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Cordless tool protection from Armorgard

12 January 2023

Cordless tool protection from Armorgard

Launched towards the end of last year, Armorgard’s PowerStor unit could be a solution for tool hirers and end users who need to store and charge cordless equipment while protecting against fire risks. 

There has been much interest in this subject area following the recent fire that seriously damaged Alide Hire Services’ Bristol depot, which was started by a self-igniting lithium-ion battery from a cordless tool. 

Armorgard MD Terry Mitchell tells me that the PowerStor is the result of 18 months of research and development and was conceived following a previous fire caused by a lithium-ion battery at a rail contractor’s site. It is designed for use both at a hire depot or on a work site. 

The walk-in secure unit has 32 individual sockets spread along five shelves, powered by a 32A/230V supply with RCD protection to accommodate and charge a wide range of battery equipment. 

The product’s most innovative feature is an integral fire suppression system that is designed to activate automatically if it detects flames or a certain temperature. Called PyroCloud, it smothers the fire and coats the battery with a specially formulated vapour.

The PowerStor is cube-shaped with 2m sides and is made from 10mm steel with twin 5-lever deadlocks. An optional BlockaBar can be fitted across the door for added security.

“Being a secure unit, the PowerStor can be situated inside a hire depot or outside in a yard,” said Terry. 

Armorgard’s Matt Partridge, who is head of product development, added that the PyroCloud system is designed to reduce the temperature of affected components to a manageable level within 60 seconds and guards against thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, where intense heat causes adjacent cells to ignite in a self-feeding domino effect. 

Armorgard will promote the PowerStor at next month’s Executive Hire Show. 

Cordless tool protection from Armorgard
Cordless tool protection from Armorgard

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