IEC TC 21 – Joint Working Group 84, responsible for drafting an international safety standard for batteries used in Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), is organising a short poll regarding the current use of flame retardants in LEV batteries. The objective of this poll is to better understand current industrial practices related to fire safety measures, in order to support technically sound and realistic standardisation work and safety requirements. This is a strong call to all companies, organisations and experts who hold relevant information on this topic to complete the poll below and forward it to: francois.rummens@ceb-bec.be. He’s responsible for this poll on behalf of IEC TC 21 JWG 84.

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The results of this poll will be kept strictly confidential and will be reported to the IEC TC 21 JWG 84 experts only in an anonymized and aggregated form. No company names or identifiable information will be disclosed.

IEC TC 21 JWG 84 kindly asks you to provide, where applicable and according to your organization knowledge, answers to the following questions:

• Use of flame retardants in LEV batteries

◦ Battery enclosure / housing: ☐ Yes ☐ No

◦ Accessories, adhesives, potting or bonding materials: ☐ Yes ☐ No

◦ Liners, separators, wrapping foils or insulation layers: ☐ Yes ☐ No

• Fire safety standard(s) or requirement(s) achieved

(e.g. use of materials rated UL 94 V-0 @ 1.6 mm or equivalent)

– Please specify and comment if relevant.

• Fire hazard is addressed (fire scenario)

– Please specify and comment if relevant.

• Generic type(s) of polymer

(e.g. PP, PC, PA 6 …, plasticized PVC wrapping … PE based (copolymer) hot-melt adhesive …)

◦ Battery enclosure / housing:

◦ Accessories, adhesives, potting or bonding materials:

◦ Liners, separators, wrapping foils or insulation layers:

– Please specify and comment if relevant.

• Generic type(s) of flame retardant used

(e.g. metal hydroxides, brominated systems, phosphorus-based systems, intumescent compounds and/or coatings, Sb₂O₃ or other synergists)

◦ Battery enclosure / housing:

◦ Accessories, adhesives, potting or bonding materials:

◦ Liners, separators, wrapping foils or insulation layers:

◦ Printed circuit

– Please specify and comment if relevant.

• Please comment also on the use of cells with “flame retarded” modified electrolyte (phosphor, fluorine, … based chemistry).

• Impact of the flame retardants used on polymers recyclability

– Please comment, if assessed or known.

• Documentation on safe charging and storage of battery in intended use

– Do you specify in your documentation do and don’t related to safe charging and storage of the battery

Feel free to provide François Rummens, francois.rummens@ceb-bec.be, (or forward the e-mail to) contacts outside your company or organization if you believe they may provide useful insight on the topic.

Thank you in advance for your valuable contribution to this standardisation effort!