UL Hosts Korea Battery Safety Summit

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UL, a global safety science organization, hosted the Korea Battery Safety Summit on June 14, 2017, at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, in collaboration with Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), Korea Testing Certification (KTC), and Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR).

Clyde Kofman, SVP and Chief Operating Officer for Underwriters Laboratories Inc. said, "To keep pace with the progress of lithium-ion battery technology and increase consumer and stakeholder confidence in global production, use and transport, safety is a critically important topic for the industry. The Korea Battery Safety Summit brought together thought leaders in the battery and safety disciplines to collaboratively identify and understand potential gaps in technology or regulations, with the goal to facilitate future safety solutions."

Battery Safety Summits were previously in Washington DC, India, China and Canada to explore safety issues with national experts and share unique challenges faced in each country and to deepen the understanding of issues posed by the expanded commercialization of lithium-ion batteries around the world.

The Korea Battery Safety Summit comprised five sessions: 1) LiB Technology and Applications, 2) Transportation, 3) First Responders, 4) Standards, and 5) Path Forward. Throughout the summit, expert panelists discussed the safety of lithium-ion batteries associated with battery materials and systems, applications, storage, transportation, fire protection and battery safety testing and standards.

According to Dr. J. Thomas Chapin, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Vice President of Research, "Battery safety is a global issue and incidents occur for various predictable reasons based on sound scientific principles. Often the exact cause is not known and is often related to a convergence of seemingly unrelated or unknown factors. It is the exploration of these factors and relationships that will guide the community to a safer future."

"The Korea Battery Safety Summit brought together over 90 experts and valued contributors representing a wide range of organizations including national and provincial government officials, policy makers, industry leaders, manufacturers, regulators, trade associations, academics, diverse end users and not-for-profit and safety organizations," continued Chapin.

This collective work is hoped to lead to the following activities and future collaboration: a) focused safety research on exploring the limits of cell and battery safety, b) development of education programs for individuals that are involved in or affected by battery safety --- researchers, workers, the general public, public safety officials, policy makers, c) awareness and communications programs regarding battery performance and safety or d) enhanced testing, standards and/or certification programs for cells, modules or battery systems. 

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