Chemstore supplies lithium-ion battery storage, charging and emergency-response solutions to businesses across Ireland. Batteries may be used in tools, vehicles, equipment, research, manufacturing and energy systems, while damaged or defective batteries can require separate quarantine. Chemstore provides Electrovault storage units, fire-rated charging cabinets, battery transport boxes and ionGuard emergency-response systems, supported by site surveys that assess battery handling, charging, fire controls and emergency planning.
Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy within a relatively small package. Under normal conditions they can be used safely, but damage, manufacturing defects, inappropriate charging, overheating or internal faults can cause a battery to fail.
One of the principal concerns is thermal runaway. This occurs when heat generated within a cell triggers a self-sustaining reaction that can rapidly increase temperature and affect neighbouring cells.
A battery incident can involve intense heat, fire, smoke and the release of hazardous gases. The way batteries are stored and charged should therefore form part of the organisation’s wider fire-risk and emergency-response arrangements.
Dedicated battery storage is relevant to far more organisations than electric-vehicle or battery manufacturers. Lithium-ion batteries are now used across almost every industry.
Typical applications include:
The appropriate storage arrangement depends on the batteries themselves, their quantity, condition and whether they are being stored, charged, tested, transported or held following suspected damage.
Ireland does not currently have one dedicated workplace regulation that sets out a single specification for every lithium-ion battery storage or charging area. Employers must instead assess the risks created by the batteries and their activities under Ireland’s wider occupational safety, fire-safety and workplace risk-management requirements.
The European Union Batteries Regulation also applies to batteries placed on the EU market. It establishes requirements covering areas including battery safety, sustainability, labelling, information and waste batteries. Specific safety provisions apply to stationary battery energy storage systems.
The EU Batteries Regulation should not, however, be treated as a complete workplace storage specification for loose batteries, charging cabinets or battery stores. The appropriate fire protection, segregation, charging and emergency controls still need to be determined through a site-specific risk assessment.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 applies across the European Union and covers portable, industrial, electric-vehicle, light-means-of-transport and other categories of batteries.
Its requirements include areas such as product safety, performance, sustainability, labelling, information, producer responsibility and end-of-life management.
The Regulation also contains specific safety requirements for stationary battery energy storage systems. These systems must be safe during normal operation and use, with technical documentation addressing relevant safety hazards and mitigation measures.
That is different from storing spare batteries, power-tool batteries, e-bike batteries or damaged battery packs in a workplace. Those activities still require their own risk assessment and suitable storage controls.
No. A stationary Battery Energy Storage System, often referred to as BESS, is an integrated battery system designed to store electrical energy and later supply that energy to the grid or an end user.
A workplace lithium-ion battery store may instead hold batteries used in tools, vehicles, equipment or manufacturing operations. It may also contain batteries awaiting use, batteries undergoing charging or batteries being held temporarily because they are damaged or defective.
The hazards can overlap, but the design, regulatory framework and operational requirements of a large BESS installation can be very different from those of a workplace battery-storage room or cabinet.
New or serviceable batteries should be stored in a controlled area appropriate to their size, quantity and intended use. The storage arrangement should reduce the likelihood of physical damage, overheating, short circuit or accidental exposure to unsuitable environmental conditions.
The area should also allow batteries to be inspected and removed if damage, swelling, overheating or another abnormal condition is identified.
Where large quantities are stored, organisations should consider how a battery failure could affect neighbouring batteries and surrounding combustible materials.
Charging introduces additional risk because heat can be generated within the battery, charger and electrical connections. Damaged equipment, incorrect chargers or defective cells can increase the likelihood of overheating or failure.
Charging arrangements should therefore be included in the site’s battery risk assessment. Considerations can include:
A dedicated charging cabinet or larger battery-storage unit can provide greater control than charging multiple batteries throughout workshops, warehouses or offices.
A battery showing signs of damage, swelling, overheating, impact or another abnormal condition should not simply be returned to the normal battery-storage area.
Damaged or suspicious batteries can present a greater risk of thermal runaway and should be isolated in accordance with the organisation’s risk assessment and emergency procedures.
A dedicated quarantine arrangement can reduce the risk of a defective battery affecting undamaged stock and can provide a controlled location while the battery is assessed, transported or prepared for disposal.
Chemstore provides solutions for different battery quantities and use cases, from individual charging cabinets to large bespoke storage units and emergency quarantine systems.
The Electrovault range is designed for organisations that need a dedicated lithium-ion battery storage or charging facility.
Electrovault units can be customised around the batteries being handled and the requirements of the site. Depending on the specification, options can include fire protection, ventilation, environmental control, gas detection, monitoring, fire-suppression systems, charging facilities and segregated areas.
This makes the range suitable for applications including manufacturing, logistics, transport, research and industrial battery operations where a standard cabinet does not provide sufficient capacity.
For smaller battery inventories, Chemstore provides dedicated lithium-ion battery storage and charging cabinets.
These provide a controlled location for storing and charging batteries rather than allowing charging to take place across desks, workshops or general-purpose storage areas.
Chemstore’s Asecos lithium-ion cabinet range includes fire-resistant configurations for different quantities and charging requirements.
A damaged or suspect battery may need to be removed from normal operations quickly and placed into a dedicated quarantine system.
Chemstore’s ionGuard Emergency Response Battery Box is designed as a containment and thermal-runaway suppression system for damaged or suspicious lithium-ion batteries.
The system uses a mineral-based infill material that can be released around the battery to help contain and mitigate a thermal-runaway event. The ionGuard can also be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate larger battery packs.
Smaller batteries, damaged batteries and batteries being moved between locations can require dedicated storage and transport containers.
Chemstore supplies lithium-ion battery storage boxes and transport solutions for applications including power-tool batteries, e-bike batteries, electronics and damaged or end-of-life battery packs.
The appropriate container depends on the battery type, condition and whether it is being stored, transported or prepared for recycling or disposal.
Battery quarantine should be planned before an incident occurs. Organisations handling significant numbers of batteries should have a clear process for identifying, isolating and managing batteries that show signs of damage or abnormal behaviour.
A quarantine area should be positioned so that the movement of a suspect battery does not unnecessarily expose employees or critical operations to additional risk.
Staff should also know how to recognise warning signs and who is responsible for initiating the site’s battery emergency procedure.
The appropriate quarantine solution will depend on the size of the batteries and the nature of the operation. Smaller batteries may be managed using dedicated battery boxes, while vehicle or industrial battery packs can require much larger containment systems.
Lithium-ion battery failures are not always predictable, but visible or operational changes should be treated seriously.
Potential warning signs can include:
Staff who handle or charge batteries should know how to respond when a battery appears abnormal and should not continue using or charging a battery that is suspected of being damaged.
Battery safety is not achieved through one product alone. Storage equipment should form part of a wider system covering battery condition, charging, housekeeping, staff awareness, fire detection and emergency response.
Practical controls can include:
The appropriate controls should be determined from the type and quantity of batteries and the activities taking place on the site.
Chemstore offers a dedicated Lithium-Ion Battery Storage Site Survey for organisations that store, charge or handle lithium-ion batteries.
The survey can review:
Following the survey, the organisation receives recommendations based on the batteries, activities and risks observed on the site.
Yes. Battery operations can vary considerably between organisations. A manufacturing facility holding large battery packs has very different requirements from a university charging power-tool batteries or a logistics depot managing batteries used in material-handling equipment.
Chemstore can design Electrovault units around site-specific requirements, including dimensions, access arrangements, charging systems, ventilation, temperature control, gas detection, monitoring, fire suppression and quarantine areas where required.
The objective is to build the storage system around the battery operation rather than forcing the organisation to adapt its processes to a standard enclosure.
Yes. In manufacturing and battery-intensive operations, storage does not necessarily need to be a separate activity isolated from the production process.
Dedicated areas can be designed for incoming batteries, batteries awaiting testing, charging operations, finished batteries and quarantine of units that fail inspection.
This can help prevent damaged or suspect batteries from becoming mixed with normal stock and can provide employees with a clearly defined process for moving batteries through the facility.
Chemstore has developed a dedicated range of lithium-ion battery storage, charging and emergency-response products for organisations handling batteries across manufacturing, logistics, transport, research and other industrial sectors.
The Electrovault range has been recognised within the health and safety industry for its approach to configurable lithium-ion battery storage, while Chemstore’s ionGuard emergency-response system won the BSIF Safety Product Innovation Award in 2025.
This product-development experience is supported by on-site battery surveys, allowing Chemstore engineers to assess how batteries are actually stored, charged and handled before recommending a solution.
Whether you store a small number of rechargeable batteries or operate a large manufacturing, logistics or battery-handling facility, Chemstore can review your current storage and charging arrangements and recommend an appropriate solution.
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