Electric Vehicle Fire Suppression in Catalonia

Electric vehicles present fire risks qualitatively different from those of conventional vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries can undergo a phenomenon called «thermal runaway»: an uncontrolled exothermic reaction reaching temperatures over 1,000°C, releasing highly toxic gases —including hydrogen fluoride (HF)— and capable of reigniting hours or even days after apparent extinguishment. Conventional suppression systems are not designed to handle these characteristics. At Igniescut we pioneer the installation of specific protection systems for these scenarios in Barcelona, Tarragona and across Catalonia.

The regulatory framework for parkings with charging points is evolving rapidly. ITC-BT-52 of the Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation (Royal Decree 842/2002) regulates the installation of charging infrastructure. At European level, the UNE-EN 17353 standard sets safety requirements for covered parkings with electric vehicle parking. The Generalitat de Catalunya is developing a specific technical guide that is expected to set minimum provisions differentiated by the percentage of charger-equipped spaces and the parking's risk level.

A lithium battery fire requires a multi-layer response. The first level is containment: ceramic or high-resistance glass-fibre fire blankets that wrap the burning vehicle to limit spread to adjacent vehicles and control toxic gases. The second level is specialist suppression: ECO Fire extinguishers with agents designed for lithium fires, hose reels with additives that improve heat absorption in the battery, and sprinkler systems with higher discharge density than those of conventional parkings. The third level is detection and ventilation: standard CO sensors do not detect the gases emitted by burning batteries; specific CO₂ and VOC detectors are required, supplemented with high-capacity forced extraction to evacuate the toxic gases.

For communities with parkings that have charging points, we recommend performing an updated risk assessment before installing new chargers. In many cases, existing suppression systems —conventional sprinklers and hose reels— can be complemented with EV-specific elements without a full parking retrofit. Our technical team evaluates each installation, drafts the compliance report and handles all Generalitat paperwork.

The fire risk from electric vehicles will grow in proportion to the EV fleet in Catalonia, which multiplies every year. Anticipating the regulation and properly protecting the parking is a prudent decision today; in the coming years it will be an unavoidable legal obligation.