Emergency Preparedness Week 2026: E-Bikes, Lithium-Ion Batteries, and Building Risk

Each year, Emergency Preparedness Week is an opportunity to pause and reflect on how well our buildings are positioned to manage both known and emerging risks. In 2026, one of those risks is no longer emerging, it’s here, and it’s evolving quickly.

E-bikes and e-scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries are now part of daily life across residential buildings in Canada. They support mobility, sustainability, and convenience. They are, in many ways, aligned with how our cities are changing.

At the same time, they introduce a fire risk that behaves very differently from what most buildings were originally designed to manage.

Across the industry, in our work with buildings, I’m seeing three approaches take shape when it comes to lithium-ion battery-driven e-bikes in the built environment.

Some buildings are banning them outright.
Some are creating dedicated storage and charging rooms.
And a smaller group is taking a more holistic approach.

At first glance, the first two feel decisive and clear cut. They give boards and managers something tangible to point to, a rule, a designated room, a visible action, but neither is a complete risk-control strategy on its own.

Blanket bans are often driven by good intent, but they rely heavily on compliance. And compliance, especially when tied to something occupants depend on for daily transportation, is rarely absolute.

When that happens, the risk doesn’t disappear, it shifts. It becomes harder to see, harder to manage, and more likely to emerge under the worst possible conditions, behind a closed door, overnight, with no early intervention.

On the other side, dedicated charging or storage rooms are gaining traction. And in the right context, they can absolutely be part of the solution. But there’s a tendency to oversimplify what these spaces actually require.

Lithium-ion battery failures don’t behave like conventional fires. When they occur, they escalate quickly. Heat release is intense, off-gassing is hazardous and unpredictable, and suppression is neither simple nor straightforward.

Simply placing batteries in a “fire-rated room” for storage and charging without addressing ventilation, detection, separation, and operational controls can create a false sense of security, and in some cases, concentrate the hazard.

There’s also a governance shift that often gets overlooked. The moment a building formalizes charging or storage, it assumes a higher level of responsibility. The questions become more complex:

What batteries are permitted?
How is charging monitored?
What happens when equipment is modified or uncertified?
Who is accountable when something fails?

This is where the third group stands apart.

Buildings taking a more holistic approach aren’t reacting to e-bikes, they’re managing risk at a system level. They are combining policy, education, enforcement, and, where appropriate, engineered solutions. They are setting clear expectations around what is acceptable, and are educating occupants on how these batteries fail and what early warning signs look like. And they are aligning their fire safety plans with the reality that this risk now exists within their buildings.

Just as important, they are not defaulting to infrastructure as the first solution. They are ensuring they have the operational capacity and governance framework in place before introducing it.

Property managers, facility teams, and condominium boards are not standing still on this issue. They are asking the right questions. They are working with fire services. They are updating fire safety plans, communicating with residents, and navigating complex decisions in real time.

That matters…Emergency Preparedness is not about reacting perfectly in a crisis, it’s about building the conditions that prevent the crisis from occurring in the first place.

E-bike adoption isn’t slowing down, and this isn’t about choosing between banning or accommodating. It’s about understanding whether a building is equipped, operationally, technically, and from a governance standpoint, to manage the risk that comes with it.

Right now, that’s the gap.

If there’s one takeaway to carry forward this week, it’s this: lithium-ion battery risk cannot be managed through assumptions or partial measures. The fire behaviour is different, the consequences are real, and the margin for error is narrow.

Before introducing storage, charging, or any form of accommodation within a building, there needs to be a clear, building-specific understanding of the risk, and how it will be controlled.

That means stepping back and approaching the issue through a coordinated, engineering-informed lens, one that considers ventilation, detection, suppression strategy, separation, and day-to-day operations as a complete system.

When done properly, this doesn’t just reduce risk. It supports fire service response, protects occupants, and ensures that owners and managers are making decisions that are informed, defensible, and grounded in a proactive standard of care.  Before permitting charging or storage, complete a building-specific risk review.

The below are some fantastic resources for building Owners and Facility Managers across Canada

NFPA has published practical, fire-service-informed guidance outlining how e-bike and e-scooter batteries fail and how to reduce risk through proper charging, storage, and certification.
E‑Bike and E‑Scooter Safety — NFPA official resource

UL Standards & Engagement brings together certification, testing, and risk mitigation strategies to address lithium-ion battery hazards in personal mobility devices.
UL E‑Bike & E‑Scooter Safety Action Center

BOMA International identifies lithium-ion battery fires as a growing operational and life safety issue for building owners and property managers.
BOMA Battery Fires Policy Brief (PDF)

FM Global has released engineering-based guidance to address lithium-ion battery hazards in buildings.
https://www.fm.com/insights/lithium-ion-battery-hazards-fm-releases-first-ever-comprehensive-guidance

UL research shows common charging behaviours, such as charging near exits, are unintentionally increasing fire risk in buildings.
https://ulse.org/insight/news-how-riders-are-unknowingly-raising-battery-fire-risks-e-mobility/

Consumer Reports, aligned with fire service guidance, emphasizes certified devices, proper chargers, and safe charging locations as key prevention measures.
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/electric-bikes/how-to-prevent-e-bike-fires-a2493889574/

The City of Vancouver provides practical public-facing guidance on safe battery use, storage, and fire prevention in residential settings.
https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/battery-fire-prevention.aspx

Health Canada reinforces safe use, charging, and storage practices, while warning against modified or uncertified batteries.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/household-products/battery-safety/lithium-ion.html

Ontario’s Fire Marshal and fire services have launched province-wide education campaigns highlighting lithium-ion battery risks and safe behaviours.
https://www.oafc.on.ca/about/announcements/fire-news-headlines/office-fire-marshal-warns-ontarians-growing-lithium-ion

The Charged for LiFE campaign provides clear, consistent safety messaging across Ontario focused on batteries, charging, tampering, and disposal.
www.chargedforlife.ca

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs continues to advance national awareness, training, and advocacy around lithium-ion battery hazards.
https://cafc.ca/page/green-technology

CCOHS provides workplace-focused guidance on safe lithium-ion battery charging practices for employers and building operators.
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/battery-charging-lithium-ion-batteries.pdf