Fire extinguisher suppliers amend lithium-ion battery fire extinguisher claims

Suppliers of lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers have amended their marketing claims after the ACCC raised concerns about potentially false or misleading representations in relation to safety standard compliance and appropriate use.  Specifically, the ACCC was concerned about potentially misleading claims that fire extinguishers intended for use on lithium-ion battery fires were compliant with Australian safety standards, when in fact there is currently no applicable standard covering the use of extinguishers on lithium-ion battery fires. The ACCC was also concerned that the extinguishers marketed for use on lithium-ion battery fires did not clearly state that they were only suitable for use by trained fire-fighting professionals. The advice of relevant fire safety authorities is that such extinguishers are not suitable for use by members of the general public due to the toxic and highly volatile nature of lithium-ion battery fires. The ACCC has engaged with suppliers to ensure that information provided to consumers is accurate, reflects current safety advice, and clearly states that there is no current Australian safety standard for these products. “The ACCC expects bus...