% This story has also been broadcast on TV news. EVangels> some of the public will assume: EVs use li-ion, thus are dangerous. ? So, should li-ion batteries be discharged down to 30% to reduce the chance of fires ? %
http://abc7ny.com/travel/laptops-in-checked-bags-pose-fire-explosion-risk-us-says/2553790/ Laptops in checked bags pose fire, explosion risk, US government says 20171020 JOAN LOWY [image http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/content/ktrk/images/cms/2050448_630x354.jpg ] WASHINGTON --The U.S. government is urging the world airline community to ban large, personal electronic devices like laptops from checked luggage because of the potential for a catastrophic fire. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a paper filed recently with a U.N. agency that its tests show that when a laptop's rechargeable lithium-ion battery overheats in close proximity to an aerosol spray can, it can cause an explosion capable of disabling an airliner's fire suppression system. The fire could then rage unchecked, leading to "the loss of the aircraft," the paper said. The U.N. agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, sets global aviation safety standards, although member countries must still ratify them. The proposed ban is on the agenda of a meeting of ICAO's panel on dangerous goods being held this week and next week in Montreal. The FAA has conducted 10 tests involving a fully-charged laptop packed in a suitcase. A heater was placed against the laptop's battery to force it into "thermal runaway," a condition in which the battery's temperature continually rises. In one test, an 8-ounce aerosol can of dry shampoo -which is permitted in checked baggage - was strapped to the laptop. There was a fire almost immediately and it grew rapidly. The aerosol can exploded within 40 seconds. The test showed that because of the rapid progression of the fire, Halon gas fire suppressant systems used in airline cargo compartments would be unable to put out the fire before there was an explosion, the FAA said. The explosion might not be strong enough to structurally damage the plane, but it could damage the cargo compartment and allow the Halon to escape, the agency said. Then there would be nothing to prevent the fire from spreading. Other tests of laptop batteries packed with potentially dangerous consumer goods that are permitted in checked baggage like nail polish remover, hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol also resulted in large fires, although no explosions. As a result, the paper recommends that passengers shouldn't be allowed to pack large electronic devices in baggage unless they have specific approval from the airline. The paper says the European Safety Agency, the FAA's counterpart in Europe; Airbus, one of the world's largest makers of passenger airliners; the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Association, and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Association, which represents aircraft makers, concurred in the recommendation. The paper doesn't address whether the ban should extend to domestic flights, but points out the risk that baggage containing a large electronic device could be transferred from one flight to another without the knowledge of the airline. The FAA said it believes most devices larger than a smartphone are already being carried by passengers into the cabin, rather than put in checked bags. Rechargeable lithium batteries are used in consumer products ranging from cellphones and laptops to electric cars. Manufacturers like them because they pack more energy into smaller packages, but the batteries can self-ignite if they have a manufacturing flaw, are damaged, exposed to excessive heat, overcharged or packed too closely together. The fires can burn up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, close to the melting point of the aluminum used in aircraft construction. Since 2006, three cargo jets have been destroyed and four pilots killed by in-flight fires that investigators say were either started by batteries or made more severe by their proximity. Earlier this year, the U.S. imposed a ban on laptops in the cabins of planes coming into the country from 10 Middle Eastern airports for security reasons. The ban was fully lifted in July after U.S. officials said airports in the region had taken other steps to increase security. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration formerly led the U.S. negotiations on the regulation of dangerous goods at ICAO meetings. But the Obama administration put the FAA in charge in 2009 after congressional Democrats accused high-level officials at PHMSA of being too cozy with the industries they regulate. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has now decided to put PHMSA back in charge at future ICAO dangerous goods deliberations, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said Thursday. Both agencies are part of the Transportation Department. DeFazio called the decision "inexplicable" in a letter to Chao. "I strongly believe it has the potential to put the lives of airline passengers and crews at serious risk," he said. Chao didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Lobbyists for lithium battery makers and companies that use the batteries in their products have previously urged the change. [© 2017 The Associated Press] United Nations panel considers banning laptops in checked bags on ... The Hill (blog)-1 hour ago ... which is represented on the U.N. panel, said in a recent paper filed with the U.N. body that its studies pointed to the lithium-ion batteries in laptops as having ... ... You Might Soon Be Banned From Checking Your Laptop On A Flight Refinery29-2 hours ago The agency is concerned that the rechargeable lithium-ion battery in laptops and other electronic devices could cause an explosion when it interacts with a can ... ... FAA pushes for ban on laptops in checked bags over fire, explosion ... Washington Examiner-3 hours ago In a paper filed recently with the United Nations, the FAA cites a concern with the rechargeable lithium-ion battery used in laptops, saying if it overheats in close ... ... FAA proposes ban on large electronics in checked baggage Engadget-5 hours ago A heater was set against the lithium ion cell to force the battery to overheat. In one of the tests, a can of aerosol dry shampoo was in the suitcase. The currently ... ... FAA proposal seeks global airline ban on checked consumer gadgets SlashGear-5 hours ago It's no secret that lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous if they overheat, and now the FAA is warning that they pose a serious risk for airplanes if checked into ... ... Turns out the government's airplane laptop ban was actually a huge ... Mashable-7 hours ago If the lithium-ion battery inside a laptop heats up too much inside the checked baggage compartment of a plane, it has the potential to start a fire, according to ... ... Global Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes Market Trends & Forecast to ... Digital Journal-8 hours ago Electrolyte is a key component of the lithium-ion battery. The basic function of electrolytes is to serve as the medium for the transport of lithium ions between the ... ... Here's why the FAA wants to ban laptops in luggage The Daily Dot-8 hours ago The reason: there's a serious risk for catastrophic fire if the lithium-ion batteries inside overheat. The FAA published a paper last month aggregating its findings. ... US Urging Airlines to Ban Cameras in Checked Bags PetaPixel (blog)-9 hours ago The FAA conducted tests that involved placing a heater against a fully-charged laptop's lithium-ion battery, causing the battery's temperature to continually rise. ... US aviation authority calls for global ban on laptops in checked ... TravelMole-9 hours ago The issue of overheating rechargeable lithium-ion batteries has long been an area of concern, which was escalated recently with the so-called 'laptop ban' on ... ... Terrifying FAA report finds one can of hairspray in checked luggage ... The Week Magazine-9 hours ago An aerosol can and a lithium-ion powered laptop could spell destruction for an ... report recently filed with the U.N. If a large lithium-ion battery powered device ... ... Laptop Rules Could Change for Checked Bags on International Flights Newsweek-10 hours ago After conducting several tests, the FAA has found that the lithium-ion batteries in laptops and other electronic devices are prone to overheating and exploding ... For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.neocities.org} -- Sent from: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/ _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
