How AvSax battery fire containment bags solve the problem of electronic devices powered by lithium-ion batteries going into thermal runaway on aircraft
Passengers take hundreds of small electronic devices including mobile phones, ipads, tablets, e-cigarettes and laptops on board planes and helicopters every day … but very few are aware there is always the possibility that the rechargable lithium-ion batteries inside them could overheat and catch fire.
When this happens it’s called thermal runaway. If one cell in a battery overheats it can produce enough heat – up to 900°C (1652°F) – to cause adjacent cells to overheat too. If this happens in the confined space of an aircraft if can have potentially catastrophic consequences but fireproof AvSax lithium battery fire containment bags – also known as burn bags, firebags or thermal containment bags – can significantly reduce that danger in seconds.
Simply pour in at least 2 litres of water and pop the overheating or burning device into the AvSax fire containment bag which some airlines know as burn bags. The bag’s polymer gel inside expands to totally surround the device, instantly cooling it down to minimise the risk by adding further water. If it should still vent, the polymer is designed to absorb the force and it can hold in the force of an exploding lithium-ion battery.
Why AvSax are needed
Watch the videos to see why AvSax fireproof fire mitigation bags are so important in today’s technology-focused world and find out how they work.
Here’s how AvSax lithium battery fire mitigation bags have featured in the media
AvSax fire mitigation bags have featured in the media all over the world … and here’s a round-up of just some of them with links to the stories.
The Daily Mail in the UK has just done a major story in April 2024 about a mobile phone fire scare on a London-bound passenger plane and mentioned AvSax thermal bags extensively in it. Here’s the link: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13275605/Warning-Brit-holidaymakers-dropped-phone-causes-fire-panic-United-Airlines-flight-smoke-billows-handset.html
AvSax has been featured in the international media and this story in April 2024 revealing the most dangerous electronic items now being taken on planes by passengers was featured on Advance, the official magazine of ADS, the trade association for the UK’s Aerospace, Defence, and Security industries. https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/most-dangerous-electronic-items-passengers-take-on-planes-revealed.html
AvSax were devised by Yorkshire company Environmental Defence Systems based in Huddersfield and have featured in the Yorkshire Post https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/how-environmental-defence-systems-is-protecting-16700-passenger-aircraft-from-catastrophic-fire-damage-4162041
And also Yorkshire Live: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-companys-genius-invention-stop-27015255
The potential dangers of mobile phones catching fire on planes is now so well recognised that it has become part of the pre-flight safety briefings done by cabin crew and this was reported in the Huddersfield Hub
AvSax have been used in action on planes at least 33 times since 2017 and one of the early incidents was reported in 2018 by Hawaii News. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2018/12/19/special-yellow-bag-helped-deescalate-mid-air-scare-hawaiian-airlines-flight
In 2022 it was revealed that more than 20 air ambulance helicopters operated by specialist aerial emergency medical services company Babcock were equipped with AvSax to help keep the crew, patients and aircraft safe in the event of a fire or even an explosion.
This was reported on extensively in the aviation trade media, including Helicopters magazine, Vertical magazine and the aerospace, defence and security online magazine ADS online.