Hithium Sets New Standards for Energy Storage Safety with Groundbreaking Open-Door Fire Test at SNEC 2025

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On June 11, 2025, during the 18th SNEC, Hithium, a leading global energy storage technology company, hosted a product safety technology sharing event titled “Leading the Future, Forged for Safety.” At this event, Hithium unveiled the results of the world’s first all open-door large-scale fire test of its ∞Block 5MWh energy storage system. The company was also awarded a certification for the large-scale fire test by UL Solutions, an international testing authority.

Hualei Wang, the project manager for the fire test, provided insights into the test’s background and key details. Attendees were shown a video of the open-door fire test, offering a thorough view of the procedures, technical highlights, and results. The test involved intentionally heating eight battery cells in container A to trigger thermal runaway, leading to cell-to-cell propagation. As pressure relief vents opened, an ignition system ignited the released gases, resulting in full combustion while keeping the container doors wide open to ensure continuous oxygen flow. This design maximized heat exposure to adjacent containers B, C, and D.

The test was conducted under four extreme conditions: all doors open during combustion, a dual 15 cm extreme spacing, a deactivated fire suppression system, and a 100% State of Charge (SOC).

**Peak Fire Phase:** At the fourth hour of testing, the fire reached its peak temperature of 1,372°C. Temperature monitoring confirmed that the cell temperatures in all adjacent containers remained well below the thermal runaway initiation threshold defined by the UL9540A cell-level test (≤42°C in Container B, ≤80°C in Container C, and ≤70°C in Container D).

**Sustained Combustion Phase:** After 15 hours of combustion, the open flame was extinguished. The initiating container remained structurally intact without any deformation or collapse, and no combustion or thermal runaway propagation occurred in the three adjacent containers. Containers B, C, and D only sustained minor surface damage, while the internal battery modules were completely unaffected.

The successful completion of the test was attributed to Hithium’s multi-layered safety architecture, which spans the cell, module, and system levels. At the cell level, heat-resistant anode/cathode materials, functional electrolyte additives, and high-temperature separators raised thermal thresholds. At the module level, low-conductivity insulation and flame-retardant top covers minimized the risk of propagation. At the system level, a high-strength container frame and heat-resistant enclosure materials maintained structural stability under extreme heat.

During the event, UL Solutions presented Hithium with a certification for the large-scale fire test, recognizing its compliance with UL 9540A and NFPA 855 standards. Qifeng Xiao, General Manager of the Energy and Automation Division for Asia Pacific at UL Solutions, remarked at the certification ceremony, “Hithium’s pioneering open-door extreme fire test was the first conducted under full oxygen exposure—far beyond the industry standard closed-door explosion vent fire test model. The positive outcome not only validated the system’s self-contained fire protection but also established a valuable reference for the development of global energy storage safety standards through this groundbreaking open-door fire test.”

This innovative fire test not only showcased Hithium’s robust technical capabilities but also highlighted its confidence in the safety performance of its energy storage systems through a fully transparent testing process. This contributes essential data and practices to the industry. Hithium is committed to ongoing investment in safety innovation, reinforcing the “seatbelt” for the global transition to green energy.
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