Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risks Inside Airport Terminals and Boarding Gates
Inside airport terminals, lithium-ion batteries are present in passenger devices, operational equipment and terminal technology systems used by both travellers and airport staff. Passengers routinely carry smartphones, laptops, tablets and power banks, while airport operations rely on handheld scanners, radios, mobile ticket readers and battery-powered service equipment. Public charging stations, retail electronics displays and mobility devices further increase the number of lithium batteries operating within passenger environments. When a lithium battery fails in a crowded terminal space, the resulting thermal runaway event can generate intense heat, toxic gases and rapidly spreading flames, presenting risks to passengers and infrastructure. Identifying the key risk zones within terminal environments helps airports prepare for battery incidents and implement appropriate response strategies to protect both passengers and operational facilities.
Browse All ProductsKey Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risk Zones in Airport Operations
Passenger Device Charging Areas
Passenger seating areas and lounges frequently include public charging stations and power outlets where travellers connect mobile phones, laptops, tablets and power banks. These charging points can see dozens of devices connected simultaneously, often with unknown battery condition or charging cables. Overheating batteries, damaged devices or poor-quality power banks can fail during charging and trigger thermal runaway, presenting a fire risk in busy passenger areas.
Security Screening and Checkpoint Areas
Security checkpoints regularly handle large volumes of lithium-ion powered electronics, including laptops, tablets, cameras and power banks that must be removed from luggage during screening. Devices are placed in trays and moved through scanners where they may be dropped, compressed or mishandled. Damaged or defective batteries can overheat after impact, creating a potential fire hazard within high-density passenger processing zones.
Boarding Gates and Waiting Areas
Gate departure areas are environments where passengers gather for extended periods while using and charging electronic devices. Smartphones, laptops and portable battery packs are often actively charging while passengers wait to board flights. A battery failure in these crowded spaces can generate rapid heat, smoke and toxic gases, requiring quick containment to prevent disruption to passengers and airport operations.
Airline Gate Technology and Boarding Equipment
Airline staff rely on battery-powered boarding scanners, handheld ticket readers and mobile gate devices to manage passenger boarding and flight operations. These devices operate continuously throughout the day and are frequently returned to charging docks between flights. Concentrated charging infrastructure and constant device usage can increase battery degradation, creating a potential risk of overheating or battery failure.
Retail Electronics and Duty-Free Areas
Duty-free and retail areas within airport terminals often sell or display battery-powered consumer electronics, including headphones, cameras, power banks and other rechargeable products. Demonstration units and display devices may remain connected to power throughout the day. Faulty products or damaged batteries can overheat, presenting a fire risk within retail spaces that contain high passenger footfall and combustible packaging materials.
Passenger Mobility and Assisted Transport Equipment
Airports provide electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and passenger assistance vehicles to support travellers with reduced mobility. These systems rely on rechargeable battery packs that may be charged in public areas, storage rooms or service corridors. If a battery becomes damaged or incorrectly charged, it may enter thermal runaway and create a fire hazard in crowded terminal environments.
How AVD Fire Suppression Works
Lithium-ion battery fires are unlike any conventional fire — they progress rapidly, release toxic gases, generate extreme heat, and can reignite days or even weeks later. Standard extinguishers are ineffective against thermal runaway. AVD (Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion) is a revolutionary, certified extinguishing agent developed specifically to tackle these unique challenges — cooling cells, suppressing flames, and forming a physical barrier to prevent reignition.
Learn About AVD TechnologyAVD Is Applied To The Battery
AVD is discharged directly onto the lithium-ion battery using standard fire-fighting equipment — from portable extinguishers to large-volume trolley units and fixed suppression systems.
Rapid Cooling Of Battery Cells
The aqueous component immediately cools the battery cells, reducing the intense heat generated during thermal runaway and slowing the chain reaction within the cell.
Flames Are Suppressed
AVD acts to suppress the flames and extinguish the fire quickly, limiting the damage and losses caused by a rapidly propagating lithium-ion battery fire.
A Thermal Barrier Forms
As the water evaporates, a heat-resistant layer of vermiculite mineral deposits onto the battery surface, forming a physical oxygen and heat barrier to prevent reignition.
Thermal Propagation Is Blocked
AVD's non-flammable properties reduce thermal propagation between battery cells. It can also be applied as a fire break to prevent the fire spreading to surrounding materials and property
Safe, Clean & Non-Toxic
AVD contains only water and naturally occurring vermiculite mineral — it is PFAS-free, environmentally friendly, non-toxic to humans, animals, and plant life, and leaves no harmful residue.
Passenger Mobility Transport
Passenger mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and assisted transport buggies are commonly used throughout airport terminals. These systems rely on rechargeable battery packs that may be charged in public areas or service rooms. Damaged batteries, incorrect charging or ageing battery systems can create a thermal runaway risk in crowded passenger environments, requiring rapid containment and suppression.
Passenger Mobility Transport
Passenger mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and assisted transport buggies are commonly used throughout airport terminals. These systems rely on rechargeable battery packs that may be charged in public areas or service rooms. Damaged batteries, incorrect charging or ageing battery systems can create a thermal runaway risk in crowded passenger environments, requiring rapid containment and suppression.
Duty-Free Retailers
Duty-free retail outlets often display and sell battery-powered consumer electronics, including power banks, headphones, cameras and other rechargeable devices. Retail charging displays and demonstration units may remain connected to power throughout the day. Faulty devices or damaged batteries can overheat or fail, creating a fire risk within retail spaces that contain high footfall and combustible packaging materials.
Duty-Free Retailers
Duty-free retail outlets often display and sell battery-powered consumer electronics, including power banks, headphones, cameras and other rechargeable devices. Retail charging displays and demonstration units may remain connected to power throughout the day. Faulty devices or damaged batteries can overheat or fail, creating a fire risk within retail spaces that contain high footfall and combustible packaging materials.
Airport Staff Tablets and PDAs
Airport operations rely heavily on tablets, handheld scanners and personal digital assistants (PDAs) used by staff for ticket scanning, logistics management and operational control. These devices are frequently used across long shifts and are often charged in clusters within staff rooms or operational desks. Large numbers of lithium-ion batteries charging simultaneously can increase the risk of overheating or battery failure.
Tablets and PDAs
Airport operations rely heavily on tablets, handheld scanners and personal digital assistants (PDAs) used by staff for ticket scanning, logistics management and operational control. These devices are frequently used across long shifts and are often charged in clusters within staff rooms or operational desks. Large numbers of lithium-ion batteries charging simultaneously can increase the risk of overheating or battery failure.
Hand-held Radios
Airport security teams, ground handlers and operations staff rely on portable two-way radios powered by rechargeable battery packs. Radios are typically stored in charging racks when not in use, sometimes with dozens of units connected to power simultaneously. Battery faults or charging failures can cause overheating events that present a fire risk in operational offices and communication hubs.
Hand-held Radios
Airport security teams, ground handlers and operations staff rely on portable two-way radios powered by rechargeable battery packs. Radios are typically stored in charging racks when not in use, sometimes with dozens of units connected to power simultaneously. Battery faults or charging failures can cause overheating events that present a fire risk in operational offices and communication hubs.
Mobile Phone Charge Stations
Public mobile phone charging stations are now widely installed in airport terminals to support passenger connectivity. These stations allow multiple devices to be connected and charged simultaneously, often in busy waiting areas or lounges. Overheating devices, damaged cables or faulty batteries can result in lithium-ion battery incidents in high-density passenger areas.
Mobile Phone Charge Stations
Public mobile phone charging stations are now widely installed in airport terminals to support passenger connectivity. These stations allow multiple devices to be connected and charged simultaneously, often in busy waiting areas or lounges. Overheating devices, damaged cables or faulty batteries can result in lithium-ion battery incidents in high-density passenger areas.
Traveller Devices
Passengers routinely carry multiple battery-powered devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones and power banks. Incidents involving overheating batteries or damaged devices have been reported in seating areas, security checkpoints and boarding gates. With thousands of devices present at any time, passenger electronics represent one of the most widespread lithium battery risks inside airport terminals.
Traveller Devices
Passengers routinely carry multiple battery-powered devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones and power banks. Incidents involving overheating batteries or damaged devices have been reported in seating areas, security checkpoints and boarding gates. With thousands of devices present at any time, passenger electronics represent one of the most widespread lithium battery risks inside airport terminals.
Gate Technology and Boarding Equipment
Airport gate areas rely on battery-powered boarding scanners, handheld ticket readers and mobile gate equipment used by airline and airport staff. These devices are used continuously throughout the day and are often returned to charging docks between flights. Concentrated charging infrastructure and constant operational use can increase the likelihood of battery degradation or failure.