Automatic Fire Suppression for Electric Forklifts and Warehouse Material Handling Equipment

A fire on an electric forklift usually starts inside the battery compartment, and it rarely gives much warning before it does. A cell that's been nicked in a dock collision, a pack that's been overcharged one too many times, or a BMS fault that doesn't catch a voltage spike, any of these can send a lithium battery into thermal runaway. Once that starts, the fire is generating its own oxygen from inside the cells, which is exactly why a standard extinguisher struggles to put it out. And it's often happening on a forklift charging overnight in a corridor between racks, with no one around to see it start.

BlazeCut protects that battery compartment automatically, and on switched units, it cuts power to the charger the moment it activates, with no operator, no wiring, and no control panel required to catch it in time.

How Does The T-Series Work?

A diagram of the t-series automatic fire suppression system from BlazeCut

The BlazeCut tube is the detector and the extinguisher in a single sealed unit, installed directly inside the compartment it protects. Every point along the tube senses heat continuously.

When any point reaches the actuation threshold, the tube ruptures at that exact location and discharges the agent directly onto the ignition source inside the battery compartment, before it spreads to the rest of the truck or to equipment and racking nearby.

No power required to activate. The T-Series operates independently of any electrical supply, which matters directly on a forklift charging unattended overnight, when the fire risk from a lithium pack is often highest and no one is on the floor to catch it early.

Pressure Switch Units can cut power to the charger. On lithium battery applications, this is the critical difference. When the switched T-Series activates, it interrupts power to the charging circuit at the same moment it discharges, removing the ongoing energy input that would otherwise keep feeding a thermal runaway event.

Sized to the equipment. Available in lengths from 10 inches to 26 feet, covering roughly 3.5 to 141 cubic feet, so the same product line fits a pallet jack's battery box, a Class I or II forklift's battery compartment, or a larger Class IV or V engine compartment.

Typical Installation Points on Material Handling Equipment

Electric & Battery-Powered Equipment

  • Battery compartments on electric forklifts, pallet jacks, and order pickers
  • Battery compartments on electric reach trucks and turret trucks
  • Onboard and stationary charging station enclosures

Internal Combustion & Hybrid Equipment

  • Engine compartments on IC and LP-fueled forklifts
  • Hydraulic pump compartments on larger capacity lift trucks
  • Electrical control cabinets on hybrid material handling equipment

Facility Charging Infrastructure

  • Dedicated charging room and charging corridor equipment enclosures
  • Battery swap station cabinets
  • Fleet telematics and control electronics enclosures

Protecting Your Fleet, Your Facility, & Your Uptime

A single system protects one forklift. A fleet-wide rollout protects the warehouse, the racking, and the inventory around every truck charging on the floor overnight. We work directly with distribution centers, third-party logistics providers, and material handling fleets to size systems across a full truck inventory and structure pricing for fleet-wide deployments.

Contact Dalton at dalton@blazecutusa.com to scope a fleet or facility-wide deployment.

What BlazeCut Saves You

  • MONEY

    A single lithium battery fire can total a forklift, and if it spreads, take out racking, inventory, and the building around it. Facility-wide suppression at the equipment level turns an unpredictable, potentially catastrophic loss into a fixed, contained one.

  • DOWNTIME

    A fire caught and suppressed inside the battery compartment is a truck out of rotation for a swap. A fire that spreads to a charging corridor or nearby racking can shut down a section of the warehouse, or the whole facility, while the fire department clears it and insurance assesses the damage. Suppression at the source is what keeps one bad cell from becoming a shift-ending event.

  • TIME

    No one has to notice the smoke and respond fast enough, especially on a truck charging alone overnight in a corridor between racks. The system is already inside the compartment, sensing heat continuously, and it discharges the moment it detects ignition, whether the floor is fully staffed or empty.

  • SAFETY

    Nobody has to approach a battery compartment that's already venting gas and heading into thermal runaway. The system suppresses the fire and, on switched units, cuts the charging power at the same moment, before the fire escalates to the point where crews would need to evacuate.

  • EFFORT

    There is no control panel to program, no wiring to run, and no scheduled maintenance to track. The T-Series is installed once, inside the compartment it protects, and it works independently of any electrical supply for up to 10 years, across a fleet that's often too large to inspect unit by unit on a regular basis.

  • PEACE OF MIND

    Once it is installed, it works whether the truck is running a double shift on the floor or charging alone overnight. A fleet with suppression built into every battery compartment is a fleet where one damaged cell doesn't turn into a warehouse fire.

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  • LPS 1666, LPCB approved. LPCB (the Loss Prevention Certification Board, part of BRE Global in the UK) is one of the most established third-party fire testing and certification bodies internationally, and its approval is widely recognized and accepted by insurers and AHJs.
  • CE Mark. Certifies the system meets applicable EU health, safety, and performance requirements, independently verified.
  • Independently performance tested at an accredited testing institute, Strojírenský zkušební ústav, s.p., in the Czech Republic.
  • Designed in accordance with NFPA 2001. This is the specific US standard governing clean agent extinguishing systems.
  • Manufactured at an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified facility, also certified to AQAP 2110. AQAP 2110 is a NATO quality assurance standard for design, development, and production.

On UL and the Authority Having Jurisdiction: NFPA 2001 and the fire codes that reference it (including the International Fire Code, which most US states and municipalities adopt in some form) require equipment to be listed or approved for its intended use by a nationally or internationally recognized testing body, not exclusively UL.

The final call on what satisfies "listed or approved" for a specific installation sits with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), and in most states an AHJ can and does accept an internationally recognized certification like LPCB in place of a UL listing.

Confirm your specific facility requirements with your safety director, your insurance carrier, or your local Authority Having Jurisdiction before treating any of this as a compliance checklist. Requirements vary by facility classification, occupancy, and local fire code adoption, and an AHJ always has final say on what it will accept for a given installation.

On what BlazeCut addresses, and what it doesn't: BlazeCut can intervene early in a developing fire event, before it fully escalates, but it cannot stop a lithium battery fire once full thermal runaway is underway and self-sustaining across the pack. Early intervention and power isolation on switched units are exactly why catching the event early matters. Confirm your facility's specific requirements with your safety director, insurer, or local AHJ before treating this as a full compliance solution.

See Our Full List Of Certifications

Manage A Fleet Or Are You Looking Procurement For A Major Project?

We work directly with distribution centers, logistics providers, and material handling fleets to fulfill their fire suppression needs. Simply email Dalton: dalton@blazecutusa.com for purchasing options or volume discounts!

FAQ

What is the BlazeCut T Series fire suppression system?

The BlazeCut T Series is an automatic, self-contained fire suppression system. It requires no wiring, no external power supply, and no separate storage cylinder. A heat-sensitive tube filled with pressurized FK-5-1-12 clean agent runs through the protected enclosure and acts as both the detection device and the agent storage container. When a fire develops, the tube melts at the hottest point and discharges the agent directly onto the fire source. The entire process is automatic and requires no human intervention.

How does the system detect a fire?

The BlazeCut tube continuously monitors the temperature of the entire space it runs through. When heat from a developing fire causes the tube to reach its actuation temperature, the tube ruptures at that exact location, right at the fire source, and releases the agent. There are no sensors, control boards, or wiring required for the standard T Series to activate.

Does the BlazeCut T Series need electricity to work?

No. The standard T Series operates completely independently of any power supply, 24 hours a day. This makes it well suited for protecting unoccupied spaces, equipment running after hours, engine compartments, and electrical enclosures where running wires is impractical or impossible. The optional pressure switch version can connect to an external signaling device if notification is needed, but the suppression system itself still does not require power to activate.

What extinguishing agent does BlazeCut USA carry?

BlazeCut USA carries the T Series charged exclusively with FK-5-1-12, also known by its chemical name Perfluoro(2-Methyl-3-Pentanone) and formerly marketed as Novec 1230. CAS number 756-13-8. It is a clean gaseous agent that is electrically non-conductive, non-corrosive, and leaves zero residue after discharge. It has zero ozone depletion potential and a global warming potential of 1.00 relative to CO2. FK-5-1-12 is listed in the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) inventory and is suitable for Class A, B, C, and electrical fire protection.

Does FK-5-1-12 leave a mess after the system fires?

No. FK-5-1-12 leaves absolutely no residue. There is no powder, no foam, and no water damage to deal with after the system activates. This is one of the main reasons it is the right choice for protecting electronics, server equipment, electrical control panels, and other sensitive equipment where a traditional extinguisher would cause serious secondary damage on top of whatever the fire already did.

Is FK-5-1-12 safe for people?

FK-5-1-12 is not classified as hazardous under standard conditions of use. Acute toxicity testing shows an oral and dermal LD50 greater than 2,000 mg/kg in rats and an inhalation LC50 greater than 1,227 mg/L over a 4-hour period. It is not listed as a carcinogen by NTP, IARC, or OSHA and has not been found to be mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. Standard precautions apply: avoid breathing vapors in an enclosed space at the time of discharge and ventilate the area before re-entry.

How difficult is it to install the BlazeCut T Series?

Installation is straightforward. The tube is secured inside the protected enclosure using heavy-duty cable ties or optional one-hole mounting clamps. No drilling, welding, or vehicle modifications are required. Each retail package includes the system, a user manual, cable ties, and warning labels. Most installations in engine compartments and electrical enclosures take under an hour.

Do I need a licensed technician to install it?

For most T Series applications, including engine compartments, electrical enclosures, small vehicles, and boats, installation does not require specialized tools or licensing. For fleet-wide deployments or larger commercial installations, we recommend working with an authorized BlazeCut dealer who can ensure proper sizing and placement. Visit our [Find a Dealer] page to locate one near you.

How do I figure out what size system I need?

System sizing is based on the volume of the enclosure being protected. Measure the width, height, and depth of the space in feet or meters to calculate the total volume. The smallest T Series option protects up to 3.18 cubic feet, and coverage scales up from there through the largest option, which protects up to 96.41 cubic feet for electrical fire applications and 73.45 cubic feet for engine fire applications. Coverage volumes are calculated at an ambient temperature of 68°F (20°C). If you are unsure which model is right for your application, email Dalton@blazecutusa.com and we can help you work through it.

What certifications does the BlazeCut T Series hold?

The BlazeCut T Series (6mm and 8mm BlazeTube configurations) is certified to LPS 1666 and carries CE approval. Systems have been independently performance tested at an accredited testing institute, Strojírenský zkušební ústav, s.p., in the Czech Republic, and are designed in accordance with NFPA 2001, the Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems.

Is the BlazeCut T Series compliant with NFPA standards?

The T Series is designed in accordance with NFPA 2001, the Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems. For specific compliance questions related to your facility, equipment, or local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), we recommend consulting your AHJ directly or contacting us for guidance.

Is BlazeCut approved for the US market?

Yes. BlazeCut USA is the exclusive US importer and master distributor of BlazeCut fire suppression systems. The T Series is certified to LPS 1666 and CE approved, and the FK-5-1-12 agent is listed in the US TSCA inventory.

Can it protect an electric forklift or lithium battery compartment?

BlazeCut T Series systems can be deployed in the electrical and battery enclosures of electric forklifts and other electric-powered equipment. Lithium battery fires present specific suppression challenges, and the right system configuration depends on the enclosure size and layout. Email Dalton@blazecutusa.com to discuss the right setup for your fleet.

I am a distributor or catalog company. How do I carry BlazeCut?

BlazeCut USA is actively building its wholesale and dealer network across the country. If you are an industrial distributor, safety equipment supplier, or catalog company interested in stocking BlazeCut T Series systems, fill out the [Wholesale Partner Application] on our website or email Dalton@blazecutusa.com to start a conversation.

I manage a fleet or facility and need multiple units. Can I get volume pricing?

Yes. BlazeCut USA works with fleet managers, facilities teams, OEM manufacturers, and EHS departments to configure fire suppression programs across larger equipment inventories. Email Dalton@blazecutusa.com with details about your fleet or facility and we will connect you with the right resources.