In June, an exclusive event in the UK brought together experts from fire safety, insurance, and mobility to address one of the most complex fire safety challenges of our time. SpiderFire participated as the distributor in the Nordic and Benelux countries, alongside other industry experts, at the international EV FirePro event, which focused on EV FirePro — the world’s first fixed fire suppression system designed specifically to control electric vehicle battery fires in enclosed car parks.
What drew a wide range of experts to the event was the uniqueness of the solution: unlike conventional overhead fire suppression systems, EV FirePro is installed permanently beneath the parking space and activates with a targeted water spray directed at the vehicle’s battery. The result is a rapid, localized response that helps contain the situation before it escalates into a major fire.
Challenges arising from the
growth of electric vehicles
The number of electric vehicles (EVs) is growing exponentially, and with it, the number of EV charging points. This rapid growth is creating significant challenges also for the insurance industry, as EV battery fires are more complex and difficult to manage than traditional internal combustion engine fires.
-“The EV FirePro demonstration showed how effective the fire suppression system is in controlling an EV battery fire. This is very encouraging as it will help reduce the potential exposure from a defective EV battery catching fire,” says Richard Lloyd, Client Director at Howden Global Insurance Group.
In the picture: Gareth Morgan from EV Fire Protection explains that EV FirePro is easy to integrate into existing infrastructure. The low-profile system is permanently installed in parking bays, standing guard over electric vehicles (EVs) around the clock.
Practical training and EV FirePro live demonstration
The two-day event, organized by Equipro and EV Fire Protection, brought together experts from around the world in fire safety, emergency services, and the insurance industry, as well as technical specialists and a representative from a global car manufacturer. Applus+, a leading global company in testing, inspection, and certification responsible for EV FirePro's certification, also took part in the event.
Participants received practical training on the system’s installation and operation under the guidance of EV FirePro’s developer and innovator, Gareth Morgan. The training was complemented by a compelling live demonstration at the International Fire Training Centre at Teesside International Airport, showing how EV FirePro operates during a thermal runaway scenario—a dangerous chain reaction where a battery overheats uncontrollably, potentially causing jet flames, explosions, and toxic gas releases.
"It’s great to be part of the growing EV FirePro professional community, driving a significant leap in electric vehicle fire safety across the Nordics and Benelux,” says Tommi Holappa, CEO of SpiderFire
A Shift in Fire Safety: Lithium Battery Fires – Prevention at the Core
The number of electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe is rapidly increasing, and with it, fire safety challenges are becoming more pronounced. While BEVs are not more likely to catch fire than internal combustion engine vehicles, battery fires are far more complex and hazardous.
"Regardless of the initial cause of a fire, when fire spreads to a battery electric vehicle, the challenge increases significantly for fire brigades. EV fires also pose a serious risk to first responders," Gareth explains (in the picture on the right).
In 2025, the European Commission’s Sustainable Transport Forum released guidance identifying key risks such as thermal runaway, jet flames, explosive gas discharges, and toxic gases like hydrogen fluoride. The guidance also highlights the challenges of firefighting in confined, poorly ventilated spaces and the fire risks linked to faulty or poorly maintained charging equipment. Automatic fire suppression systems are emphasized as essential in managing these risks in enclosed car parks. The report.
A 2024 report by the Australian Building Codes Board echoes these concerns, noting modern vehicles are larger, heavier, and contain more combustible material than before. The dense layout of today’s parking structures, with minimal spacing and compartmentation, significantly increases the risk of large-scale fires and sever structural damage to buildings. Addressing these challenges requires a new approach to fire safety — one that EV FirePro is designed to meet. The report.
The EV FirePro demonstration showed the effective fire suppression
EV FirePro automatically detects an EV battery fire, sends a signal to the building’s fire detection and alarm panel notifying fire brigade, initiating the occupant warning system and activating targeted water suppression to the undercarriage of the vehicle.
In suppression, the result is a fast, localized response that helps contain the situation before it escalates into a major fire.
Underside protection sprays water directly onto the EV’s underside to cool the lithium-ion battery, while lateral protection uses a secondary spray to shield nearby vehicles and property from jet flames.
Networking and Insights from the Field
The EV FirePro event provided a valuable platform for experts from diverse industries to connect and explore the complex challenges surrounding EV battery fires.
Throughout the event, there was a shared understanding that EV FirePro addresses both current and emerging fire safety needs, protecting people and property while supporting broader climate goals. Ongoing international cooperation and information exchange are of utmost importance for developing effective methods to manage and extinguish fires in electric vehicle batteries moving forward.
"Fires in lithium-ion batteries are an issue that requires serious attention. The event gave us much to consider and a solid foundation for when we bring EV FirePro to the Nordics and Benelux," says Tommi, who is pictured together with Riina, both from SpiderFire.
The EV FirePro community is an internationally growing network of experts. In the picture, from left to right: Equipro’s Nick Grant, Liz Morgan from EV Fire Protection, and Sergio Fernandez from Applus+.
Here is the article in PDF-format på engelska.
Se videon från brandtestet i Madrid 02/2025
Se animationen.
Om EV FirePro
EV FirePro was developed to address a critical gap in fire safety systems for electric vehicles (EVs) during thermal runaway incidents. Traditional overhead suppression systems are primarily designed for conventional fires and often fail to provide adequate protection for EV battery fires, as they cannot effectively reach the heat source located in the vehicle's undercarriage. The EV FirePro fixed suppression system is designed for permanent installation into parking bays, delivering a targeted water spray to the underside of the vehicle when thermal runaway is detected, effectively controlling the heat release and fire spread to adjacent vehicles.Read more
About SpiderFire
SpiderFire AB is a Swedish company specializing in smart fire protection solutions with a focus on automatic suppression systems. With expertise in intelligent aerosol-based systems for technical environments, SpiderFire is the official Channel Partner of EV FirePro in the Nordic region.
Could this product solution add extra value to your portfolio? Are you interested in becoming a reseller in the Nordics?
Feel free to get in touch, and let’s talk more!
For more information:
Riina Aikio, COO
Email: riina@spiderfire.se
Tel: +46 (0) 73 319 06 14
Tommi Holappa, CEO
Email: tommi.holappa@spiderfire.se
Tel: +46 (0) 70 843 94 48
Confronting the EV Battery Fire Challenge – Experts, Insurers and Innovators United in the UK