TJ to enter pilot battery E-bag trial to reduce fire risk

TJ Waste will enter a pilot battery E-bag trial that is being conducted in a bid to reduce the risk of fire at waste recycling centres. TJ are collaborating on the project with fellow Fareham-based companies Barnbrook Systems and Flair, who designed an E-bag system using nanotechnology to create its temperature-sensitive smart fabric.

Barnbrook and Flair launched their innovative E-bag at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. It is thought that the E-bag, which was designed for aviation, could also prove effective in reducing the risk of battery fires within recycling centres too.

The trial comes after a major fire at TJ’s Tipner Materials Recovery Facility in July, which is believed to have been sparked by an illegally-discarded lithium-ion battery, most likely within a skip.

The pilot trial will equip TJ operatives with these purpose-made, portable E-bags in which they can place suspect or hazardous devices. Once the bag is zipped up, it can be safely taken outside for processing. There will also be a large sack into which bigger batteries or devices can be placed before being removed by a disposal company.

The primary reason for the creation of the E-bag was to enable aircrew to safely isolate devices such as tablets and mobile phones, handle devices emitting smoke or extreme heat, and extinguish fires caused by devices.

The E-bag’s smart fabric smothers the battery or device by cutting off air, ensuring efficient fire suppression. It safely isolates overheating, smoking or burning batteries, or their parent devices, and prevents ignition.

Barnbrook’s BlueCube© technology will monitor the E-bag’s interior, providing live readings of temperature and humidity. This allows suspect devices to be placed inside as a precaution, tracked during extinguishing, and monitored until safe removal.

Andrew Barnett, Managing Director of Barnbrook Systems, said: “This is game-changing technology which can deal with the increasing threat from lithium-ion batteries. We are looking forward to working with TJ Waste & Recycling in the UK’s first trial of its kind using our E-bag technology which has the potential to save lives and money while supporting business continuity and enhancing community confidence.”

TJ Managing Director, John Gosling said: “This technology is crucial in helping us to manage the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries and to ultimately keep our sites, employees and local communities safe. However, we must continue to combat the wider issue of battery-related fires in the resource and waste management sector by raising awareness of the risks of incorrectly discarded lithium-ion batteries and items containing lithium-ion batteries. It is vital that the public know where to discard them in a safe and environmentally friendly way, for example, by visiting their local council website for relevant information.”

Find out more about the rebuild of TJ’s Tipner Materials Recovery Facility and explore the services we offer.