LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – If you look at consumer products in your home, you may find several items have a “UL” label.
UL Solutions has been involved with product safety of electrical goods for more than 100 years. Company officials recently talked with FOX5 about safe use of lithium batteries.
“It’s really important that we do share safety messages,” said UL Solutions Director of Consumer Technology Ibrahim Jilani.
He says consumers should choose lithium battery products that have been certified by a third party.
“Third party certification means that degreed engineers with competency have looked at that product from a third-party perspective, evaluated its materials, it’s construction, components and then judged that the product was conforming to the product safety and standard requirements, along with the test results coming off tests from that standard,” said Jilani.
He says the warning signs are clear that a battery may potentially have a problem.
”If you start to notice any hotspots, if you hear any hissing, or you hear any popping those are all telltale signs that something has gone wrong,” said Jilani.
He says any melting of a battery, or a part of the product, and bulging are also indicators that a battery needs to be replaced.
FOX5 asked Jiliani about golf carts and whether people should always keep them plugged in or if they should be unplugged once charging is complete.
“You need to really read what the manufacturer has declared as the instructions for that product,” he said.
He added, “Following the manufacturer’s instructions. You don’t want to use lithium-based products outside of the scope of what the manufacturer declared. If the manufacture said this is not a water product, don’t ever put water on it. Or if they say don’t do certain things, don’t leave it out in direct sunlight. I think in places like Nevada you never want to just leave something on your car dashboard. That’s a big risk of it catching on fire.”
The Henderson Fire Department just told FOX5 in 2025 there will be multi agencies training for a “lithium energy emergency response.”
The department says there were eight total fires in 2023 that were possibly lithium battery related, with five so far in 2024.
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