extinguishing a burning e-bike battery or the powerful Li-ion battery of the latest generation of electric cars, a suitable model from VLITEX can be supplied. And special requests are no problem either: we can also offer you extinguishing blankets / fire suppression blankets that are manufactured exactly to your requirements!

Overview of VLITEX Premium fire blankets

In addition to the dimensions, the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets also differ in the intended application scenario. All VLITEX Premium M fire blankets have a temperature resistance of 1000 °C (short-term up to 1300 °C). Below you will find an overview of the different versions of VLITEX Premium M fire blankets.

Reliable firefighting even with large Li-ion batteries from electric cars

A very special advantage of the BRIDGEHILL fire blankets / fire containment blankets is that they can also be used with large and powerful batteries, as are increasingly being used in electric cars. Capacities of 50, 60 or 70 kWh are no longer the exception in newer models, but rather the rule. Normal battery fire extinguishers already reach their performance limits with batteries with significantly less capacity, the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets work even with these very large batteries due to their design - a significant advantage that more and more fire departments appreciate about the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets.

Advantage 1 - easy to use: extinguishing blankets / fire blankets can be used after just a short briefing

Of course, a burning electric car should always be extinguished by a fire department or other professional fire fighters. If, in the meantime, other people are already on site who have been instructed in the use of a fire blanket, they can already take initial countermeasures and thus often prevent worse and contain the battery fire to some extent. Especially if a real fire has not yet broken out, but there is only a suspicion that the battery of an electric car is reacting problematically, even laypersons can pull a fire blanket over the electric car and thus prevent a larger fire. As a layperson, however, you should always act with the necessary caution: If in doubt, it is better to wait for the fire department to arrive before extinguishing the suspected fire from the electric car with the fire blanket!

Advantage 2 - Mobility: Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets can be used anywhere

In addition to the ease of use for extinguishing e-cars, mobility is another advantage that distinguishes extinguishing blankets / fire blankets from other measures against burning lithium-ion batteries. In contrast to conventional measures, in which fire engines or even containers filled with water are used to cool the Li-ion battery and a correspondingly large amount of space is required for both measures, extinguishing blankets / fire blankets offer the possibility of being used in the smallest of spaces.

Ideal for use in underground garages, parking garages, etc.

Compact dimensions and low weight enable the fire department to use the fire blankets / fire blankets to fight fires in underground garages or parking garages, for example, where fire engines or water containers are not a good alternative. Either the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets can be brought to the electric car or models can be used that are stored in the underground garage or parking garage.

Fighting electric car fires with fire blankets / fire blankets

The way the fire blankets / fire blankets work is as simple as it is ingenious: by spreading the blankets over the burning or fire-prone electric car, the fire-retardant material of the fire blanket prevents the battery fire from spreading to the surrounding area. Accordingly, the fire blanket does not extinguish the battery fire in the literal sense, but primarily prevents it from spreading to the surrounding area and ensures that the burning electric car causes greater damage.

Classic approach: lots of water to cool the battery

If fire departments do not carry extinguishing blankets / fire blankets to fight electric car fires, a lot of water is still often used, because cooling the vehicle battery is one of the aims of preventing or interrupting a thermal runway. Although a fire blanket for electric cars does not have the same cooling effect as water, it can reduce the damage to the environment and prevent larger fires from flaring up without the use of extinguishing water. However, more and more press reports are also showing how time-consuming and difficult it is to contain or extinguish a burning electric car using only extinguishing water. It is not uncommon for the fire department to have to keep cooling the battery with water until special containers arrive, meaning that tens of thousands of liters of water are often required. If there is no hydrant nearby, even large fire engines quickly reach the limits of their capacity because the amount of water carried is insufficient.

Flaring up and spreading to the surrounding area is prevented

The cause of the fire, often a so-called thermal runway in the defective Li-ion battery of the electric car, cannot be extinguished in this way, but the use of an extinguishing blanket prevents open flames and at the same time minimizes the damage to the surroundings. At the same time, the fire blanket deprives the fire of oxygen, which also has a fire-fighting effect.

Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets create time for further countermeasures

In principle, the fire blanket provides a "safe" environment in which the battery fire cannot cause any further damage to the environment, giving you sufficient time to initiate further countermeasures. In the case of electric cars, this can also mean that they are stored in so-called extinguishing containers until the danger posed by the Li-ion battery has been completely eliminated.

Real "extinguishing" of lithium-ion batteries often not possible

A special feature of lithium-ion batteries is that the fire is not actually extinguished (as in a normal fire, for example), but due to the design of the batteries, this fire can flare up again for a long time (this is why electric cars, for example, are also sunk in containers after extinguishing, where the battery can then "die down" for a long time, see next paragraph). Accordingly, fighting battery fires primarily involves containing the flames and the blankets are therefore not extinguishing blankets in the narrower sense, but rather fire containment blankets. Nevertheless, the colloquial term here is also "extinguishing".

The final method for "extinguishing" an e-car: special extinguishing containers

The time gained by using fire blankets / fire blankets to fight fires is generally used by the fire department to transport extinguishing containers specially developed for battery fires to the scene of the fire. The entire electric car is submerged in such containers filled with water and remains there for hours, sometimes even days, so that the Li-ion battery is permanently cooled and further fire reactions are prevented. After complete cooling, the Li-ion battery or the entire vehicle can then be recycled.

Special extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars as a quick first measure

More and more images of burning electric cars are appearing in the media and fire departments are facing increasing challenges. The extremely powerful batteries can no longer be extinguished with conventional extinguishing agents in the event of a fire, so the first measure is to contain the battery fire in order to minimize danger to people and the environment. Further measures can then be planned at leisure to extinguish the burning electric car completely. In particular, the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets from Vlitex, the Care Fire Blanket Professional × from BRIDGEHILL and the Jutec extinguishing blanket are increasingly being used by fire departments in this context.

Use of extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for fighting fires in electric cars

The ease of use is a major advantage of the BRIDGEHILL, Vlitex and Jutec fire blankets. They can be used to contain a battery fire with just two people and without any other tools. The first step is to spread the blanket on the ground in front of the burning electric vehicle. The fire blanket is then placed over the vehicle in one continuous movement using the loops on the sides.

For pure electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles

The extinguishing blankets / fire blankets are not only used as extinguishing agents for purely electric cars, they are also an important fire-fighting tool for plug-in hybrids. With ranges of 60-80 km in some cases, plug-in hybrid cars in particular already have such powerful lithium-ion batteries on board that conventional extinguishing agents are no longer an optimal solution in the event of a fire. The fire blankets from BRIDGEHILL are therefore recommended for both purely electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The dimensions of the special electric car fire blankets / fire barrier blankets make them suitable even for large electric SUVs such as a Volvo CX90.

Also ideal for parking spaces with charging facilities

The particularly easy use of the fire blankets / fire blankets also allows private individuals to take initial action in the event of a burning electric car or plug-in hybrid and thus bridge the time until professional help such as the fire department arrives. This is why the fire blankets / fire blankets for electric cars and plug-in hybrids are increasingly being placed in parking lots where electric cars or plug-in hybrids are frequently charged. Whether company parking spaces, private parking spaces with charging facilities or at publicly accessible charging stations, this is a good option to enable initial measures in the event of an e-car fire.

Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for fire departments to fight battery fires

In recent years, registration figures have shown a clear trend: not only plug-in hybrid cars, but also purely battery-powered electric cars are becoming more and more common on the roads. And even if electric cars do not necessarily burn more frequently than, for example, petrol or diesel cars, extinguishing a fire in an electric car requires completely different extinguishing agents than those previously used by fire departments.

More and more local authorities are equipping fire departments with electric car extinguishing blankets / fire blankets

In response to the increase in electric cars, cities and municipalities are now reacting: they are equipping more and more fire departments with suitable fire blankets / fire blankets so that they have the right extinguishing agents on board in the event of a burning electric car. Not only professional fire departments, but also volunteer fire departments can use the fire blankets / fire blankets without any problems, because due to the very simple use for firefighting, no extensive training is required before the first use. BRIDGEHILL fire blankets are always supplied in practical carrying bags that can be stowed easily and compactly on fire department vehicles. By using the fire blanket, you can bridge the period until the arrival of extinguishing containers, in which the burning electric car can be lowered in order to cool the battery down completely. There are also different options for the VLITEX extinguishing blankets / fire blankets: As standard, they are supplied without dedicated packaging. However, they are also available with a red bath or in a metal box on request.

Extinguishing electric cars in underground garages or parking garages

Mobile extinguishing equipment such as extinguishing blankets / fire blankets are becoming increasingly important, especially when a fire department cannot drive directly up to a burning electric car. More and more parking garages or underground garages are already banning electric cars, on the one hand it is forbidden to charge electric cars or plug-in hybrids there, but even parking bans already exist because the fire of an electric car cannot be fought efficiently by the fire department.

Special extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars for fires in underground garages and parking garages

The mobile extinguishing blankets / fire blankets also offer the option of reliably containing fires in underground garages and parking garages, which are otherwise difficult to extinguish. Normal fire engines cannot drive up to the source of the fire in such situations. The fire blanket can then simply be transported to the electric car by two firefighters and pulled over the source of the fire. Any further spread of the fire is immediately prevented and the greatest danger is averted.

Recommendation: Store a fire blanket on site (in the parking garage or underground car park)

More and more multi-storey and underground parking lots have recognized the trend, as electric cars cannot be completely banned here in the long term, and are providing at least one fire blanket that is quickly to hand if an electric car or the battery should react problematically. The simple use of fire blankets / fire blankets means that even non-professionals can often take initial countermeasures and pull the blanket over the car. In this way, a potential battery fire is effectively contained until the fire department arrives and can initiate professional extinguishing measures. In contrast to fire extinguishers for electrical fires, which can do little to extinguish the very powerful batteries in a fully electric vehicle, the fire blankets / fire blankets specially developed for this case are an ideal first measure for containing a fire.

Extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electrically powered industrial trucks / forklift trucks

Electric forklift trucks and battery-powered pallet trucks have long been an integral part of intralogistics in companies and have become an integral part of everyday operations. A correspondingly large number of powerful Li-ion batteries are installed in these vehicles. Even though they generally have slightly less capacity than the batteries in electric cars, a defect in these lithium batteries can quickly lead to serious dangers and problems. BRIDGEHILL and VLITEX also offer suitable fire blankets to quickly contain a potential battery fire in forklift trucks and other industrial trucks, which should be kept in every company to minimize the risks to people and the environment in the event of a fire.

Two sizes and easy use of BRIDGEHILL fire blankets / fire blankets / fire blankets

Just like the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars, the so-called Forklift Fire Blankets are also very easy to use and can be applied by any employee in the event of a fire without lengthy training. Depending on the type and size of the industrial trucks used in the company, the forklift fire blankets are available in two versions, one with dimensions of 5m × 5m (Forklift Fire Blanket Small) and one 7m × 7m (Forklift Fire Blanket Big).

Costs of extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars

Due to the high demands that a battery fire places on a fire blanket, the BRIDGEHILL Fire Blankets and VLITEX Premium Fire Blankets are made of extremely robust and heat-resistant materials. The BridgTech material can even withstand particularly long-lasting and hot fires from Li-ion batteries in electric cars. Especially for professional users such as fire departments (municipal, volunteer or plant fire departments, for example), cost consideration is an important point before purchase, as there are big differences in the price of Brigdehill fire blankets.

Frequently asked questions / FAQ on the subject of fire blankets / fire blankets for electric cars

There are a number of questions that our customers ask us time and again about purchasing fire blankets for electric cars or other Li-ion batteries. Below you will therefore find a collection of frequently asked questions / FAQs on the subject of fire blankets / fire blankets for electric cars.

What should you consider when buying fire blankets / fire blankets for electric cars?

If you are thinking about buying a fire blanket for electric cars, you should ask yourself various questions before buying in order to be able to select the optimum model. The following questions will help you choose and find the right extinguishing blanket:

1. Is a fire blanket even the right extinguishing agent for my intended use?
2. What type of electric car should the fire blanket be suitable for?
3. Is there a difference between fire blankets and fire blankets?
4. Are fire blankets also suitable for vehicles with combustion engines?

The questions about buying a fire blanket are explained in detail below.

Is a fire blanket the right extinguishing agent for my intended use?

Especially when private owners of an electric car hear reports of burning electric cars in the media, the purchase of a suitable fire blanket often comes up. However, before you buy such a blanket, you should consider whether it can really be used for effective firefighting. Most extinguishing blankets / fire blankets for electric cars can only be used by two people, so at least two people are needed to contain a battery fire in a car. At the same time, it is highly recommended/necessary to call in professional help to fight the fire with professional equipment. Accordingly, it is often more advisable for private individuals to carry a fire extinguisher for Li-ion batteries in the car to bridge the time until the fire department arrives with initial fire-fighting measures and to refrain from purchasing a professional fire blanket for electric cars.

For which type of electric car should the fire blanket be suitable?

The question about the model / type of electric car is aimed at the minimum size that the fire blanket must have. The extinguishing blankets / fire blankets are suitable for both fully electric cars, as the typical e-cars, as well as for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which usually also have comparatively powerful Li-ion batteries. A small car can be covered and the fire fought with a relatively small fire blanket, whereas a large electric SUV, for example, should require a much larger fire blanket. the BRIDGEHILL Car Fire Blankets from our range are always 6m × 8m in size and are also suitable for large SUVs, such as a Volvo XC 90. The VLITEX PREMIUM extinguishing blanket M 600x800 with the same dimensions is also ideal for electric cars and SUVs. The Jutec 6x8m fire blanket is also ideal for this type of electric car.

Is there a difference between the terms fire blanket and extinguishing blanket?

At EU level, there is a fixed standard for the term fire blanket, which is defined in DIN EN 1869:201910. This refers to the standard fire test object "Deep-frying equipment with a maximum capacity of 3 liters of cooking oil/fat". Therefore, an extinguishing blanket in the narrower sense is intended for extinguishing cooking oil and cooking fat fires. Please note that the blankets offered here are therefore not extinguishing blankets / fire blankets in the sense of the DIN EN 1869:201910 standard and are not intended / approved for extinguishing cooking oil and cooking fat fires. The intended use of the extinguishing blankets / fire blankets presented here is accordingly the containment / combating of Li-ion battery fires, in particular fires in electric cars, so that the products presented here are often also referred to as fire blankets.

Are the fire blankets also suitable for vehicles with combustion engines?

The fire blankets presented here are generally not only suitable for battery fires or for extinguishing electric cars, but can also be used to fight fires in classic motor vehicles with combustion engines. In contrast to battery fires, typical fuel fires can also be completely extinguished with the extinguishing blankets, as the fires are stopped by a combustion vehicle through consistent oxygen extraction. In the case of battery fires, on the other hand, the fire is only limited / contained with an extinguishing blanket. Details can be found in the individual product descriptions and we will be happy to provide you with further information.

Fire blanket, fire protection blanket and fire containment blanket - the differences between the three terms

All three terms are closely related and refer to materials that are used to fight or contain fires, but with different focuses and areas of application. However, they are often used synonymously and the term "fire blanket" is still the most common colloquial term, although it does not exactly reflect the application of the blankets presented here.

Fire blanket / fire blanket

A fire blanket, also known as a fire blanket, is mainly used to quickly smother smaller fires. These blankets are often made of materials such as fiberglass or fireproof treated wool fabrics. They are particularly suitable for kitchen fires as they cut off the oxygen supply to the fire and thus smother it. They are compact, easy to store and simple to use. Strictly speaking, therefore, the blankets for accumulator fires presented here are not fire blankets.

Fire blanket

The term "fire blanket" is often used synonymously with fire blanket, but can also refer to specialized blankets that are used in various fire protection applications. These can be used, for example, to protect objects or people from fire and heat. They are usually made of similar materials to fire blankets, but can have different properties depending on the area of application. This term also focuses more on the preventive effect, whereas a fire blanket is primarily used to actively fight a fire.

Fire blankets in the construction industry

The term fire blanket is also sometimes used in the construction industry. This refers, for example, to ceilings between two storeys that have a fire-retardant effect so that a fire cannot spread to other storeys of a building so quickly.

Fire barrier ceiling

The term 'fire containment ceiling' is less commonly used and can refer to ceilings that are specifically designed to prevent or limit the spread of fire. This type of ceiling could be used in larger facilities or in situations where it is important to confine the fire to a specific area to increase safety and minimize damage. As the ceilings presented here are designed to prevent the spread of battery fires or to limit the battery fire to as small an area as possible, the term fire containment ceiling is particularly accurate.