Can your vessel deck handle an EV fire that won't stay out?
The question is not suppression. It is what you do in the 72 hours after the fire appears controlled — before you can confirm it is fully extinguished and resume normal operations.
Full-scale test · Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology
Will it fit on my decks — and will my crew actually be able to use it?
What superintendents ask first
Before any system reaches a vessel deck, a technical superintendent needs to know it will actually work in the conditions that exist on that deck — not in a test environment designed for the product. These are the four questions we hear most, and the direct answers.
Will it fit between the vehicles on my deck?
EV-X requires 40 cm clearance on each side and 20 cm fore and aft. If that clearance is not available, the pneumatic lifting cushions can push adjacent vehicles outward (50 cm stroke) to create it. Only 2.5 cm of undercarriage clearance is needed to begin lifting — operational even with punctured tyres.
Can two smoke divers actually install it under fire conditions?
In the DBI full-scale test — ruptured 113 kWh battery, sharp metal edges on the vehicle underside, extreme vehicle density — two smoke divers installed the barrier in 55 minutes including cooling breaks. Under normal conditions the installation takes under 10 minutes with two crew, 6 minutes with four.
Does my deck need structural modification?
No. EV-X is a standalone kit stored in a fire locker or closed deck cabinet. No mounting points, no penetrations, no fixed connections to the vessel. The deck must be rated to support vehicle weight plus 50 g/cm² water pressure from the filled barrier — this is the only structural consideration.
What happens to the vehicle after the barrier is filled?
The vehicle remains inside the barrier until the vessel reaches port. It can then be lifted using a crane and slings while still inside the barrier, or drained after 72 hours (battery confirmed dead) and towed. The barrier is reusable — inspect for holes, wash with water and soap.
What the system requires from your vessel
| Parameter | Requirement / specification |
|---|---|
| Side clearance | Minimum 40 cm each side of vehicle. If unavailable, lifting cushions push adjacent vehicles outward (50 cm stroke). |
| Fore & aft clearance | Minimum 20 cm fore and aft. |
| Undercarriage clearance | Minimum 2.5 cm to insert flat lifting bags. Operational with punctured or flat tyres. |
| Deck load rating | Must support vehicle weight plus 50 g/cm² water pressure from filled barrier (3–5 tonnes water depending on vehicle size). |
| Water supply | Standard vessel fire hydrant connection. No dedicated supply required. Fill until water visible on vehicle floor — battery is then covered. |
| Air supply | Compressed air cylinder included (300 bar / 8 bar regulator). No vessel air connection required. |
| Crew | Minimum 2 smoke divers. No specialist certification beyond standard firefighting qualifications. Free e-learning included. |
| Storage | Fire locker or closed deck cabinet. Footprint: approximately 1.2 × 0.6 m. One unit per vehicle deck recommended — not one per EV. |
| Barrier dimensions | 5.2 × 2.2 m deployed. Designed for standard passenger cars up to 5.2 m length. Not suitable for buses or larger commercial vehicles. |
| Barrier material | 680 g/m² PVC, puncture-resistant and heat-resistant reinforcement. Resistant to hydrofluoric acid (HF). Open-top design — gases vent upward, not sealed inside. |
| Lifting bags | Three stackable 8-bar flat lifting bags. CE-marked, EN 13731. Deadman inflation controller. Lifting operable from up to 5 metres distance. |
| Post-incident | Document with photos per user manual. Inspect barrier for holes. Wash with water and soap. Barrier reusable. Vehicle lifted by crane or towed after 72 hrs. |
| Service life | Barrier: 10 years minimum (1-year warranty, annual crew inspection). Lifting cushions: 15 years with scheduled servicing at years 5, 10, 13. No other recurring costs. |
| Compatible vehicles | Battery EVs and hybrids up to 5.2 m length. Saltwater is equally effective as freshwater and is actually preferred (short-circuits cells faster). |
How EV-X integrates into your fire response
EV-X adds one step to existing EV emergency procedures — after initial suppression, before declaring the fire resolved. It does not replace any existing step.
The green step is the addition. Everything else is unchanged.
- Activate vessel sprinkler system. Cool vehicle exterior with watermist lance — and penetrate battery casing directly to deliver cooling water to the cell core. Continue until vehicle surfaces are below 60°C (approx. 1 hr 15 min in DBI full-scale test).
- Verify surfaces cooled. Insert flat lifting bags under vehicle (2.5 cm clearance). Inflate to raise vehicle using deadman controller from up to 5 metres distance.
- Install barrier around vehicle and tighten with ratchet straps — two crew, under 10 minutes in normal conditions.
- Connect fire hydrant. Fill barrier until water is visible on vehicle floor — battery is fully submerged. 3–5 tonnes depending on vehicle size.
- Monitor. If popping or off-gassing is observed during filling, withdraw crew, continue cooling, then resume. Battery confirmed dead after 72 hours — no further reignition risk. Drain and remove vehicle via crane or tow.
If fire blankets are currently part of your vessel's EV response plan, note that DBI, the Fire Research Safety Institute (FRSI), and the NFPA have all explicitly warned against their use on electric vehicles. Explosive gas concentrations can accumulate beneath a blanket and ignite. EV-X uses an open-top design — gases vent safely upward. It does not share this risk.
What the DBI test confirms
The specific question a technical superintendent needs answered is: does the barrier survive installation under the worst conditions that exist on a real vehicle deck — not a controlled test environment? The DBI test was designed to answer exactly that.
Vehicle: Fisker Ocean 1 (113 kWh LFP battery, vehicle #5 in a 9-vehicle formation). Surrounding vehicles: 8 scrap cars at ferry deck spacing.
Worst-case factor: The battery ruptured during the fire, exposing sharp metal edges on the vehicle underside. This is the condition most likely to compromise the barrier during installation. The barrier was installed and filled successfully despite this.
Result: No reignitions at any point following submersion. HF gases absorbed by water. Barrier confirmed reusable and undamaged after test.
Receive full DBI test report →Minimum undercarriage clearance needed to deploy lifting bags — confirmed in test with severely damaged vehicle
Barrier installation time in worst-case scenario: ruptured battery, sharp metal edges, extreme vehicle density, cooling breaks included
Reignition events following full battery submersion — confirmed across complete DBI test series
Water required for full battery submersion vs. up to 90,000 litres for conventional continuous suppression
How EV-X fits your Safety Management System
EV-X is classified as an operational tool — not an installed safety system. This distinction matters for how it is procured, documented, and managed.
No class approval required
EV-X is not an installed safety system and requires no class society approval for purchase or deployment. The pneumatic lifting cushions are CE-marked (EN 13731). No modifications to fire plans or safety certificates are required for procurement.
No flag state notification required
Procurement and carrying EV-X on board does not require flag state notification. If EV-X is carried, crew must be able to demonstrate its use during flag state inspection — addressed through the included e-learning and drill documentation.
SMS amendment not required
EV-X integrates into existing EV emergency procedures as an additional response option after initial suppression. One procedural step is added — existing procedures are not altered. No formal SMS amendment is required, though noting EV-X in the fire manual is recommended practice.
Training is drillable and documentable
Free e-learning is included. Extended e-learning with tactics and risk assessment is available at €30 per participant with certificate. All training is loggable under existing drill documentation requirements. Training certificates were specifically requested by insurers during product review.
- Stored in fire locker or closed deck cabinet — no permanent installation
- Operates within existing emergency officer authority — no new approval chain before use
- One unit per vehicle deck is sufficient — not one per EV
- Reusable after incident: inspect, wash, return to storage
- If carried on board, crew must demonstrate use during flag state inspection
Request a vessel-specific technical review
A review covers deck layout compatibility, minimum clearance requirements, water supply assessment, SMS integration, and crew training options for your specific vessel type. It is a due diligence action, not a purchase commitment.
Technical compatibility assessment
Deck layout, vehicle spacing, water supply, deck load assessment for your specific vessel type.
Request vessel review →Full DBI test report & video
Complete test documentation in a format suitable for internal review, class society, P&I, or flag state inquiry.
Request DBI documentation →Read the complete EV-X overview
Full product information, all application areas, governance framework, and FAQ for all stakeholders.
View EVstinguish page →