TL;DR: Commercial managers should inventory every battery, use listed gear with the correct charger, charge in a supervised spot away from exits, align alarms and suppression with the hazard, and stop using hot, swelling or hissing packs.

Fire Prevention Week Puts Workplace Batteries in Focus

On Oct. 5, 2026, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety issued workplace guidance for lithium-ion batteries during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10. According to the announcement carried by PRNewswire, the company addressed commercial facility managers with five practical actions for storage, charging, detection and training.

The timing aligns with the National Fire Protection Association campaign for the week. According to that PRNewswire release, the 2026 NFPA theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” The same announcement notes that 2026 is the second year the campaign has centered on lithium-ion batteries.

For preparedness readers, the commercial angle is directly relevant. Homes already juggle phones, laptops and tools. Workplaces add larger and more numerous energy-storage uses in shared rooms, warehouses and offices.

What Fire Prevention Week 2026 Covers

Fire Prevention Week runs Oct. 4-10, 2026. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the department is joining the National Fire Protection Association and departments across the country to share the 2026 message during that window.

According to the PRNewswire announcement from Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, NFPA’s campaign centers on everyday charging habits. Pye-Barker stated that it is extending that household message into work settings.

The company described itself in that announcement as the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the United States. The release also identifies the organization as the U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, with over 250 locations and 9,000 team members.

The company release lists additional recognition, including Great Place to Work Certified status, inclusion on the Inc. 5000, and No. 3 rank on the SDM 100. The media contact listed for the announcement is James Taylor.

Why Offices, Warehouses and Server Rooms Need a Battery Map

Workplaces concentrate charging in places the original room layout never anticipated. According to the PRNewswire release, lithium-ion batteries in commercial sites power backup systems for servers and network equipment, forklifts, cordless tools, and e-bikes and scooters that employees and tenants bring inside.

Company leadership said field crews are encountering the mismatch firsthand. Joseph Hightower, chief operations officer of Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, said technicians are finding UPS systems, charging carts and personal e-bikes in rooms that were never designed for them. Hightower added that detection and suppression have to match what is in the space today, as quoted in the PRNewswire announcement.

Other fire-safety providers describe a similar pattern. According to Associated Fire Protection, employees may charge phones at desks, maintenance teams may charge cordless tools, warehouses may use battery-powered equipment, and customers or tenants may bring e-bikes or scooters into a facility. That provider states that battery safety belongs in an organization’s overall fire prevention strategy.

According to Jigsaw Life Safety, charging often happens wherever a convenient outlet is available, including locations that may not have been intended for that purpose. That firm lists examples for building teams to look for, including e-bikes or scooters charging near building exits, devices or cords obstructing egress paths, batteries charging near combustible storage, visibly damaged batteries, unapproved or incompatible chargers, and extension cords or power strips used as permanent charging stations.

The Massachusetts guidance summarized by Jigsaw Life Safety recommends storing e-bikes and scooters outdoors if possible. When indoor storage occurs, that summary says to keep them away from doors, windows and stairways, to use only the manufacturer’s charger plugged directly into the wall without an extension cord, and never to leave them charging unattended.

Step 1: Inventory Every Battery and Check the Fire Plan

Pye-Barker’s first recommended action is an inventory tied to code and coverage. According to the PRNewswire release, managers should walk the building and write down every place a battery is stored, charged or installed, then check that list against what the fire protection plan actually covers.

According to Associated Fire Protection, prevention starts with everyday choices before an inspection occurs. The firm advises businesses to examine where employees routinely charge equipment and whether those areas are appropriate for that use.

According to Jigsaw Life Safety, Fire Prevention Week is a useful reminder to review actual conditions within the building. That company advises teams to walk the property, talk with tenants and maintenance staff, identify where battery-powered equipment is charged and stored, and confirm that exit routes remain clear.

That same firm advises that before establishing or expanding indoor storage or charging, owners should have the proposed use reviewed by a qualified fire protection professional. The review factors listed include battery type and quantity, storage and charging arrangements, nearby combustibles, exit access, and adequacy of existing fire protection systems. The firm states that a room previously used for general storage should not automatically be assumed suitable for battery charging.

Step 2: Buy Listed Equipment and Use the Correct Charger

The second Pye-Barker recommendation concerns purchasing and charging discipline. According to the PRNewswire release, managers should choose equipment certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and use only the manufacturer’s charger or an approved equivalent.

Consumer guidance reinforces the same point. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, users should whenever possible use the cord and charger that came with the device, or one approved by the manufacturer. The department explains that a charger not designed for a device can damage the battery and increase overheating and fire risk.

According to Associated Fire Protection, a low-cost replacement charger may not provide correct voltage or current for the battery. That provider recommends using the charger and cord supplied with the device or equipment, or a charger specifically approved by the manufacturer.

Clemson University’s Fire Prevention Week summary, published Oct. 1, 2026, adds purchasing context. It advises buyers to select products listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL, ETL or CSA, because listed products meet safety standards.

Step 3: Create a Supervised Charging Area Away From Exits

Pye-Barker’s third recommendation is a dedicated, supervised charging space. According to the PRNewswire release, that means noncombustible surfaces away from exits and stairwells, connections to receptacles rather than extension cords or power strips, and a prohibition on overnight charging.

Placement away from escape paths is a consistent theme. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, larger battery-powered devices like e-bikes, scooters and power tools should be charged in a safe location away from exits and anything that could catch fire. The department states that keeping them out of hallways, doorways and other escape routes can help keep an emergency from becoming more dangerous.

Surface selection also matters. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, devices should be charged on a hard, flat surface. The department states that beds, couches and other soft surfaces can trap heat around a charging device, while a table, desk or other hard surface allows heat to dissipate and air to circulate.

According to Associated Fire Protection, chargers should not be placed on beds, couches, blankets or other surfaces that can trap heat. That provider advises giving charging equipment space for heat to dissipate. It also advises keeping charging areas clear around combustible materials, exits, electrical equipment and other areas where fire could spread quickly.

Duration and supervision round out the habit. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, devices should not be left where they cannot be seen, should be unplugged when fully charged, and should not remain connected longer than necessary. According to the Washington State Patrol, devices should be unplugged when fully charged and not left plugged in longer than needed, because extended connection can increase heat and stress on the battery.

Step 4: Match Detection, Ventilation and Suppression to the Hazard

Pye-Barker’s fourth recommendation addresses building systems. According to the PRNewswire release, failing cells vent flammable gas before smoke or flame. The company states that battery rooms need early-warning detection tied to a monitored alarm, ventilation, and a suppression approach evaluated for the installation.

The need for system readiness extends beyond batteries. According to Associated Fire Protection, safe charging is one piece of fire prevention, not the entire plan. That provider states that extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire alarms, emergency lighting and other life safety equipment require regular inspection, testing and maintenance to remain ready when needed.

For facilities with significant battery-powered equipment, planning documents may need updates. According to Jigsaw Life Safety, managers should consider addressing storage and charging hazards in the building’s Emergency Action Plan. During construction or renovation, that firm states those hazards should be considered in the project’s NFPA 241 construction fire safety program.

Step 5: Train Staff to Recognize Failure and Stop Use

The fifth Pye-Barker recommendation is training for warning signs. According to the PRNewswire release, heat, swelling, hissing, odor or smoke means stop using the battery.

Other agencies list closely matching indicators. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, users should watch for a device or battery that becomes unusually hot, begins to swell, produces a strange smell, or starts smoking. The department advises stopping use, moving away from the device, and, if smoke or fire is present, getting outside and calling 911.

According to Associated Fire Protection, warning signs include excessive heat, swelling or bulging, unusual odors, smoke, leaking, or damage to the battery or charging equipment. That provider states that a damaged lithium-ion battery should not be put back on the charger and forgotten.

According to Jigsaw Life Safety, a failing battery may show excessive heat, swelling, leaking, unusual odors, smoke or unusual sounds. That firm advises building staff to know how to recognize those conditions and who to contact if damaged equipment is found. It also states that damaged lithium-ion batteries should not be placed in ordinary trash or recycling containers.

Travel adds another supervision point. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, travelers on an airplane should keep devices where they can be seen while charging and should not charge them in an overhead compartment. The department states that visibility allows the flight crew to respond quickly if a battery overheats or fails. According to the Washington State Patrol, e-cigarettes or vapes should not be charged on a plane.

Pye-Barker said local support is available for site-specific review. According to the PRNewswire release, local teams can walk a facility with its building manager and recommend detection, suppression and inspection steps for the site. The release directs managers to pyebarkerfs.com/locations to reach a local branch.

Sources referenced