Vehicle Fire Safety

Our Expertise

RISE is a world leader in the evaluation of fire safety in a broad range of applications. Our expertise originates from extensive work in the field of vehicle fire safety, including road vehicles, off-road vehicles, rail vehicles, and vehicles at sea. In recent years, buses, ships and vehicles in mines, tunnels, and other critical infrastructures, have been in focus for several research projects. 

Our Challenge

Fires in vehicles pose a significant threat to life and property. A nightmare scenario is a large vehicle fire in a tunnel or other critical infrastructure. At the same time, new fuels such as natural gas and different types of electric vehicles continue to emerge in response to our need for sustainable transport alternatives. Furthermore, new materials and techniques are being introduced into vehicles, including solar panels and automation. These new solutions introduce new fire challenges that need to be accounted for.  

Our Commitment

RISE's wide range of knowledge on risk and safety, as well as our expertise in the field of fire, means that we can tackle the most complex problem areas. We are enablers for fire safe technologies, products and testing. We educate, assist, and investigate matters related to new risks and fires in vehicles. Our well-equipped and experience laboratories can be used to obtain product or system approval, and even for ad hoc tests that suit the specific needs of our clients. The knowledge gained through testing, and research, also makes us the preferred partner for accident investigations, educator on vehicle fire safety, and enablers of future-proof and fire safe technologies, products, and services.

For insight into our work, please have a look at the following publications:

• Hynynen et al. "Analysis of combustion gases from large-scale electric vehicle fire tests"
• Quant et al. "Ecotoxicity Evaluation of Fire-Extinguishing Water from Large-Scale Battery and Battery Electric Vehicle Fire Tests"
• RISE Report 2023:42 "Electric Vehicle Fire Safety in Enclosed Spaces"
• RISE Report 2023:22 "Investigation of extinguishing water and combustion gases from vehicle fires"
• RISE Rapport 2022:95 "Brannsikkerhet i naturlig ventilerte parkeringshus"
• RISE Report 2021:26 "From petrol station to multifuel energy station: Changes in fire and explosion safety"
• RISE Report 2020:91 "Evaluation of fire in Stavanger airport car park 7 January 2020"
• RISE Report 2020:30 "Charging of electric cars in parking garages"
• RISE Report 2020:90 "Toxic Gases from Fire in Electric Vehicles"
• Bisschop et al. "Handling Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles: Preventing and Recovering from Hazardous Events"
• Sun et al. "A Review of Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles"
• RISE Report 8P03983-03 "Fire Suppression Tests for Vehicle Battery Pack"
• RISE Report 2019:120, "CNG vehicle containers exposed to local fires"
• RISE Report 2019:50 “Fire Safety of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Road Vehicles”
• RISE Report 2018:20 ”Study of fire and explosion hazards of alternative fuel vehicles in tunnels”
• RISE Rapport 2018: A18 20319:1 “Brannsikkerhet og alternative energibaerare Hydrogenkjoretoy i parkeringskjellere”
• SPFR Rapport A 17 20096-04:01“Brannsikkerhet og alternative energibærere: Gasskjøretøy i tunneler og parkeringskjellere”
• SP Report 2017:14 “Risks associated with alternative fuels in road tunnels and underground garages”
• SP Report 2017:41 “Lithium-ion Batteries used in Electrified Vehicles – General Risk Assessment and Construction Guidelines from a Fire and Gas Release Perspective”
• SP Report 2016:85 ”Fire detection & fire alarm systems in heavy vehicles – Final Report”
• SP Report 2016:55 “Post-collision fires in road vehicles, a pre-study”
• Larsson et al. “Are electric vehicles safer than combustion engine vehicles?”
• Larsson et al. “Lithium-Ion Battery Aspects on Fires in Electrified Vehicles on the Basis of Experimental Abuse Tests”
• Larsson et al. “Battery Aspects on Fires in Electrified Vehicles”
• Larsson et al. “Energy storage system safety in electrified vehicles”
• SPFR-report A17 20096:03-01 “Fullskala branntest av elbil”
• SP Report 2016:05 “Full scale fire-test of an electric hybrid bus”
• SPFR-report A16 20096-1:1 “Brannsikkerhet og alternative energibærere: El- og gasskjøretøy i innelukkede rom”
• SP Report 2015:77 “Fire detection & fire alarm systems in heavy duty vehicles – WP2: Factors influencing detector performance in vehicles”
• SP Report 2015:68 “Fire detection & fire alarm systems in heavy duty vehicles – WP1: Survey of fire detection in vehicles”
• SP Report 2015:43 “Bus fires in Sweden 2005-2013”
• SP Report 2014:28 “Fire detection & fire alarm systems in heavy duty vehicles – WP5: Fire detection in bus and coach toilet compartments and driver sleeping compartments”
• SP Report 2014:13 “Development of a test method for fire detection in road tunnels”
• SP Rapport 2013:58 “e-fordons Potentiella Riskfaktorer vid Trafikskadehändelse”
• SP Report 2012:05 “Full-scale fire tests with a commuter train in a tunnel”
• SP Report 2011:55 “Runehamar Tunnel Fire Tests”
• SP Report 2011:22 “Testing active fire protection systems for engine compartments in buses and coaches – a pilot study”
• SP Report 2010:64 “Fire test with a front wheel loader rubber tyre”
• SP Report 2009:08 “Design fire for a train compartment”
• SP Report 2008:41 “Bus Fire Safety”
• SP Report 2008:33 “Large-scale fire tests in a passenger cabin”
• SP Report 2006:59 “Fire Safety in Buses – WP2 report: Fire safety review of interior materials in buses”
• SP Report 2006:26 “Fire Safety in Buses – WP1 report: Bus and coach fires in Sweden and Norway”
• SP Report 1990:45 “Fires in buses and trains, fire test methods”

The following projects related to vehicle fire safety are currently active:

• BREND 2.0, toxic gases from electric vehicles and risks with gas vehicles
• LASH FIRE, Legaslative assessment for safety hazards of fire and innovations in ro-ro ship environment
• ENSAF, Energy- and safety diagnostics for decision support for underground mines
• FIREM-II: Fire and Rescue in Mines II