Atlanta, October 5 (Reuters) / PRNewswire / — On the occasion of Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10), Pye - Barker Fire & Safety, the largest full-integrated, full-service fire protection, life safety, and security service provider in the United States, is sharing lithium-ion battery safety guidelines with commercial facility managers.

The theme of this year for the National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA ) in the United States is “ Charge into Fire Safety : Safe Charging Is a Superpower ”, and this is also the second consecutive year that the event focuses on lithium-ion batteries.

The focus of promotion for NFPA is on daily charging habits. Pye-Barker extends this message to the workplace, as lithium-ion batteries power backup systems for servers and network equipment, forklifts, cordless tools, as well as electric bicycles and scooters brought into the premises by employees and tenants.

"Our technical staff discovered that the UPS systems, charging trolleys, and personal electric bicycles were placed in rooms that were not originally designed for them," said Joseph Hightower, the Chief Operating Officer of Pye - Barker Fire & Safety. "Detection and suppression measures must be matched to the items actually present in the space today."

Pye-Barker It is recommended to follow five steps:

• Inventory and verify the specifications. Walk through the building, record every location where batteries are stored, charged, or installed, and then compare this list with the actual coverage of the existing fire protection plan.
• Purchase certified products and charge them for their intended purpose. Choose devices that have been certified by nationally recognized testing laboratories, and use only chargers provided by the manufacturer or approved equivalent products.
• Establish supervised charging areas. Use non-combustible surfaces away from exits and stairwells; connect to sockets, rather than using extension cords or power strips; charging at night is prohibited.
• Ensure that detection and suppression measures are matched to the risks. Defective batteries release flammable gases before smoking or catching fire. The battery compartment requires early warning detection systems linked to a monitored alarm system, ventilation, as well as fire extinguishing plans that have been evaluated for the specific installation environment.
• Training on warning signs: Fever, swelling, hissing sounds, unusual odors, or smoke all indicate that the use of the battery should be stopped. The local team at Pye-Barker can visit the facility together with building managers and provide recommendations regarding detection, suppression, and inspection procedures for that location. To contact the local branch, please visit pyebarkerfs.com / locations.

Regarding Pye - Barker Fire & Safety

As a leader in the field of integrated life safety systems in the United States, Pye - Barker Fire & Safety provides comprehensive fire protection and security systems throughout the country. The company has over 250 locations and 9,000 team members, and has obtained certifications from Great Place to Work ® Certified ™. It has also been selected for Inc.5000 and ranked 3rd among the top 100 in SDM.

Visit pyebarkerfs.com to find branches.

Media contact: James Taylor