With the current appetite for equipment being both smaller and portable, what consideration is being given within the fire risk assessment to the use of battery supported equipment be this, mobile phones (and chargers per say) through to mobility scooters, tools and other work-related items.
Rules and regulations here are muddy and unlikely to fall within the parameters of a Dsear report but, must still be considered in the whole as a higher risk than might have been the case in times past.
The propensity for multiple charged items locked away in storerooms or under stairways (escape routes) is common and in a lot of cases overlooked.
Ensuring the client has a policy for the management of plugged in items, this to include staff owned equipment is essential, and if needed this is to be managed to mitigate any subsequent risk to the building and its occupants.
In reality the use of battery equipment is only going to increase and as such more detailed attention is required especially if this includes both charging and the use of lithium batteries which do have specific requirements regarding both storage and disposal – it being a class 9 chemical unit and subject to segregation in HSG71.
