While electric vehicle (EV) fires are rare, they pose a different challenge to those fighting them compared to conventional ICE vehicles, with thermal runaway being one of the major concerns. Solutions abound, and one of them is the utilisation of a vehicle fire blanket to control the fire.
The use of EV fire blankets is actually mandated under the guidelines on electric vehicle charging bays (GPP EVCB), which is intended to provide state and local authorities as well as stakeholders a set of parameters to plan, design and construct charging bays.
Under the guidelines, a single EVCB needs to have one fire blanket readily available, and two blankets are needed if there are two to 10 charging bays. If there are 11 to 15 charging bays, three blankets are necessary.
Of course, fire blankets need to conform to specifications, and SIRIM QAS International has come up with an electric vehicle fire blanket certification and testing service to ensure compliance is met. Launched earlier today by the minister of investment, trade and industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the certification is recognised by the Malaysian fire and rescue department (JBPM).
Zafrul said that the launch of the certification and testing service is proof of the commitment of MITI and its agencies in ensuring the safety of EV users.
“Although the probability of an EV catching fire is much lower than a normal vehicle, we still need to be prepared. As the saying goes, prepare an umbrella before it rains. So to EV owners as well as EV charging station owners, make sure you have a fire blanket. More importantly, make sure there is a SIRIM stamp on your fire extinguisher blanket. If there is no SIRIM stamp, don’t buy it,” he said via a post on X (Twitter).
As far as pricing goes, we did a quick search online and found one that’s claimed to be Bomba approved going for RM4,500. While it’s not exactly cheap, it could be money well spent when you consider what it can do, should the need to put out a fire arise.
So far, the country has been lucky with EV fires, with only two being reported so far. On January 1, a Mercedes-Benz EQB caught fire while charging at a dealership. It was later revealed that the company operating the EVCB was found to be doing so without a license from the Energy Commission. Prior to this, a Tesla Model Y caught fire in Puchong last October.
“Selimut pemadam api, penyelamat tanpa batas! Dibuat untuk tahan api serta memadamkan kebakaran dan mudah digunakan untuk akses cepat dalam kecemasan kebakaran.”#SelimutPemadamApi #Bomba #TahanApi #KecemasanKebakaran #SIRIM #MITi #TZA pic.twitter.com/Z1yAN1hbis
— Tengku Zafrul 🇲🇾 (@tzafrul_aziz) February 2, 2024
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Good but the fact that we have to have this blanket just to mitigate EV fire is really concerning. I certaintly don’t want any ev park in my apartment basement
Gotta use this to cover EV car at home
Conlanfirm total loss if use blanket
they should burn a mercedes ev to test and not some old kia spectra
We like the video shared on X, there’s devotee shouts chanting magic spells
i’m not an expert. but should’ve they use real ev instead. Battery pack burn differently which is not rely on surrounding O2 rather than it’s own chemical reaction. using blanket will not immediately put down the fire as what is showing.
Well well using actual ev to burn may failed these trainees testing their skills and capabilities
Here’s another video demonstrating the fire blanket. The blanket will not stop the fire. It only contains the fire so that the fire won’t spread to nearby cars. The battery run-away fire continues burning even under the blanket; albeit with much less intensity and heat.
https://youtu.be/yO8cVWOqZcg?si=I-5HL31ulR32K0b8
Hi Paul Tan, thanks for sharing the news of the EV fire blanket ! Glad to see that the story of SIRIM using our Ev Fire Blankets are making its rounds.
I would just like to clarify on a point made on the article stating the bomba certified ev fire blanket .
Currently Bomba has not certified any ev fire blankets as SIRIM has yet to start their testing on the blankets. Usually Bomba certification and SIRIM certification go hand in hand in Malaysia.
Just wanted to make sure the right info is shared !
The one in the video
Is not testing an EV
Here is a test of the Fire Isolator blanket and concept on an EV (hybrid Rav4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJB_aFxYp8&t=2s
I believe the Tesla battery is impossible to put out, so the fire blankets too due to the high temperature of the heat
they should burn those brand new Berukdua to test and not some old kia spectra – yes, a perfect test candidate as it was basically a pariah junk with everything being rigged to deceive carbuyers.
Covering with fire blanket cut off oxygen can slow down or put out fire. But it is different from a EV battery where it is an internal chemical combustion. At most it will prevent fire from getting bigger through lesser burning seats and other plastic materials.
“While electric vehicle (EV) fires are rare…”
How much is PT being paid by the globalist?
PT thinks that, their readers are dumb…
1. there are tons of videos in social media on EV fires and EV fires are not rare… go on insta and youtube and see for yourself!!
2. The fire does not look like its an EV fire… more like petrol fire… there is no fire shooting out like in a thermal runaway!!!
3. ” If there is no SIRIM stamp, don’t buy it” anyone remember the sirim sticker issue with helmets in the 80s when it was first introduce?… all the manufacturers pasted their onw sirim sticker,,, the same concept will be followed by the fire blanket!!
1. A new opportunity to make fortunes for some parties…
2. If the fire happen in a carpark, the intensity of the fire is rather concealed and good luck to the souls (yeah definately more than 1 person needed) who deploys these blankets.
3. These blankets are just to cover the burning car so it can be burn alone. So good luck to you EV buyers.
It’s best to restrict EVs from being parked in indoor parkings. At least do not allow charging to safeguard everyone’s interest. Parking or charging indoor is a rather selfish action.
Ok lah, buy some blanket and post it to EV FB group so that everyone can be comforted.
Guess once the blanket is on the car, considered total loss la..what methods are being used in high EV adopted countries huh?
The Fire Isolator concept also uses a blanket but goes further than that, because a blanket alone does not extinghuish an EV car fire. Fire Isolator adds water mist and aerosol units to a very high temp resistant fire blanket.
The latest demonstration of Fire Isolator was for Toyota in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJB_aFxYp8&t=2s
The Fire Isolator concept also uses a blanket but goes further than that, because a blanket alone does not extinghuish an EV car fire. Fire Isolator adds water mist and aerosol units to a very high temp resistant fire blanket.
The latest demonstration of Fire Isolator was for Toyota in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJB_aFxYp8&t=2s