Chemstore has won the British Safety Industry Federation’s Product Innovation Award for 2025, which itself recognises outstanding advances in workplace Health and Safety technology, thanks to the ionGuard Lithium-ion Battery Box.
The accolade was officially presented at the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Awards, held as part of the Safety and Health Excellence (SHE) Awards on 9 April at The Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham. This annual event celebrates excellence and innovation within the Health and Safety sector, bringing together industry leaders and innovators from across the UK and beyond.
The ionGuard Lithium-Ion Battery Box stood out for the Judges due to its “groundbreaking” design and the fact that this solution addresses the serious risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Given their growing use in electric vehicles and the warehousing, logistics and manufacturing sectors, the hazards posed by damaged or overcharging lithium-ion batteries (including the potential for thermal runaway, toxic gas release and explosions) have become a significant occupational safety concern.
The ionGuard Lithium-Ion Battery Box is designed for the safe handling and storage of potentially hazardous batteries. In high-volume battery operations, it’s common for testing procedures to flag batteries as questionable. Traditionally, these are placed in outdoor exclusion zones as a precaution.
However, the ionGuard offers a safer and more efficient alternative. If a battery were to enter thermal runaway while inside the box, the unit is specifically engineered to contain and mitigate the event.
Typical use cases include integrating the ionGuard into production or manufacturing workflows as a dedicated quarantine solution. For instance, if a battery begins overheating during charging or shows signs of physical damage, it can be immediately transferred into the ionGuard for secure containment and monitoring.
The ionGuard boasts a dual-trigger fire suppression system, which can be activated either manually or automatically via heat-sensitive fusible links. This system deploys PyroBubbles, a highly effective and eco-friendly extinguishing agent made from recycled glass granulates. Upon exposure to heat, these granules melt and form an oxygen-impermeable layer, in turn smothering the fire and preventing reignition.
Housed in a durable and steel-reinforced structure with Rockwool insulation, as well as being fully customisable for different battery types, volumes and sizes, the ionGuard seamlessly integrates with existing safety systems, duly offering a scalable, effective and environmentally responsible solution.
The accolade bestowed by the BSIF underscores Chemstore’s ongoing mission to push the boundaries of safety innovation and respond to the real-world challenges industries are facing today.
Mike Brodie, managing director of Chemstore, informed Fire Safety Matters: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive the BSIF Product Innovation Award for Safety. Being recognised for our cutting-edge innovation and technical expertise is a proud moment for the entire team at Chemstore. It reinforces our position as a leader in the domain of lithium-ion battery safety storage and highlights our commitment to developing solutions that protect people, property and the environment.”
Fire-Rated vs. Fire-Resistant Storage: What’s The Difference?Mike Brodie, Managing Director of Chemstore UK, outlines the critical differences between fire-rated and fire-resistant storage and emphasises the importance of correctly distinguishing between them.
As the UK experiences increasingly extreme weather patterns and record-breaking temperatures, the importance of proper fire safety measures has never been more critical.
With rising temperatures and heatwaves becoming more frequent, the risks associated with improper storage of flammable materials are amplified. This makes it imperative to understand the difference between fire-rated and fire-resistant storage, as the consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating.
When it comes to protecting valuable or hazardous items, the terms “fire-rated” and “fire-resistant” are often used interchangeably. This common misunderstanding can lead to dangerous consequences, especially when products that require fire-rated storage are mistakenly placed in less effective fire-resistant units. To avoid these pitfalls, it’s crucial to understand the differences between the two and why choosing fire-rated storage from trusted experts like Chemstore is essential.
Understanding Fire-Rated vs. Fire Resistant Storage
The confusion often starts with the assumption that “fire-rated” and “fire-resistant” are synonymous. Many believe that a fire rating simply means the storage unit can stop the passage of flames. However, the reality is more complex, especially when safety is on the line.
Fire-resistant storage typically refers to materials or structures that can physically resist the passage of flames, but this falls well short of the rigorous standards required for fire-rated storage. Fire-rated storage is designed not only to resist the passage of flames but also to control the internal temperature of a storage module, preventing thermal heat transfer that could ignite the contents within.
According to HS(G)51, an essential guideline on fire safety in the workplace, fire walls (and by extension, fire-rated storage units) must be imperforate and provide a minimum of 30 minutes of fire resistance in terms of integrity, insulation, and load-bearing capacity where applicable. This means that a fire-rated storage unit must be capable of maintaining its structural integrity, insulating against heat, and bearing loads even under intense fire conditions.
In terms of spotting the difference between a fire-resistant panel and a fire-rated panel, a fire-resistant panel made of a single sheet of steel is thin, smooth, and solid, often with a shiny or matte finish but lacking visible insulation. Its primary function is to resist flames, but it provides minimal insulation and may warp or fail under intense heat.
In contrast, a fire-rated panel featuring non-combustible insulation such as Rockwool is much bulkier, with insulating material encased between protective layers. This panel offers superior structural integrity and high insulation performance, effectively delaying heat transfer and maintaining a barrier against flames for extended periods. The key differences are in thickness and construction, which impact how each panel performs in fire situations.
The importance of temperature control in fire-rated units
One of the critical benefits of a fire-rated storage unit is its ability to control the temperature inside the unit. This feature is often overlooked but is vital in scenarios where the stored materials are sensitive to heat. In the case of highly flammable substances or lithium-ion batteries, even a slight increase in temperature can lead to disastrous outcomes.
The assumption that stopping flames is enough to protect the contents of a storage unit can lead to tragic mistakes. For instance, a single-skin metal box, which many mistakenly believe to be fire-rated, offers minimal insulation. In direct sunlight or during a fire, such a box can act like an oven, leading to the overheating and possible ignition of the materials inside. This risk is especially pronounced during hot weather when ambient temperatures can already push the limits of what stored items can safely endure.
It is good practice to maintain lithium-ion batteries at 19°C ±1.5°C to maximise safety, yet it is not possible for a single skin storage module to provide this level of environmental control, as it will consistently overheat and freeze throughout the year.
The dangers of mislabelling and the importance of expert advice
A significant issue in the UK market is the influx of products labelled as “fire-rated” without meeting the necessary standards. Many of these products are sold based on the misconception that fire rating merely involves preventing flames from passing through. This misunderstanding can lead to businesses and individuals purchasing storage solutions that are woefully inadequate for their needs.
The consequences of using improperly rated storage can be severe. In the event of a fire, a unit that does not provide sufficient insulation and temperature control can allow heat to build up inside, potentially causing primary containers to fail and leading to the release of harmful fumes or the destruction of critical materials.
To ensure safety, it’s imperative to purchase fire-rated storage from trusted experts like Chemstore. We are a BSIF Registered Safety Supplier and our products are designed and tested to meet the rigorous requirements set out in HS(G)51, ensuring that you have the highest level of protection.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between fire-rated and fire-resistant storage is not just a matter of semantics—it’s a matter of safety. In scenarios where the contents of a storage unit are sensitive to heat or flammable, relying on inadequate storage can lead to catastrophic consequences. By choosing fire-rated storage solutions from reputable providers like Chemstore, you can ensure that your materials are protected not just from flames, but from the heat that can be just as deadly. Don’t take risks with fire safety; understand what you’re buying and why it matters.
View our Firevault range by clicking here. For more information, call 061 327 792, email sales@chemstore.ie, or fill in the contact form today.
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