IBVTA Release 5 Safety Tips Following East Midlands E-Cig “Explosion”

Following a lucky escape for an East Midlands couple in which their home could have been burned down, the Independent British Vape Trade Association has released 5 safety tips for vapers. A woman, 27, and her partner were asleep when a vaping device exploded, shot across the room and collided with a ceiling light bulb before catching fire to a plastic bag. Thankfully, her partner was able control the flames. The e-cig safety tips from the IBVTA are:

• Do not mix a battery from one supplier with a charger from another unless compatibility is specifically confirmed
• Do not charge the battery close to flammable materials
• Do not leave a charging battery unattended, and ensure battery and charger connections are always clean
• Never allow your battery to come into contact with metal items such as loose change or keys in a pocket or bag as this can result in a short circuit of the battery
• If the battery is in any way damaged, leaking or ceases to function normally, it should not be used

Fraser Cropper, Chairman of the IBVTA, says that while scary incidents like this are very rare, battery safety is an issue that the organisation and the entire vaping industry take very seriously. “It is vital that as an industry we are doing everything that we can to prevent these incidents from happening, and remember that most such incidents are preventable.” A London firefighter last year said that e-cigs are less of a fire risk than traditional cigarettes. “It is vital to remember that it is the battery that explodes and never the device itself. This is the same failure mechanism inherent in all high-power lithium batteries which are now ubiquitously used across our mobile consumer electronics,” said a IBVTA spokesperson. “There are nearly three million regular vapers in the UK and virtually all will enjoy their tobacco-free vaping lives without any battery related incidents. "The fire service were called out to 62 e-cigarette battery incidents between April 2014 and May 2015. By contrast, combustible tobacco was responsible for well over 1,000 fires in the same period.” Read our e-cig safety tips to ensure you stay safe on our Community Support page.