With 14 million electric cars already in operation around the globe – a figure that is only set to grow as we strive to meet the decarbonisation challenge – it’s never been more important to know how to safely contain and supress electric vehicle (EV) fires. Yet many responders tell us that they don’t feel prepared to keep up with this evolving picture.
To meet this growing need, and provide a safe, effective, and consistent approach to managing electric vehicle fires, we have partnered with FireWise UK Learning Academy and Bridgehill Vehicle Fire Blankets to bring a UK first – a dedicated EV Responder course with live simulated EV fires.
Featuring an innovative and realistic ‘EV fire simulator’, the IFTC Electric Vehicle Responder training course includes live electric vehicle thermal runaway and fire simulation. The simulator has been designed and engineered to facilitate multiple scenarios to enhance the training opportunity, enabling effective and repeatable training of fire containment and suppression tactics in a safe and controlled environment.
Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s Training and Resilience Director said: “We are excited to launch our new practical EV fire management course for emergency responders. On completion, participants will have critical safety awareness of the potential significant hazards that EV fires pose to them, other responders, the public, and the environment. Extending far beyond cars and vans, electric vehicles include personal mobility devices, commercial and passenger carrying vehicles as well as work equipment & vehicles too.
“We’ve heard of a variety of methods being used to tackle this ‘new type of fire’ including submerging vehicles for 48 hours. While these methods can work, they are not practical or sustainable as the EV market grows.
“Emergency responders are concerned and want to be best prepared for how to manage this new type of fire, be that on our highways, runways or in industry,” said Ryan.
Fire personnel will participate in and receive instruction on fire suppression techniques, including vehicle fire blanket application and under chassis cooling. Non-fire personnel will have the opportunity to practice vehicle fire blanket application, as a precautionary measure, to safely quarantine cars with a suspected fault, and will also observe the live fire exercises, seeing and hearing the simulated conditions of an EV fire.
The new hands-on course is aligned to the new IMI National Occupational Standards EV02a & EV02b for Electric Vehicle Response and will provide essential awareness, recognition and knowledge of Electric Vehicle abnormal thermal events and fires, with unbelievably realistic training conditions using the new EV Fire Simulator, complete with inbuilt vapour, flame, and sound effects.
Courses run throughout 2024 and beyond, and are available to book now. Contact bookings@iftc.co.uk for more details and to book your place.