Mobility Scooters - Technical Queries

[Tadees]

Hi All,

I was hoping someone on here could fill some knowledge gaps for me regarding mobility scooters.

(A) I read everywhere that charging mobility scooters in communal areas is a risk, but from a technical perspective what specifically is the cause of fires from charging?

(B) I?ve also read that even when not on charge there is a lower risk of fire. What would be the cause of that?

(C) Are there certain batteries that should not be used?

(D) What is the standard of battery and charging equipment to be used?

(E) Why is removing the battery from the mobility scooter and charging it less of a risk?

(F) Is there a British Standard in relation to the materials to be used when manufacturing mobility scooters?

(G) What are the key signs to the naked eye in terms of the battery & charging equipment that should start alarm bells ringing?

[Fishy]

The work BRE did on this a few years back is probably as good a place as any to start:

http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/Fire%20and%20Security/FI---Trust-Report-Mobility-Scooters-May-15.pdf

https://www.bregroup.com/buzz/mobility-scooter-fire-experiments/

With regard to (F) - in terms of fire performance I doubt it - when l last looked into it there were no British standards for cars, so I'd be surprised if there were for mobility scooters.

[Tadees]

I have read this previously, but it doesn?t answer the specific questions raised.

[PGtips]

NFCC have some useful info in their report - very aptly named, Mobility Scooter Guidance Fore Residential Buildings. A quick google should raise the doc.

[colin todd]

(a) Just the electrical hazards associated with any charging.
(b) no electric current flowing
(c) not really sure what you mean. the batteries will be as required by the design
(d) charger to BS EN 12184
(e)because you can do it in a location other than common parts
(f) Covered in the EN, which used furniture flammability standards (as I recall)
(g) the smoke detector when the scooter goes on fire sets bells ringing

[PGtips]

These things also breed like...(not sure what I can compare them with) but - once one appears, they tend to encourage more to arrive...until you get a "..." of mobility scooters.  Leaving the field open to anyone who can come up with a brilliant collective noun!   

[colin todd]

Well said, Tea Bags

[PGtips]

Well if no one else if going to have a go...what about, from here on in, a collection of scooters is known in select circles as a "militia of mobility scooters"?

[Fire Monkey]

I think the correct collective noun is a 'Horlicks of scooters' 

[PGtips]

Ha - you win!....will amend any future references accordingly....