Renault's Fireman Access Fire Suppression System Now Available to All Manufacturers

Battery fires pose a significant challenge for electric vehicles, with extinguishing them often requiring drastic measures—such as submerging the entire vehicle in water. However, this approach is impractical in many situations, especially in confined spaces like underground parking garages.

Renault has developed its own innovative solution to this problem and has now made its Fireman Access technology freely available to all manufacturers. Developed in collaboration with firefighting experts, the system drastically reduces the time needed to extinguish a burning EV battery—from several hours to under ten minutes.

Fireman Access consists of a metal safety disk installed on the battery casing. Under normal conditions, it remains sealed, preserving the battery’s integrity. However, when exposed to a high-pressure water jet from a fire hose, the disk shifts, allowing water to directly reach the battery cells and prevent thermal runaway. This targeted approach not only accelerates fire suppression but also reduces water consumption by up to ten times.

Renault is offering free licensing for the technology, with the condition that any modifications remain visible to all members of the collaborative community. Currently, Fireman Access is integrated into Renault, Dacia, Alpine, and Mobilize vehicles.

Renault's efforts in fire safety innovation date back to 2010, resulting in additional advancements such as the QRescue QR code, which provides emergency responders with instant technical data—even without mobile connectivity—and the SD switch, which forcibly disconnects the battery from the vehicle’s electrical system to minimize the risk of electrocution in the event of an accident.