E-scooters, e-bikes and mobility scooters

Fire involving E-Scooters and E-Bikes are the fastest growing fire risk. Whilst they offer a great mode of transportation, if the batteries become damaged or begin to fail, they can start an incredibly ferocious fire. Lithium battery fires can spread quickly and out of control and start a large fire within minutes.

Please pay special attention to bike conversion kits. Do not attempt to modify or tamper with the battery. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Reduce the Risk of Overheating

• Batteries can get warm during their use. Allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge.
• Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate.
•  Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried.

Batteries should never be exposed to extremes of temperature.

Charging batteries

• Never block your escape route with e-bikes or e-scooters.
• Store and charge them somewhere away from a main through route or exit.
• Make sure you and your family have an escape plan in place in the event of a fire. Always call 999, never try to fight the fire yourself.

Mobility Scooters are becoming increasingly popular with occupants of Sheltered Accommodation and General Needs accommodation alike.

Storing Mobility Scooters in communal areas is an unacceptable risk to all residents in what is usually a main escape route. As well as being a potential obstruction, when

Advice on Mobility Scooter safety

• Store it in a safe space, not in our escape route in a fire
• Don’t leave your scooter battery on charge overnight.
• Don’t block escapes routes when charging

If you are thinking about purchasing or leasing a Mobility Scooter, please apply to us in writing.

We are committed to promoting equality and maximising choice and independence and recognise the value of mobility aids such as mobility scooters to tenants in maintaining their independence. We aim, as far as practical, to support the need of tenants wanting to use mobility scooters.

How safe is your bedside table? Do you pop your phone on to charge before bed? Maybe you love to watch TV on your laptop or tablet in bed – plugged in to keep the screen bright, of course? Let’s take a closer look at how many of us use every day electrical items.

Are batteries dangerous?

When used properly, no. But batteries can present a fire risk when over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or if they are damaged. It’s important to charge them safely too.

• Always use the charger that came with your phone, tablet, e-cigarette, or mobile device.
• If you need to buy a replacement, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust. There are lots of fakes out there, and it can be difficult to spot the difference. Avoid storing, using, or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
• Protect batteries against being damaged – that’s crushed, punctured, or immersed in water.
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete – it’s best not to leave your phone plugged in overnight for example.
• Never cover chargers or charging devices – that includes using your laptop power lead in bed.