- USA-based Underwriters Laboratories Solutions (UL) is a globally trusted leading authority in safety certification
- After passing all required UL testing and with UL Class A Fire Recognition in hand, FCL expects to open new end-user markets in the USA as well as internationally, including industrial, commercial, retail, military, and government transportation agencies
- This significant milestone is in addition to all the breakthrough achievements FCL-X™ has demonstrated in extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires efficiently, effectively, and safely
Full Circle Lithium Corp., a US-based manufacturer of FCL-X™, a specialty firefighting agent for lithium-ion batteries, is happy to announce that Underwriters Laboratories Solutions, a nationally recognized authority in safety certification, has awarded its ground-breaking fire extinguishing agent Class A Fire Water-Based Agent Fire Extinguishers Component Recognition for both the USA and Canada.
This milestone opens the door to substantial new business prospects across several high-growth industries in addition to validating the product’s quality, safety, and efficacy in putting out Class A fires. The revolutionary performance of FCL-X™ in putting out lithium-ion battery fires—a fast increasing safety problem in everything from consumer electronics to electric cars and energy storage—has already earned it widespread recognition. FCL-X™ may now be used more widely in settings where conventional combustibles including wood, paper, textiles, and plastics are prevalent thanks to the new UL Class A Fire Recognition.
Positioned for Accelerated Growth
“This certification is a major inflection point for FCL,” stated Carlos Vicens, CEO, Founder, and Director of Full Circle Lithium. “With the UL Class A Fire Recognition now in place, we are poised to expand our reach into new verticals—particularly industrial, commercial, retail, military, and government transportation agencies—that require certified, scalable fire suppression solutions. We believe this opens the door to accelerated revenue growth and a broader commercial footprint in the U.S. and globally.”
The UL certification process involved comprehensive testing of representative samples of FCL-X™, all of which met the stringent safety and performance criteria set by the organization. This recognition confirms the product’s reliability for widespread use in professional fire safety environments. Looking ahead, FCL is preparing to pursue further regulatory and industry certifications, including those specific to lithium-ion battery fire suppression, positioning the Company as a category leader in next-generation firefighting solutions.
Technical Description of FCL-X™
FCL-X™ is an aqueous solution, primarily water, enhanced with crucial proprietary active ingredients, making it uniquely effective for both Class A Fires, as demonstrated by the UL recognition mentioned above, and, particularly, lithium-ion battery fires. Its high-water content allows for superior penetration of the lithium-ion battery compared to non-water-based agents. Unlike foam and vermiculite, which act as temporary barriers on the surface of the ongoing chemical reaction, FCL-X™ penetrates and halts the reaction at the cell level. Critically, any lithium-ion battery on fire and experiencing thermal runaway will have an open vent. This vent is essential, as it allows FCL-X™ to be introduced directly to the source of the fire, stopping or minimizing the chemical reaction and managing the emitted off-gas by:
- Neutralizing Battery Charge / Thermal Absorption: In a battery already in thermal runaway, FCL-X™ neutralizes the charge and immediately reduces thermal output by 20%. Neither water alone nor other agents achieve this.
- Mitigation of HF: Beyond the fire itself, the release of gaseous hydrogen fluoride (HF) poses a significant threat in lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) fires. HF forms when lithiated hexafluorophosphate, a common electrolyte in LIBs, decomposes at high temperatures and reacts with water. This highly corrosive gas is potentially lethal upon inhalation. FCL-X™ effectively mitigates most or all HF by reacting with it to form a non-hazardous salt. Again, this is a capability unique to FCL-X™ compared to water or other agents.
- Prevention of Hydrogen Explosion: LIB anodes typically consist of lithiated graphite. Under extreme heat, lithium separates from the graphite and reacts with water, often exacerbating the fire and creating dangerously high levels of explosive hydrogen gas. FCL-X™ counteracts this. Its initial thermal absorption reduces heat, and the active ingredients form a protective layer on the lithiated graphite. The continued application of the FCL-X™ solution then smothers any remaining hydrogen gas production. This multi-faceted approach is not offered by water or other extinguishing agents.
- Dilution of Internal LIB Solution: The most critical aspect of extinguishing a LIB fire is diluting the burning solutions within the battery. This requires penetrating the cell, cooling the internal solution, and diluting it. FCL-X™’s enhanced cooling and the active ingredients’ ability to remain effective under heat allow it to penetrate the cell more effectively before evaporation, thus facilitating this crucial dilution process. This level of internal action is not provided by water or other agents.
FCL-X™ is PFAS-free (“Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or better known as “forever chemicals”). In third-party testing, the total fluorine concentration was below 1 part per million (“PPM”). Typically, a 100 μg/g PPM total fluorine level is an indication of intentionally added PFAS. FCL-X has also demonstrated extremely low toxicity to animals and humans in third-party laboratory testing. These factors underscore the FCL-X™ safety profile.
It is important to note that UL has not provided nor given any guidance for lithium-ion battery fires for any company worldwide, including FCL. The Class A Fire Recognition is strictly geared towards Class A fires.
