On the 13 June, 2024 we held a webinar with Fire & Rescue NSW, Sedgwick, OCN (Owners Corporation Network) about the risk of fires for strata communities associated with lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters. This summary unpacks the key takeaways, highlighting the dangers of lithium-ion batteries in apartments and offers practical solutions for strata communities to keep residents safe.
Table of Contents:
- QUESTION: If a battery fire causes damage to common property or other lots from an authorised or unauthorised e-bike, e-scooter or e-skateboard, is the owner liable for the damage?
- QUESTION: Risks to strata owners from lithium-ion batteries in E-bikes and E-scooters
Question: If a battery fire causes damage to common property or other lots from an authorised or unauthorised e-bike, e-scooter or e-skateboard, is the owner liable for the damage?
Answer: Whether it’s unauthorised or not or banned within a bylaw, it’s going to be covered under the policy unless there’s a specific exclusion.
I haven’t seen or encountered a specific exclusion in a policy related to e-scooters, e-bikes, or batteries. If there’s a claim, at this stage, it’s covered. It’s an unforeseen and fortuitous loss without any exclusions in the policy.
Whether it’s unauthorised or not or banned within a bylaw, it’s going to be covered under the policy unless there’s a specific exclusion.
Sean Callan Sedgwick E: Sean.Callan@sedgwick.com
This post appears in the July 2024 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Video: Risks to strata owners from lithium-ion batteries in E-bikes and E-scooters
Daniel O’Dea from Fire and Rescue NSW, Sean Callan from Sedgwick and Fred Tuckwell from OCN joined us to discuss the fire safety challenges posed by lithium-ion battery fires in e-bikes and e-scooters in apartment buildings, plus explore solutions to mitigate these risks.
Early last year, ABC reported that more than 450 fires across Australia had been linked to lithium-ion batteries over the previous 18 months. Throughout this webinar, we looked at the specific fire hazards posed by lithium-ion battery e-bikes and e-scooters stored and charged in apartment buildings. As always, our panellists provided practical steps that owners corporations and body corporates can take to manage these risks proactively.
If there is a fire involving an e-bike or e-scooter, what should you do? We talked about navigating lithium-ion battery fires in apartments, including the complexity of insurance claims.
But prevention is always better than cure. Are there effective by-laws that help create a safe environment for everyone who uses these electric mobility devices in your strata community?
Key Points:
- Lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, e-scooters, and many other devices, pose a significant fire risk.
- Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) has seen a substantial increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, with e-bikes, e-scooters, and mobility scooters being leading culprits.
- These fires can be particularly dangerous due to rapid thermal runaway, which releases toxic and flammable gases.
- Fires from e-bikes and e-scooters are often linked to improper charging practices, mechanical damage, or electrical abuse.
Recommendations for Strata Owners Corporations:
- Develop and implement bylaws to regulate the storage and charging of e-bikes and e-scooters within apartment buildings.
- Educate strata residents about the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and safe practices for charging and storing e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Regularly review and update building fire safety procedures to account for the growing presence of e-bikes and e-scooters.
What Else Was Covered?
- Sean Callan from Sedgwick discussed the complexities of insurance claims related to e-bike and e-scooter fires using a recent case study of an e-scooter fire in NSW.
- Fire and Rescue NSW detailed their ongoing research on lithium-ion battery fires to improve firefighting techniques and safety standards.
You can access the presentation from the session plus links to relevant resources here.
Video presenters:
Sean Callan Sedgwick E: Sean.Callan@sedgwick.com
Daniel O’Dea Fire and Rescue NSW E: info@fire.nsw.gov.au
Fred Tuckwell Owners Corporation Network E: fred.tuckwell@ocn.org.au
Article author:
The Lookupstrata Team
This post appears in Strata News #699.
Have a question or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read next:
- QLD: Q&A Banning E-scooters and E-bikes from apartments due to fire risks
- WA: Cigarette and lithium battery fires in apartment buildings
- NSW: E-Bike and E-Scooter Battery Fires in Strata on the Increase
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