Safe Charging & Storage: Why a Battery Containment Bag Earns Its Place

Charging is the moment of highest risk. The ACCC has recorded a sharp rise in lithium-ion battery incidents — including swelling, overheating and fires — and warns that a battery fire can be very difficult to extinguish because it may reignite (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2026). Industry analysis of EV incidents suggests a meaningful share of battery fires begin during charging or shortly after disconnecting, which makes how and where you charge the single biggest lever you control.

Safe charging habits

• Use only the matched charger supplied with the device; avoid generic or mismatched chargers.
• Charge on a hard, non-combustible surface — never on a bed, couch or carpet.
• Don't charge unattended or overnight, and unplug once charged.
• Keep charging away from exits and sleeping areas.
• Buy compliant products. Since February 2025, NSW has phased in mandatory safety standards for e-micromobility batteries and chargers, with penalties for non-compliant sellers (NSW Government, 2025).

Safe storage habits

Store batteries somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sun or heat sources, ideally at a partial state of charge for long periods. Never store a battery that's swollen, damaged or has been in a crash, and never put used or damaged batteries in household bins — take them to a designated drop-off point (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2026).

Where a containment bag helps

A fireproof containment bag is a simple, honest layer of protection for the storage-and-charging window. It won't stop a cell from entering thermal runaway, but a quality bag is built to contain flames and debris and slow the spread if a battery fails while stored or charging inside it — particularly useful for spare e-bike, drone or power-tool batteries. Our Premium Battery Fireproof Bag is designed for exactly this, and you can see the full range of lithium-ion battery containment bags for different battery sizes. Pair a bag with an EV fire extinguisher (manufactured to EN 3-7:2004/A1:2007) for a containment-first home setup.

References

1. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. (2026). Lithium-ion batteries guide. Product Safety Australia. https://www.productsafety.gov.au/consumers/be-safe-around-the-home/safely-use-batteries-and-technology/lithium-ion-batteries-guide
2. NSW Government. (2025). Nation-leading safety and information standards for lithium-ion battery products now in effect. https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/nation-leading-safety-and-information-standards-for-lithium-ion-battery-products-now-effect