Course Overview: BatteryIQ: Advanced Technician Response to Li-ION Batteries
This 8-hour course prepares responders to safely manage lithium-ion battery incidents, from small electronics to electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Students learn to apply the Battery Response Guide, select proper PPE, and use monitoring tools to assess hazards and determine safe tactics. The course combines classroom instruction with hands-on exercises, including live demonstrations, pack dismantling, and safe overpacking for disposal.
RegisterBatteryIQ: Advanced Technician Response to Li-ION Batteries
October 18 | 8 am - 4 pm
Ashland Fire Department
1021 Carter Ave., Ashland, KY
Registration for this class is open for Fire, EMS, HazMat technicians, and safety professionals who may encounter lithium-ion battery emergencies.
Directions: Google
Course Description
COURSE LENGTH: 8 Hours, October 18, 2025
BatteryIQ: Technician – Response to Battery Emergencies
OVERVIEW
Explore the intricacies of lithium-ion battery incidents with BatteryIQ—a comprehensive training program designed for a range of scenarios from cellphones and electric scooters/bikes to electric vehicle fires and energy storage system failures. This course equips students with a simplified yet effective system to comprehend, identify, respond to, and mitigate lithium-ion battery emergencies.
FEATURES OF THE COURSE
Battery Response Guides: Each student receives Battery Response Guides, facilitating quick and effective categorization of battery-related emergencies based on battery type and failure stage. These guides are instrumental in determining potential hazards, selecting appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), recommending suitable equipment, and outlining the correct emergency operation tactics upon arriving at the scene of a Li-ion battery emergency.
Hands-On Learning: The afternoon session delves into practical, hands-on learning. Witness demonstrations of battery failures resulting from physical damage or overcharging. Engage with recommended Li-ION response equipment, including Thermal Imaging Cameras (TIC) and pH/F paper, to monitor battery failures. Gain valuable skills in dismantling battery packs and conclude the hands-on segment by learning the safe procedures for overpacking batteries and the proper disposal of failed batteries through various methods.
What you will learn
TECHNICIAN RESPONSE TO BATTERY EMERGENCIES
CLASSROOM TOPICS
Overview of Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Understanding Lithium-Ion Batteries
- How Lithium-Ion batteries work
- Chemistry of Lithium-Ion batteries
- Introduction to Battery Response Guide
- Types of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Battery Failures
- Common Causes
- Cascading Failure
- Severity of Battery Failure
Response Tactics & Tools for Common Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents
Including small, personal mobility, EV, energy storage systems, photovoltaic, & structure/commercial fires
- Indicators - Damaged vs. On Fire
- Incident Case Studies
- Hazards and PPE
- Resource and Response Considerations
- EV Extrication (Manual Entry, Laminated Safety Glass)
- Review NFPA Response Guide for EV
- Recommended Products & Equipment
- Preplanning of a Facility
HANDS-ON TRAINING
Battery Failure Demonstration
- Physical Damage
- Overcharge
- Use of Equipment in Li-ION Response (Thermal Imager/Temperature Gun, pH/Fluorine (F) paper (air monitoring)
Review of Common Battery Packs & Dismantling Battery Packs
Using an assortment of battery packs, including tool batteries, e-bike packs, pouches, and cylindrical cells, students will disassemble packs for overpacking
- Overpacking
- Overpacking of batteries used in class
- Determine the wattage of batteries packed
- Follow the overpacking guideline, complete paperwork, and prepare the overpack for shipping following DOT regulations for DDR batteries