Battery locks keep fire in instead of out

Safely store and charge batteries

Managing director and founder Remco van Kuilenburg started Seefion, producer of fireproof safes for storing and charging lithium-ion batteries, only three years ago. In the first few years, the safes were mainly eagerly purchased by the green sector and municipalities, but in the meantime other sectors are also being served in abundance. Not least the logistics sector. 

"After all, where aren't they using electrical devices with a rechargeable battery as a power source?" asks Remco rhetorically. "Li-ion batteries have become an integral part of our society. You find them in smartphones, laptops, garden tools and electric bikes, among other things. Lithium batteries have an extremely high energy density that allows them to power equipment for up to a very long time."

However, the high energy density of the lithium battery also increases the risk of fire or even explosion says Remco. "Companies with multiple lithium-ion batteries on the premises, charged in the evening or at night, are at increased risk. That's why I came up with Seefion's safes." 

Essential difference

There are more suppliers of central battery charging cabinets on the market, but not one of them can deliver what Seefion promises: there is no more danger of fire or explosion, and thus they comply with the strictest laws and regulations as well as the even stricter requirements of insurance companies for such safes. Many chemical safes, also sold for this purpose, are designed to keep fire out. Seefion battery safes are designed to keep fire, and even explosions, inside. An essential difference.

"Soon the PGS-37-2 standard will become mandatory," Remco explains. "That was written specifically for the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries. But insurers, meanwhile, are setting even stricter requirements for battery storage than the strictest standard. Our Seefion-8, -10, -16 and -20 safes (for as many batteries) meet those stringent requirements of insurance companies."

Pressure build

"Our safes are actually safes," he continues. "Not cabinets where, in the event of an explosion, the door is on the other side of the building. They are designed to withstand pressure build-up from the inside. Even in that case, the doors stay closed and in place because of the multi-point locking system. This is important because Li-ion batteries are at their most vulnerable when they are on the charger. There is a reason why battery fires occur almost daily. With our safes, you prevent your entire building from burning down in such a case."

And this has not gone unnoticed. In the green sector, where more and more work is done with power tools, Seefion's safes have already been installed in many business premises, as well as in the construction industry. But municipalities are also increasingly hanging up the phone with Remco.

"The municipality of The Hague has our safes at nine different locations of the City Management Department and I have just signed an agreement with Amsterdam on the supply of 32 battery safes. There is also a lot of interest from the broadcast world and of course there is a lot of demand from the logistics sector. Actually everywhere where batteries are used and need to be charged, and where isn't," Remco laughs. "Another big advantage of Seefion battery safes is that they are modular. You can connect several of them together and also the layout is flexible so that different types and sizes of batteries can be stored and charged in them at the same time." 

In addition to safety, Seefion's battery locks also offer the possibility of phased and scheduled charging. This prevents power spikes, which has benefits for the overall electrical system in a warehouse.