Storage facilities.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

separations. No flammable or combustible liquids will

contact with water. For most batteries, sprinklers are

be permitted within the battery storage area. Storage

preferred. The batteries are containerized; therefore,

locations should be selected that minimize personnel

water from the sprinkler system has the potential of

exposure; and locations should be approved by the base

suppressing the fire and preventing ignition of the

fire chief.

lithium metal should a fire actually occur in the facility.

However, for very large batteries such as the 10,000

3 Separate fire area within a

amp hour batteries used in some missile systems,

general storage facility. The lithium battery storage area

sprinklers are not a good idea. This is because if a cell

shall be separated from the remainder of the facility by

of a large battery ruptures, the quantity of lithium in

3-hour fire-rated construction (preferably masonry).

each cell is so great that the addition of water can cause

With the exception that quantities of two pallet loads or

a worse problem.

less may have only 2-hour fire-rated separations. No

(b) Firefighting. Personnel will not use

flammable or combustible liquids will be permitted within

water in an attempt to extinguish lithium fires. A dry

the battery storage area. Storage locations should be

powder (class D) portable fire extinguisher will be

selected that minimize personnel exposure, and

strategically maintained in the battery storage area to

locations should be approved by the base fire chief.

assist in firefighting efforts. Halon fire extinguishers

4 If the value at risk (building and

must not be used on burning lithium. Halon and lithium

contents at replacement cost) are considered and

react violently and release highly toxic compounds.

mission-essential materials are not present, a single

Some chemical solutions in the lithium batteries (e.g.,

pallet or less of lithium batteries may be stored in a

thionyl chloride) are extremely toxic. Installation-level

general-purpose storage area without the special fire-

medical services should be contacted to recommend the

rated cutoffs discussed above.

proper type of emergency respiratory protection required

(d) New or unused batteries.

with the extinguisher. Installation fire protection officials

1 Lithium batteries shall be stored

and the emergency response team shall be notified of

in individual/original manufacturer or shipping

facilities in which lithium batteries are stored.

containers, one item per package, to ensure that there is

(c) Storage facilities.

The storage

no direct contact between any two batteries or cells.

facilities shall be cool (where temperatures will not

Personnel engaged in storing, handling, or moving

exceed 130 ., well ventilated, and equipped with a

lithium batteries will exercise caution to avoid crushing

sprinkler system in accordance with para (a) above.

or puncturing any package.

Signs should be conspicuously posted where lithium

2 Due to the potential hazards

batteries are stored. The following storage facility

involved in the storage and handling of lithium batteries,

options are in descending order of preference:

the stock levels for these items shall be kept at the

1 The preferred location for

absolute minimum necessary to support mission

lithium battery storage is in flammable or hazardous

requirements.

material storage facilities. The area used for the battery

(e) Used, damaged, or condemned

storage shall be separated from the rest of the facility by

batteries.

a 3-hour fire-rated wall (preferably masonry), with the

1 Batteries in any of these

exception that quantities of two pallet loads or less may

categories will be stored temporarily (less than 90 days)

have only 2-hour fire-rated separations. Flammable or

and separately from serviceable assets. Storage in

combustible locations should be selected that minimize

excess of 90 days must be in an RCRA permitted

personnel exposure and locations should be approved

hazardous waste storage facility (interim or final).

by the base fire chief.

Batteries will be packaged and processed for turn in to

CAUTION

the DRMO prior to temporary storage, according to DOD

The following options should only

4160.21-M, Defense Utilization and Disposal Manual.

be considered as a temporary fix

Normal fire protection and safety requirements apply to

until optimum storage can be

materiel stored in any of these categories.

achieved.

2 Used, damaged, or condemned

2 Separate fire area in a storage

batteries must be managed under the hazardous waste

shed or ventilated locker. The lithium battery storage

regulation pertaining to accumulation time and facility

area shall be separated from the remainder of the

holding requirements. The environmental coordinator

facility by 3-hour fire-rated construction (preferably

should be notified whenever a battery is

masonry), with the exception that quantities of two pallet

loads or less may have only 2-hour fire-rated

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