Batteries and fire risks

Some cable transport systems (aerial ropeways, funicular railways) and guided transport systems (metros, tramways) are increasingly incorporating batteries to store electrical energy:

  • batteries in stations/ropeway stations to maintain the functionality of safety systems in the event of a loss of power;
  • batteries installed in vehicles to power auxiliary safety or comfort equipment (e.g. lighting, ventilation, intercom systems, evacuation handles, etc.):
    • for use as a permanent power supply for ropeway installations, with recharging in stations as a general rule;
    • for use as an emergency power supply in the event of traction power failure for guided transport systems;
  • on-board traction batteries (tramways), although outside the scope of this study.

As part of fire prevention and fire-fighting, an integral part of STRMTG’s supervisory responsibilities, it has been noted that the requirements regarding the type of batteries and their integration into installations need to be clarified, however to differing degrees depending on the system, in order to better define:

  • measures to be taken to minimise the risk of these batteries causing a fire;
  • measures to be taken to minimise the impacts of a battery fire (particularly the emission of toxic fumes for passengers, risk of explosion, etc).
  • For this purpose, STRMTG called on the services of INERIS, an external service provider with expertise in the field of batteries and the fire risk associated with this type of equipment, using the following methodology:
  • Phase 1: Inventory of different battery applications (with identification of the most typical and critical cases) and feedback from experience relevant to the study;
  • Phase 2: Inventory, analysis and comparison of requirements from standards and reference guides applicable to the study (including comparison with requirements from other fields);
  • Phase 3: Preliminary risk analysis and assessment of existing safety measures, with a more in-depth study of the most typical and critical cases identified in phase 1;
  • Phase 4: Explanation of the requirements of standards and reference guides, and recommendation of additional safety requirements.
| Cartography of battery’s failures and their consequences
The study began in 2022, and also involved a number of external partners (manufacturers, integrators, etc.), through dialogue with INERIS on their overall approach to the "batteries" issue, in order to provide greater insight.

It should be completed in 2023, with the main results posted on this page.

The service provider in charge of the study is INERIS (Institut national de l’environnement industriel et des risques, a public industrial and commercial establishment under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment)

The STRMTG entities concerned are GACC (steering), DITC and DTMR (in liaison with DMF)
External partners are also involved:

  • Ropeway installations: SIGMA Cabins, SEMER and SEIREL Automatismes
  • Guided transport: ALSTOM, SIEMENS and SAFT

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